USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National U18 Team Downs Indiana, 5-2

Published on January 31, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Austin Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) collected two goals and two assists as the U.S. National Under-18 Team downed the Indiana Ice, 5-2, here today at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. With the win, Team USA earned a weekend sweep of USHL opponents.

With just 1:19 remaining in the first period, Derek Forbort (Duluth, Minn.) put Team USA ahead, 1-0, with a power-play goal. The tally came after Czarnik threaded a pass to a late-breaking Forbort who snapped it inside the right post from the backdoor.

The U.S. doubled its advantage with another power-play tally at 12:02 of the second stanza after Brandon Saad (Gibsonia, Pa.) collected his own rebound behind the net and slid the puck through two defenders to Czarnik, who tapped it into the wide-open goal. Nick Bailen brought the Ice back within one when he fired a wrist shot over the outstretched glove of netminder Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) with 2:59 remaining in the frame.

Bryan Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) regained the two-goal lead for Team USA just 39 seconds into the third period when he wrapped around behind the net and slammed the puck inside the left post. Antti Roppo made it 3-2 when his shot deflected over a laid-out Campbell and into the net at 3:39. Just 10 seconds later, Saad streaked down the left wing and rocketed a wrister into the upper-left corner of the net. Trailing by two goals, the Ice pulled Morris in favor of an extra attacker with 3:54 remaining in regulation. With 2:44 to play, Czarnik blocked an Indiana defenseman's shot, picked up the puck in the neutral zone and slid it into the empty net from 20 feet out to seal Team USA's 5-2 victory.

Campbell made 26 saves to earn his 10th win of the season.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team will play a rare Friday-afternoon game Feb. 5 against the Lincoln Stars at 3:05 p.m. EST at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

NOTES: Austin Czarnik recorded seven points (3-4) on the weekend to lead Team USA. He paces the U.S. with 23 assists for the season and is second on the squad with 33 points... Brandon Saad, who leads the U18s with 36 points (15-21), notched six points (4-2) over the weekend... Derek Forbort posted three points (1-2) tonight... Bryan Rust scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season today.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2010


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