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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Bests Switzerland, 4-2

February 8, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


PIESTANY, Slovakia - The U.S. National Under-17 Team compiled a 40-23 shot advantage and registered two power-play goals to record a 4-2 win over Switzerland here today in both teams' second game of the 2008 Under-18 Vlad Dzurilla Tournament.

After a scoreless first period, the two squads combined to tally four goals in the second stanza. Team USA's Zach Golembiewski (St. Clair, Mich.) extended his point streak to five games at the 5:28 mark of the period with a power-play goal off an assist from David Valek (Orem, Utah). Richie Crowley (Canton, Mass.) spotted the U.S. National Under-17 Team a 2-0 advantage at 10:26 of the frame, thanks to helpers from Mark Goggin (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) and A.J. Treais (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.). Team USA scored again a little over two minutes later, when Derek Stepan (Hastings, Minn.) netted what proved to be the game-winning marker, his first tally of the tournament. Dakota Eveland (Anaheim, Calif.) doled out the lone assist on the goal.

Switzerland notched the next two goals of the contest, as Marc Kämpf put his team on the board at the 16:56 mark of the middle session, while Michael Loichat made it a 3-2 game at 5:47 of the third period.

Treais provided a pivotal insurance goal for Team USA, on the power play, just under three minutes later. Nick Mattson (Chanhassen, Minn.) and William Wrenn (Anchorage, Alaska) each inked their names on the scoresheet with assists.

Michael Clemente (Great Falls, Va.) posted 21 saves in the win for Team USA, and improved to 2-0 at the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament. Benjamin Conz turned away 36 shots for Switzerland.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team owns a 26-22-2 overall record, and a 2-0 mark at the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament. Team USA plays its final contest of the tournament Saturday (Feb. 9) vs. host Slovakia at Piestany Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EST.

Notes: The U.S. National Under-17 Team is 9-4 during international competition this year ... Team USA is a season-best 7-1 in its last eight games ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team has received game-winning goals from 15 different players in 2007-08 ... A.J. Treais leads Team USA with three points (one goal, two assists) at the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament ... Zach Golembiewski (one goal, one assist), Mark Goggin (one goal, one assist) and David Valek (two assists) are tied for second in points among Team USA players at the tournament. Golembiewski is in the midst of a team-best five-game point streak (four goals, one assist) ... Richie Crowley (one goal), Dakota Eveland (one assist), Nick Mattson (one assist), Derek Stepan (one goal) and William Wrenn (one assist) each picked up their first points of the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament ... Slovakia and Germany meet in the other game at the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament today ... Log on to www.usahockey.com and www.szlh.sk to access the most up-to-date information about the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament including post-game releases, box scores and updated stats.

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