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Team USA Falls to Sweden, 4-2, in Day Two Action at the 2007 Toys for Tots Four Nations Cup

December 30, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to Sweden by a count of 4-2 tonight at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in its second game at the 2007 Toys for Tots Four Nations Cup.

Sweden jumped onto the scoreboard first 2: 21 into the game with a power-play goal when Victor Hedman blasted a shot from the point that found its way through traffic in front of U.S. netminder Michael Clemente (Great Falls, Va.). Minutes later in the opening frame Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) appeared to have scored on a breakaway but play carried on. Kristo was determined to score on his shift and gathered a loose puck in front of Sweden's goal and buried a shot into the top of the net to even the score 8:56 into the game. Sweden's William Wallen scored just 52 seconds later when he converted a pass from Robert Johansson during a two-on-one break to give Team Sweden a 2-1 advantage at the end of the opening period.

Sweden's Andre Petersson made it a 3-1 game 2:44 into the second period while the teams were playing 4-on-4. Team USA defenseman Eric Ringel (Hickley, Ohio) cut Sweden's lead back to one goal 7:07 into the second period. Ringel, who joined the U.S. National Under-17 Team just prior to the tournament, carried the puck the length of the ice then beat Sweden's netminder Jacob Markstrom over his right shoulder with a quick snapshot to make it a 3-2 contest. David Rundblad gave Team Sweden a 4-2 advantage with 2: 49 remaining in the period when his wrist shot slipped past Clemente.

Team USA dominated the play in the third period, outshooting Sweden 17-3, but were unable to beat Markstrom.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team will take on Finland on Monday (Jan. 1) at 7 p.m. The U.S. will need to beat Finland in order to advance to the championship game on Tuesday night (Jan. 2) at 7 p.m.

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