NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National under-17 team ends Alpena's win streak with 3-1 win

Published on January 20, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


BOARDMAN, Ohio - Led by Chris Brown's (Flower Mound, Texas) two goals and a 35-save effort from netminder Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.), the U.S. National Under-17 Team secured a 3-1 win over the Alpena IceDiggers at the Boardman Ice Zone Sunday afternoon. Team USA improved to 2-1 in the North American Hockey League Showcase, and snapped Alpena's seven-game winning streak with the win.

"Today was another big win, against a hot team," said Ron Rolston. "It was a good overall team effort, and we executed our game plan well. We have put together back-to-back strong performances, and that is the way we are going to have to play if we want to keep moving up the standings in this league."

The IceDiggers lit up the scoreboard first, with a power-play tally at the 9:53 mark of the first period. Russell Anderson put the puck through Maxwell's legs right in front of the Team USA net after Jerrod Hartman released a strong shot from the right point.

Brown knotted the score at one apiece for the U.S. National Under-17 Team at 12:40 of the stanza, thanks to helpers from Kenny Ryan (Franklin Village, Mich.) and Zach Golembiewski (St. Claire, Mich.). Brown beat Alpena goaltender Nick Graves with a wraparound attempt on his back hand.

Team USA assembled the game-winning goal less than three minutes into the second stanza, as Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) recorded his 13th goal of the year. Grant Scott (Sewickley, Pa.) set up the scoring sequence when he threaded a pass from the left circle to Lynch in the low slot. Lynch was able to slip the puck through the legs of Graves, resulting in Lynch's third game-winner of the 2007-08 slate.

The score remained 2-1 until Brown contributed his 10th marker of the year off an assist from Steven West (Milford, Mich.). After taking a pass from West in the Team USA zone, Brown skated the puck down the left wing until he unleashed a wrist shot from the left hash mark that beat Graves on the stick side.

That wall all the offense Team USA would need, as Maxwell finished with 28 saves in the final two periods. Graves stopped 21 shots in the loss for the IceDiggers.

"Brandon made some big saves, especially in the third period," said Rolston. "His play was an essential part of our success in today's game."

The U.S. National Under-17 Team (21-21-1) plays its fourth and final game of the NAHL Showcase tomorrow afternoon vs. the Marquette Rangers at the Boardman Ice Zone. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.

Notes: Team USA handed Alpena just its second loss in its last 13 games ... Brandon Maxwell is 6-2 in his last eight appearances, and 12-10 overall this season ... Chris Brown, Kevin Lynch and Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) lead the U.S. National Under-17 Team with three game-winning goals in the 2007-08 campaign ... Brown is pacing Team USA's scoring attack with three goals in three games at the NAHL Showcase.

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2008


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