NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls to Mahoning Valley, 2-1

Published on April 25, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif.) tallied a goal late in the third period and Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.) recorded 28 saves, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell, 2-1, to the Mahoning Valley Phantoms in the decisive Game 5 of the NAHL North Division Finals here tonight.

After a scoreless first period, Mahoning Valley got on the board at 12:49 of the second frame when Erik Higby took a crossing pass from Cole Schneider and beat Maxwell into the upper left corner.

In the third stanza, Schneider added an empty-net goal at 18:09 to make it 2-0. Team USA responded with 35 seconds remaining in regulation with an extra attacker on the ice. Etem took a pass from Michael Mersch (Park Ridge, Ill.) and put the puck into the back of the net from just below the left faceoff circle to cut the deficit in half. Despite a last-ditch effort, Team USA was unable to find the equalizer, thus ending its season.

Maxwell turned away 27 of the 28 shots he faced.

Team USA finished with a 42-16-6 overall record in 2008-09.

NOTES: The U.S. out shot Mahoning Valley 51-29 ... With his goal, Emerson Etem finished the playoffs with a team-high eight points (4-4). With an assist on the same play, Michael Mersch took over second on the team in points with seven (5-2) ... Brandon Maxwell finished the postseason with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team finished the 2008-09 regular season on top of the NAHL North Division. Internationally, Team USA finished first at the 2009 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia, second at the 2008 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament in Monthey, Switzerland, and third at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, B.C. ... Austin Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) finished the 2008-09 season as Team USA's leading point-getter with 56 (24-32). Etem led the squad with 27 goals, while Matthew Nieto (Long Beach, Calif.) registered a team-best 33 assists.

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North American Hockey League Stories from April 25, 2009


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