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USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Jr Select Team Beats Switzerland, 7-4, in Semifinals of World Junior a Challenge

November 8, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


YARMOUTH, Nova Scotia - Nick Schmaltz (Verona, Wis.)and Connor Hurley (Eagan, Minn.) posted two goals apiece to help the U.S. Junior Select Team beat Switzerland, 7-4, in the semifinals of the World Junior A Challenge. The defending champion, Team USA faces Russia in the title game at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday (Nov. 10).

Schmaltz also added three assists tonight, tying the event record for points in a game (5). In three contests, he has four goals and seven assists for 11 points, which equals the single tournament record.

"I'm really happy with how we responded tonight after trailing in the second period," said Derek Lalonde, head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team. "It was important for our best players to be our best players. Nick Schmaltz and Connor Hurley stepped up and they have been very good all week. Russia will be tough in the title game. We played them earlier in the tournament and we need to use our speed and be disciplined to have success."

C.J. Franklin (Forest Lake, Minn.)opened the scoring 11:56 into the first period, faking forehand and sliding the puck into the net on his backhand.

Switzerland converted on a two-man advantage with 53 seconds left in the first period to tie the game 1-1.

For the first time of the tournament, Team USA trailed when the Swiss took a 2-1 lead at 4:19 of the second stanza.

The U.S. responded by scoring the next five goals. On a power play, Schmaltz buried a cross-crease feed from Hurley at 6:55. Matthew Weis (Madison, N.J.) notched the go-ahead goal three minutes later when he stripped the puck from the Swiss goaltender and tucked it inside the post. Hurley scored on a Schmaltz pass at 16:37 to make it 4-2 after 40 minutes.

Thirty-four seconds into the third period, Dennis Kravchenko (San Clemente, Calif.) continued Team USA's goal spree. Hurley made it 6-2 with a power-play goal at 2:31.

Following a Switzerland goal at 8:34, Schmaltz tallied on the man-advantage at 10:02 for his fifth point of the game.

The Swiss capped the scoring with 6:24 left on the clock.

Cal Petersen (Waterloo, Iowa) made 15 saves in the U.S. net, while Maxim Mauerhofer stopped 30-of-37 shots for Switzerland.

Team USA will play Russia in the championship game Sunday at 11 a.m. The U.S. beat Russia in the preliminary round, 8-3. Thegamewill be streamed live at FASTHockey.com. Those interested in watching should sign up for a free account in advance at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2013


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