USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Finishes National Junior Evaluation Camp with 8-3 Win Over Finland

Published on August 8, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Team USA defeated Finland here this afternoon, 8-3, in its final game of the 2010 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp.

The contest featured 22 of the 42 U.S. players who participated in the camp and were auditioning for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2010-Jan. 5, 2011, in Buffalo, N.Y.

"We maintained puck control today, and it showed," said Keith Allain, head coach of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team. "We're going to have some very difficult decisions over the next few months, but I'm happy with what our guys were able to accomplish here this week."

After falling behind, 2-0, in the first period, Team USA got on the board when Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) was credited for tipping a long shot by Adam Clendening (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) past Finnish goaltender Christopher Gibson.

Then, after surrendering another goal to Finland early in the second period, the U.S. responded with five consecutive second-period goals. Austin Watson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) buried his first goal of the camp on a one-timer from the slot. Two straight power-play goals by Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J.) and Nick Bjugstad (Blaine, Minn.) gave Team USA its first lead of the game, 4-3.

Zach Budish (Edina, Minn.) extended the U.S. lead to two with a backhand shot that just trickled over the goal line. Watson's second goal of the period secured a 6-3 advantage for Team USA after two periods.

Palmieri and Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) closed out the scoring for Team USA in the third period. U.S. goalie Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) made 14 saves in the win, while Gibson and Jonathan Iilahti combined for 21 saves in the loss.

Team USA finished with a 3-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record against Finland and Sweden at the camp. Results from all of the camp's games are below.

NOTES: Team USA went 2-for-6 on the power-play, while Finland was 1-for-2 with the man advantage ... Nick Bjugstad led all players at the 2010 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp with seven goals in seven games against teams from Finland, Sweden and the U.S. ... Kyle Palmieri paced all camp participants with 10 points (5-5) in six games ... ... The 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships will take place Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., and Niagara University's Dwyer Arena in Lewiston, N.Y. Additional information including a full preliminary-round tournament schedule and ticket details can be found at BuffaloWorldJuniors.com ...The 2011 U.S. National Junior Team will be selected in late December following a pre-tournament camp that will begin in mid-December ... Keith Allain, head men's ice hockey coach at Yale University, will serve as head coach of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team. Allain will be assisted by Mark Osiecki, head men's ice hockey coach at The Ohio State University; Phil Housley, head boy's ice hockey coach at Stillwater (Minn.) high school; and Joe Exter, USA Hockey's national goaltending coach ... Mark Carlson, head coach and general manager of the United States Hockey League's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, and Greg Brown, assistant men's ice hockey coach at Boston College, will also participate in Lake Placid as camp coaches ... Jim Johannson is serving as the general manager of the U.S. National Junior Team for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, Tim Taylor, former U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team head coach and longtime Yale University men's ice hockey team head coach, is also serving his second straight year as Team USA's director of player personnel.

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United States Hockey League Stories from August 8, 2010


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