USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team Clips Czech Republic, 4-3, at World U18 Championship

Published on April 20, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


SOCHI, Russia - Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) netted two goals, as the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team clipped the Czech Republic, 4-3, here this evening at Bolshoy Ice Dome in its second game at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men's World Championship. With the victory, Team USA's record improves to 1-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L).

"The team showed a lot of resolve in battling back to win this game," said Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team. "We worked hard in the second and third period, but it's important for us to perform at a high level throughout the entire game."

The Czech Republic struck first off a broken play in the U.S. offensive zone. The ensuing odd man rush resulted in a goal by the Czechs at 12:18. Skating with the man advantage and looking to tie the contest, a bad bounce for Team USA led to another odd man rush by the Czechs. The Czech Republic wristed a shot under the arm of Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) for the shorthanded marker. The Americans answered at 19:39 when Motte scored off a J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) centering pass from behind the net. Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) also collected an assist on the play.

Nineteen seconds into the second stanza, Compher wristed a shot that beat Czech netminder Rene Svoboda in the top corner. John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn.) set up the score as he moved along the end boards, finding Compher in the slot. Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) earned the second assist. Team USA seized the lead off of Motte's second marker of the game at 3:34. Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.) created the chance when he drove to the net and sent a shot off Svoboda's stick. Fasching and Butcher collected helpers on the goal. Less then one minute later, the Czech Republic countered to tie the game, 3-3. The U.S. regained the lead at 5:23 when Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) snuck the puck between Svoboda and the left goal post. Michael McCarron (Macomb, Mich.) and Sean Malone (West Seneca, N.Y.) registered assists.

Team USA held the Czechs to just six shots on net in the third period, with Demko turning aside each attempt. The Czech Republic pulled Svoboda in favor of the extra attacker late in the frame, but the move did not equate to a goal and the U.S. skated away with a 4-3 win.

Demko had 18 saves in the victory for Team USA, while Svoboda kicked out 46 shots in the loss for the Czech Republic.

The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team continues tournament play tomorrow (April 21) against Latvia at 5 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EDT), at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. The game will be streamed live on FASTHockey.com. Team USA's complete schedule can be found below.

NOTES: Tyler Motte was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... The U.S. outshot the Czech Republic, 50-21 ... For Team USA's full roster, click here ... Twenty-two players on the U.S. roster come from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program ... The U.S. enters the tournament having captured a record nine consecutive medals, including back-to-back gold medals in 2005-06, four straight gold medals from 2009-12, two silver medals (2004, 2007) and one bronze medal (2008). Team USA's seven gold medals are the most of any country in IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship history (event began in 1999). Team USA earned its first gold medal in 2002 ... The U.S. is in Group A with the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia and Russia. Group B consists of Canada, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #U18MWC ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team trains with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary new software program released on October 1, 2010, that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2013


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