NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Defeats Owatonna, 7-1, at NAHL Showcase

Published on September 18, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


BLAINE, Minn. - Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev.) tallied two goals as the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Owatonna Express, 7-1, here today in its second game at the sixth annual North American Hockey League Showcase.

"The players came to the rink prepared and executed very well as a group," said John Hynes, head coach of Team USA. "It was a good win for our team."

Owatonna tallied first to take a 1-0 lead at 8:16 of the opening period when Cory Thorson fired a wrist shot over the left shoulder of netminder Will Yanakeff (Jerome, Mich.). Team USA answered just 41 seconds later when Chase Balisy (Fullerton, Calif.) fought through a scrum in front of the net and poked home a rebound. Zucker put the U.S. ahead, 2-1, at 10:52 when he skated out from behind the net and fired a wrist shot over the glove of goaltender Adam Buegler.

Team USA doubled its lead late in the second period when Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) shoveled the puck past Buegler at 16:52. Yanakeff turned aside all eight shots he saw in the middle frame to keep the score at 3-1.

In the final period, Team USA posted four goals to seal the victory. Zucker added his second tally after speeding past the defensemen and slipping a backhanded shot by Buegler at 7:42. Shane Sooth (Canyon County, Calif.) buried a pass from Jacob Fallon (Southlake, Texas) at 9:14 to make it 5-1. Austin Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) and Matt Nieto (Long Beach, Calif.) each tallied to account for the 7-1 final.

Yanakeff stopped 16 of 17 shots in the win.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to action tomorrow against the Alaska Avalanche at 12:30 p.m. CST.

NOTES: Team USA out shot Owatonna by a 40-18 margin ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team has only allowed two goals during the NAHL Showcase ... Matt Nieto (1-2--3) had three points, while Jacob Fallon (0-2--2), Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn./0-2--2), Nick Shore (Denver, Colo./0-2--2) and Jason Zucker (2-0--2) each had two points. Both National Team Development Program squads are participating in the 2008 NAHL Showcase. It is the first year both teams have competed at the event at the same time.

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 18, 2008


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