NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Junior Teams Split Games With Sweden and Finland

August 12, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- USA Hockey's 2006 National Junior Evaluation Camp came to a close here today as two United States teams comprised of 43 Under-20 athletes eligible for the 2007 U.S. National Junior Team split games with Finland and Sweden. Team White prevailed over Finland by a 7-1 score, while Team Blue was defeated by Sweden, 4-3, in a shootout.

Team White's Matt Butcher (Bellingham, Wash.) scored a goal and added three assists, while Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) also assisted on three goals en route to a 7-1 victory in the day's first contest.

Team White opened the scoring at the 3:04 mark of the first period on a Brian Strait (Waltham, Mass.) power-play tally. Finland struck back on a power-play goal of its own to even the score, 1-1, at the 6:35 mark. Team White then rattled off six unanswered goals to put the game out of reach.

Goaltenders Joe Palmer (Yorkville, N.Y) and Brett Bennett (Williamsville, N.Y.) combined for 26 saves in the victory.

Team Blue suffered its first defeat of the camp when it fell to Sweden, 4-3, following a shootout. The U.S. squad held a 2-1 lead after two periods on goals from Jason Lawrence (Saugus, Mass.) and Bill Sweatt (Elburn, Ill.) in the first and second stanzas, respectively.

Nick Foligno (Buffalo, N.Y.) gave Team Blue a two-goal cushion at the 1:22 mark of the third period, but Sweden regrouped to score two goals and send the game to a shootout.

Despite goals from Sweatt and Nate Gerbe (Oxford, Mich.), the United States lost the shootout, 3-2, and the game, 4-3.

The United States' Team Blue and Team White finished the camp with a 7-1-0 record against their international opponents.

"The camp went very well and provided the coaches with some quality hands-on time. They were able to work with each player and instill some of the team concepts that will be important at the World Junior Championship. The Lake Placid setting and the hockey facilities here are responsible for yet another fine job of hosting USA Hockey," said Jim Johannson, senior director of hockey operations for USA Hockey.

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