NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Downs Mahoning Valley, 5-3

February 24, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Will Yanakeff (Jerome, Mich.) made 29 saves, including 16 in the third period, and four players notched two points each as the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, 5-3, here today at the Chevy Centre.

Team USA struck first when Jacob Fallon (Southlake, Texas) brought the puck out from the right corner, skated out around the top of the circles and fired a shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle at 8:34 of the opening stanza. With Mahoning Valley making a line change, Yanakeff made a heads-up play to get the puck to Austin Czarnik (Washington, Mich.), who fed it to Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif.), who ripped a shot past the outstretched blocker of goaltender Jordan Tibbett at 18:22. With just 34 seconds remaining in the period, Robert Harrison cut the deficit in half for the Phantoms with a power-play goal.

Frankie Simonelli (Bensenville, Ill.) made it 3-1 on the power play when he one-timed a pass from Michael Mersch (Park Ridge, Ill.) off the cross bar and down into the net just 1:45 into the second stanza. George Saad drew the Phantoms back within one with a goal at 3:54. With 1:35 to play in the frame, Nick Shore (Denver, Colo.) received a pass from Czarnik, skated in on Tibbett, deked to his forehand and slid the puck between the Phantoms netminder's legs.

In the final frame, Nick Kenney made it 4-3 just 1:07 in with a power-play goal. Despite pressure from Mahoning Valley, including two Phantoms power-play opportunities late in the game, Yanakeff and the U.S. defense held firm. With just 1:46 remaining in regulation, Stuart Higgins (Troy, Mich.) knocked home a rebound off of a Stephen Johns (Wampum, Pa.) shot to ice the 5-3 victory for the U.S.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to action on Friday when it travels to take on defending Robertson Cup champion St. Louis Bandits at 7:15 p.m. CT.

NOTES: The U.S. improved to 5-3-1 against the NAHL North leading Phantoms this year ... Team USA converted on its only power-play opportunity of the day ... Matthew Nieto's two assists put him at 50 points (20-30) this season, good enough for the team lead ... Austin Czarnik is second on the squad with 41 points (17-24) after recording two assists today ... Emerson Etem (1-1--2) and Michael Mersch (0-2--2) also recorded two points each ... Frankie Simonelli leads the U17 defensive corps with 25 points (7-18) ... Will Yanakeff recorded his 15th victory of the season.

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North American Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2009


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