NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Ends Season With Loss To Mahoning Valley

April 21, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


BOARDMAN, Ohio - The U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to the Mahoning Valley Phantoms by a 6-2 count in game three of the North American Hockey League North Division Finals tonight at the Boardman Ice Zone. The loss concluded Team USA's season, as Mahoning Valley swept the best-of-five series.

Team USA fell behind 1-0 when Miles Winter notched a power-play goal for the Phantoms at the 6:59 mark of the opening period. The National Team responded with a pair of goals before the end of the first period to take a 2-1 lead. Defenseman Sam Lofquist (Faribault, Minn.) evened the score at 1-1 with a power-play tally at 15:12, while forward Justin Florek (Marquette, Mich.) gave his squad the lead with a blast that beat Mahoning Valley netminder Ryan Zapolski at 17:28.

Mahoning Valley's Drew Satterley evened the game when he notched the only goal of the second period at the 6:32 mark.

In the night's final session, Mahoning Valley recorded four unanswered goals to earn the 6-2 victory. Dustin Cloutier scored the eventual game-winner 37 seconds into the third period, while Mike Fillinger made it a 4-2 contest at 2:39. Tallies from Eric Ringel and Chad Boeckman at 6:47 and 13:05, respectively, rounded out the scoring.

"Mahoning Valley is a good hockey club and we wish them the best of luck at the Robertson Cup tournament next month," said U.S. National Team Head Coach John Hynes. "As we head into the offseason we can learn from this series as we continue to develop as a team. I'm certainly looking forward to the months that lie ahead."

NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 Team was without two of its leading scorers for the playoffs. Jordan Schroeder (Lakeville, Minn.) and Vinny Saponari (Powder Springs, Ga.) are currently skating with the U.S. National Under-18 Team at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship in Tampere and Rauma, Finland from April 12 - April 22. Team USA will aim for its third straight gold medal at the event when it faces Russia on Sunday (April 22) at 11:30 a.m. EDT.

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