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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Junior Select Team Tops Russia, 8-2

November 6, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


CAMROSE, Alta. - The United States Junior Select Team defeated Russia, 8-2, here tonight in its quarterfinal game at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge. Mike Cichy (New Hartford, Conn.), who tallied two goals and two assists, was named Team USA's Player of the Game.

"We knew it was important to get off to a strong start and I'm happy we were able to do so," said Mark Carlson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), head coach of Team USA. "We did a great job controlling the puck and sticking to our game plan."

Craig Smith (Madison, Wis.) scored the first of four U.S. goals in the opening period when he banked the puck off of Russian goalie Dmitry Shikin's pad and into the net on the power play at 5:53. David Gerths (Ankeny, Iowa) and Cichy each scored to give the U.S. a 3-0 lead, before Eduard Reyzvikh replaced Shikin in the Russian net at 13:20. Josh Birkholz (Maple Grove, Minn.) finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play to score at 15:00 and Team USA took a 4-0 lead at the intermission.

Cichy notched the only U.S. goal of the middle frame when he tapped in the rebound of a shot from the point at 11:17. Russia scored twice late in the period as Team USA held a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Matt Donovan (Edmond, Okla.) staked Team USA to a four-goal advantage at 9:37 of the third period, while Pat Mullane (Wallingford, Conn.) scored off a rebound at 13:30 and Greg Burke (Lee, N.H.) tallied on the power play at 18:51 to account for the 8-2 final.

Mike Lee (Roseau, Minn.) made 35 saves in the win.

The U.S. Junior Select Team faces Canada East in semifinal action of the World Junior A Challenge Saturday (Nov. 8) at 6 p.m. EST at the Edgeworth Centre in Camrose, Alta.

NOTES: Team USA outshot Russia, 44-37 ... Teams participating in the 2008 World Junior A Challenge include Belarus, Canada East, Canada West, Germany, Russia and the United States ... The 22 players on the U.S. roster represent 12 different states. All 22 players come from the United States Hockey League, the only Tier I junior hockey league in the United States ... Carlson, head coach and general manager of the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, is assisted by Todd Knott (Sioux City, Iowa), head coach and general manager of the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers, and Bliss Littler (Omaha, Neb.), head coach and general manager of the USHL's Omaha Lancers. Carlson and Knott are both USA Hockey Level 4 certified coaches, while Littler is a Level 5 certified coach.

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