NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Team weekly report

Published on March 16, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


UNITED STATES NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM
The U.S. Under-18 Team swept a three game Montana swing this past weekend. The team defeated the Bozeman ICEDOGS, twice, by a combined score of 12-2 and took care of the Helena Bighorns 6-2.

THIS WEEK'S ACTION
The U-18's once again take to the road as they travel to Illinois to take on the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL, Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, 2004.

PREVIOUS WEEK RECAP
Friday, March 12 – USA-18 3, Bozeman 1
Phil Kessel scored the game-winning goal 1:21 into the third period as the U-18 team beat the Bozeman ICEDOGS, 3-1 in Bozeman, MT.

Following a scoreless first period Tom Fristsche started the scoring for the US team with an even strength tally just :37 seconds into the second session. Bozeman countered with a shorthanded score as Michigan State recruit Zak McClellan snuck one past US goaltender Cory Schneider.

Schneider, from Marblehead, MA and North Andover Academy recorded his first win the U-18 team after recording 24 saves, allowing a lone goal.

FRIDAY – US-18@ BOZEMAN
TEAM SCORING PIM PP SHOT W/L Goalie
U-18 0-1-2 17 1-6 41 Schneider (24-25)
Bozeman 0-1-0 21 0-4 25 Boddy (38-41)

Scoring:
USA: Fritsche (G), Kessel (GWG), Scero (PPG), Porter (A)
Bozeman: McClellan (SHG), Heidinger (A)

Saturday, March 13 – USA-18 9, Bozeman 1
The U-18 throttled the ICEDOGS in game two of the US/Bozeman series as 12 National Team players got into the scoring act as they cruised to a 9-1 win.

Tom Fritsche was the top point getter on this night as he notched a goal and four helpers, while Kevin Swallow topped the goal-scoring list with two scores.

With no score early in the game, Nathan Gerbe scored at the 4:54 mark of the first period in what would begin an onslaught of goals as the US tallied seven times in a span of 8:54.

SATURDAY – US-18 @ BOZEMAN
TEAM SCORING PIM PP SHOT W/L Goalie
U-18 7-2-0 16 2-6 36 Schneider (17-18)
Bozeman 0-1-0 20 0-4 18 Yancis (3-10),
Kassel (24-26)
Scoring:
USA: Fritsche (G, 4A), Kolarik (G,2A), Swallow (2G), Lerg (G,A), Kessel (G), Scero (G), Gerbe (PPG), Porter (G), Hagemo (2A), Auffery (2A), Johnson (A), Paukovich (A)
Bozeman: Kharin (G), Eklov (A)

Sunday, March 14 – USA-18 6, Helena 2
The US National U-18 Team scored four times in the second period to propel them to a 6-2 win over the Helena Bighorns.

Phil Kessel, his second goal of the game, Nathan Gerbe, Bryan Lerg and Matt Auffery (shorthanded) scored in the second stanza as the US racked up 15 shots in the period on the way to a 44 shot performance.

Cory Schneider, playing his third game in three days, notched his third victory for the U-18 team as he stopped 38 shots in the win.

SUNDAY – US-18 @ HELENA
TEAM SCORING PIM PP SHOT W/L Goalie
U-18 1-4-1 16 1-3 44 Schneider (38-40)
Helena 0-0-2 6 1-8 40 Belswenger (38-44)

Scoring:
USA: Kessel (G, PPG), Lerg (G,A), Gerbe (GWG), Auffery (SHG), Fritsche (G), Porter (3A), Scero (2A), Kolarik (A), Davis (A), Swallow (A)
Helena: Peterson (G), Field (G), Gevorkyan (2A), Kaufman (A), Trevino (A)

UNITED STATES NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM
The U.S. Under-17 Team went 0-1-1 on the road against the Youngstown PHANTOMS. On Friday March 12th they fell 5-3 in Boardman, OH. On Saturday March 13th they earned a point in the standings (with a 4-4 regulation tie) eventually falling in a shoot out.

THIS WEEK'S ACTION
The derive towards the playoffs continues as the U-17 team hosts the Cleveland Barons this Sunday, March 21, 2004 at 3:05 pm.

NAHL North Standings as of 3/14/04
TEAM GP W L RT PTS PCT.
*Soo 51 41 4 6 88 .863
*Jr.Blues 51 32 15 4 68 .667
Cleveland 51 28 19 4 60 .588
Youngstown 52 26 19 7 59 .567
USA 52 24 21 7 55 .529
Toledo 48 13 31 4 30 .313
*qualified for playoffs

Top four teams in the division qualify for the NAHL Playoffs.

PREVIOUS WEEK RECAP
Friday, March 12 – US-17 3, Youngstown 5
The U-17 team fell to the Youngstown PHANTOMS by a 5-3 final in a match-up of potential playoff teams. Jimmy Fraser led the scoring for the US with a power-play goal and an assist.

Ryan Stoa recorded the opening goal, his 18th of the season, for the US while Zach MacVoy chipped in with his 8th lamp lighter of the year. Nick Foligno and Jason Lawrence each tallied a pair of assists.

Jeff Frazee stopped 31 shots on 35 shots in net for the US.

FRIDAY – US-17 @ YOUNGSTOWN
TEAM SCORING PIM PP SHOT W/L Goalie
US-17 0-2-1 30 1-4 40 Frazee (31-35)
Youngstown 2-0-3 34 1-6 37 Sims (36-39)

Scoring:
USA: Fraser (G,A), MacVoy (G), Stoa (G), Foligno (2A), Lawrence (2A), Gentile (A) ,
Youngstown: Rhyner (G,A), Federoff (G,A), Sheehan (G), Smith (G), Zarbo (ENG), Rassey (2A), Canzoneri (A)

Saturday, March 13 – US-17 4, Youngstown 5 SO
The U-17 team battled back from a two-goal third period deficit eventually falling in a shootout to the PHANTOMS of Youngstown. The team earned an important point in the standings, via a regulation tie.

Mark Mitera (power-play), Erik Felde, Zach MacVoy and Brandon Gentile scored for the US in regulation.

In goal Jeff Frazee turned aside 29 of 33 shots.

SATURDAY – US-17 @ YOUNGSTOWN
TEAM SCORING PIM PP SHOT W/L Goalie
US-17 2-0-2-0-0 30 1-4 44 Frazee (29-33)
Youngstown 1-1-2-0-1 34 0-4 33 Sims (41-45)

Scoring:
USA: Mitera (PPG), Felde (G), Cahill (G), Gentile (G), Foligno (A), Lawrence (A), Fraser (A), Stoa (A)
Youngstown: Sheehan (2G), Velasquez (G, A), Bodine (GWG), Katz (3A), Rhyner (2A), Brennan (A), Smith (A)

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2004


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