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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Team clinches second straight division title

March 21, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Paced by three power play goals, the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated Mahoning Valley 5-2 tonight at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The win clinches the second straight North American Hockey League north division title for the U.S. National Team Development Program.

Team USA started the night's scoring as defenseman Joseph Lavin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) scored his sixth goal of the season on a feed from Philip McRae (Chesterfield, Missouri) at the 2:28 mark of the opening stanza. McRae put the National Team up 2-0 with a power play goal at 14: 44 of the first. Mahoning Valley responded just over a minute later as Matt Quigley recorded a short-handed tally to make the score 2-1 at the end of the first frame.

To open the second, Mahoning Valley's Bret Larson evened the game at 2-2 just 2:22 into the period. Richard Manley (South Buffalo, N.Y.) responded for Team USA as he was able to collect his own rebound and blast a shot past Mahoning Valley goaltender Ryan Zapolski and give the Americans the lead once again. At the 17:19 mark of the period, Lavin recorded his second power-play goal of the night, with this tally coming during a 4-on-3 advantage off of a feed from Brennan Vargas (Coon Rapids, Minn.). Team USA withstood strong Mahoning Valley pressure to maintain a 4-2 lead heading in the third period of play.

The game remained tight as Team USA goaltender Josh Unice (Toledo, Ohio) made several key saves throughout the third to keep the National Team up by two goals. Unice turned away 28 of 30 Phantom attempts on the night. James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) capped the night's scoring and sealed the victory for the National Team with his tally at the 17:56 mark of the final period.

NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will face Traverse City next Thursday and Friday (Mar. 30-31) in the first round of the NAHL playoffs at 7 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube ... The National Team's 37 wins this season ties the win total from last season's north division title run.

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2006


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