USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National U17 Team Downed At Youngstown, 7-3

Published on January 18, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) scored twice in the first period as the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to the Youngstown Phantoms, 7-3, here tonight at the Covelli Centre.

Grimaldi opened the scoring for Team USA when he stickhandled through three Phantoms defenders en route to the middle slot where he slid the puck under netminder Matt Mahalak at 10:50 of the first period for a power-play goal. Grimaldi struck again with just 3:41 remaining in the frame after Austin Wuthrich (Anchorage, Alaska), streaked down the right side, attracted a Youngstown defender and fed Grimaldi who snapped the puck over Mahalak's right shoulder to make it 2-0. The Phantoms answered back just 52 seconds later when Tom Serratore collected a rebound and rifled the puck past goaltender Matt Mahalak (Burnsville, Minn.) to cut the U.S. advantage in half.

Five straight Youngstown goals changed the balance of the game in the second period. Adam Berkle knotted the score when he wired a wrist shot off the post and in from inside the right faceoff circle at 10:46 for a power-play marker. Taylor Holstrom gave Youngstown its first lead of the night when his wristshot from the top of the right faceoff circle found the back of the net. Just 39 seconds later, Cody Strang doubled the Phantom advantage when he popped out from the left corner and slid a shot under McNeely. Strang made it 5-2 with 3:52 to play, then completed the natural hat trick at 19:22 to give the Phantoms a 6-2 advantage heading into the third period.

The Youngstown scoring continued just 1:40 into the period when Jiri Sekac one-touched the puck past new netminder John Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa.) the right side to make it 7-2. J.T. Miller's one-timer from the right faceoff dot beat Mahalak with 1:02 remaining to account for the 7-3 final.

McNeely recorded 32 saves in 40 minutes of work, while Gibson stopped five shots in the third period.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team continues its road trip Wednesday when it meets the Sioux Falls Stampede at 7:05 p.m. EST at Sioux Falls (S.D.) Arena.

NOTES: Rocco Grimaldi recorded three points on the night to increase his team lead to 37, which includes 14 goals and 23 assists, both team highs... Austin Wuthrich (Anchorage, Alaska) has been added to the U.S. National Under-17 Team permanently. Wuthrich skated in all 10 of Team USA's international contests this season.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2010


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