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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Team weekly report

December 6, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


UNITED STATES NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM
The U.S. Under-18 Team played in the Pro-Am ‘Champions for Children' charity game for the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Thursday, December 2, 2004.

NEXT ACTION
The Under-18 team will take on the Toledo IceDiggers on Tuesday, December 7th at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Toledo will broadcast the game at www.icediggers.com. This weekend the 18's travel for a pair games against of Division I opponents. On December 11th they play the University of New Hampshire Wildcats in Durham, N.H. and December 12th a contest against the Dartmouth Big Green in Hanover, N.H.

PREVIOUS WEEK RECAP
Thursday, December 2 – USA, 2, Pros, 6
Over 6,500 people (a capacity crowd) turned out to Yost Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich. to see the U.S. Under-18 Team take on a collection of pro players in a charity game for the ‘Champions for Children' campaign. All event proceeds, which included all tickets sales, a silent auction for autographed sticks, pucks, posters, pictures and other memorabilia, was donated to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

The pro line-up included: Chris Chelios, Sergei Samsonov. Kris Draper, Manny Legace, Kip Miller, Kevin Miller, Chris Tamer, Sergei Federvo and the Captain Steve Yzerman. Detroit native Kid Rock, actress Tara Reid and Detroit Tigers outfielder Bobby Higginson coached the pros.

"The kids (NTDP players) were pretty quick," said Yzerman. "Their ability to skate is probably equal to any of us for the most part."

U.S. goaltender Jeff Frazee stole the show with several acrobatic saves that brought the fans to their feet. Of his many saves, he stoned a cherry picking Chris Chelios, who moved to the center position in the second period, twice on breakaways.

"It's unbelievable out there looking at the players you have grown up watching" stated U.S. forward Phil Kessel.

Kris Draper led the charge for the pros as he netted a hat trick. Phil Kessel and Andreas Vlassopolous scored for the Under-18 Team.

Designed in the 1950s, Mott is currently struggling to keep up with recent advances in medical technology, patient care and research due to space limitations. Although its patients are small, Mott's needs are great. Mott hopes by increasing its capacity and clinic space, it will be able to meet that need by providing sick and injured children in Michigan, the United States and across the globe with even greater access to U-M's world-class medical care.

UNITED STATES NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM
The U.S. Under-17 Team fell twice on the road to the Youngstown Phantoms, 3-2 on Friday, December 3rd and 5-3 on Saturday, December 4th.

NEXT ACTION
The U-17 team travels to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for a pair against the Soo Kewadin Casino Indians. Face-off for both games, Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11, will be 7:00pm and will be broadcast by the Soo Indians. The broadcast can be accessed at www.sooindians.com.

PREVIOUS WEEK RECAP
Friday, December 3 – USA, 2, Youngstown, 3
USA goaltender Joseph Palmer (Yorkville, N.Y.) highlighted the game as he stopped 37 shots including 17 in the third period, and held the Phantoms score less on four power play attempts, but the U.S fell just short in a 3-2 loss to Youngstown.

The U.S. opened the scoring as Jim O'Brien tallied at 11:16-mark of the second period The Phantoms struck back in the final minute of second period, as defenseman Drew Fortney beat Palmer, who was screened in front, to tie it at 1-1 at the 19:10-mark.
In the third period, Mike Maltese gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead at the 2:54-mark. His centering pass was blocked and redirected right back to him, and he then fired a wrist shot over Palmer's right shoulder. The lead lasted less than five minutes as Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Mich.) jammed the puck past Phantoms' goaltender Jerry Kuhn at 7:49, tying the game at 2-2. With 4:05 remaining in the game, Maltese came across the right face-off circle before firing a quick wrist shot that beat Palmer over his left shoulder for the game-winning goal.
TEAM SCORING PIM PP SHOT W/L Goalie
USA 0-1-1 12 0-9 22 Palmer (37-40)
Phantoms 0-1-2 18 0-4 40 Kuhn (20-22)

Scoring:
USA: O'Brien (G), Fardig (G), Sweatt (A), Kane (A), Squires (A), Montgomery (A)
Phantoms: Maltese (2G), Fortney (G), O'Shell (A), Menzione (A), Meyer (A), Zarbro (A)

Saturday, December 4 – USA, 3, Youngstown, 5
The Youngstown Phantoms gained sole possession of first place in the NAHL North Division by registering a 5-3 victory over the USA National Team. A hat trick by Aaron Rhyner helped the Phantoms up their season record to 15-6-2 (32 points) and leapfrog over Team USA (15-7-1, 31 points).

Youngstown jumped out in front early, scoring two goals in the first six minutes of the contest. Mike Maltese got the Phantoms on the scoreboard at the 1:05-mark of the opening period when he knocked the rebound of an Owen Meyer shot past Team USA goaltender Joseph Palmer (Yorkville, N.Y.). Then a breakaway goal by Rhyner at 5:54 increased Youngstown's lead to 2-0.

Michael Carman (Apple Valley, Minn.) got the U.S. on the board with a power play goal at 8:49 of the second period Rhyner scored his second goal of the night for the Phantoms on a power play at the 10:56-mark to restore the Phantoms' two-goal cushion.

A Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) even strength tally at 12:43 of the middle period, made it 4-2 Youngstown. In the final period, USA pulled to within a goal when Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Mich.) scored his first-ever shorthanded goal with the NTDP at the 8:47 mark. An empty net goal late in the third would give the Phantoms a 5-3 lead and the win.

TEAM SCORING PIM PP SHOT W/L Goalie
USA 0-2-1 10 1-4 36 Palmer (32-36)
Phantoms 2-2-1 8 1-4 37 Kuhn (33-36)

Scoring:
USA: Carman (PPG, A), Kane (G, A), Fardig (SHG), Ratchuk (A), Squires (A), Rakhshani (A)
Phantoms: Ryhner (PPG, 2G), Maltese (G, A), Meyer (G, A), Rassey (3A), Smith (2A), Canzaneri (A),

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