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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Earns 4-3 Win at Alpena

December 6, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ALPENA, Mich. - Aided by multi-point efforts from three different players, the U.S. National Under-17 Team skated to a 4-3 victory over the Alpena IceDiggers in front of 950 spectators Thursday night at Northern Lights Arena. Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.) recorded his sixth win of the year in net for Team USA after he turned away 31 of the 34 shots he faced.

"Tonight was a really good win for us," said Ron Rolston, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. "We executed well in all areas of the game, and played well for 60 minutes. It's encouraging to get a victory before our break this weekend."

Neither team scored in the first period, but the home team posted a 14-13 shot advantage.

Russell Anderson put Alpena on the board 1:28 into the second stanza, but Team USA then erupted with three consecutive goals.

David Valek (Orem, Utah) started Team USA's offensive outburst with his first power-play goal of the season at the 3:59 mark of the period. Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich.) and Drew Shore (Denver, Colo.) chipped in the the assists on the goal. Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J.) netted his 13th goal of the year, with a man advantage, midway through the frame. Fowler and Shore notched their second helpers of the contest in the scoring sequence.

Fowler added another goal with just under two minutes left in the middle session, to secure a career-high three points in the game. Sam Calabrese (Park Ridge, Ill.) and Kenny Ryan (Franklin Village, Mich.) each assisted on the play.

The IceDiggers cut Team USA's lead to 4-2 when Isaac Viau scored on the power play a little less than four minutes into the third period.

Team USA secured the eventual game-winning goal at the 6:34 mark of the final stanza, as Calabrese converted on a A.J. Treais (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) pass.

Alpena's Jim McCusker made it a one-goal game with 12 seconds left in regulation, while skating with an extra attacker.

The visitors evaded the IceDiggers' scoring attempts in the waning seconds, to garner two points in the North American Hockey League North Division standings.

Nate Pellegrino stopped 28 shots in the loss for Alpena (12-12-1).

Team USA finished with a 2-for-9 clip on the power play, while the IceDiggers were 1-for-9 with a man advantage.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team (12-13-1) is off this weekend, but it will travel to the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan for a two-game set against the Traverse City North Stars next Friday (Dec.14) and Saturday (Dec. 15) at Center Ice Arena. Both contests are slated to begin at 7 p.m. ET.

NOTES: Cam Fowler ranks first among Team USA defensemen with 10 points (2-8) ... Sam Calabrese registered his first multi-point performance of the season, and also recorded his second game-winner ... Drew Shore chipped in his fourth multi-point game ... Kyle Palmieri notched his third power-play marker of the year.

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2007


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