NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls to Topeka, 3-2

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


BLAINE, Minn. - Despite scoring two goals late in the third period, the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to the Topeka Roadrunners, 3-2, here today in its final game at the sixth annual North American Hockey League Showcase.

"I'm proud of the effort and the mental toughness of our team in our fourth game in four days," said John Hynes, head coach of Team USA. "We'll take the lessons from the games and continue to get better."

After a scoreless first period, Tom Kleidon gave Topeka the 1-0 lead just 54 seconds into the second stanza with a slap shot from the left point that beat Will Yanakeff (Jerome, Mich.) on the glove side. Yanakeff stopped the next 11 shots he faced in the middle frame.

Topeka extended its lead in the final period on a Jordan George power-play goal at 8:56. Bryan Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) cut the deficit in half when he chipped a rebound over netminder Bryce Merriam. The Roadrunners answered back when Alec Hagamen streaked through the neutral zone and fired a wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle that beat Yanakeff under his right arm. With Yanakeff pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Michael Mersch (Park Ridge, Ill.) fired a shot from the middle point that banked in off of the post and into the net at 17:55. Team USA furiously battled for the tying goal, but could not find the back of the net.

Yanakeff made 27 saves in the game.

NOTES: Team USA finished the Showcase with a 2-2-0 record ... Austin Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) led the team with four points (4-0) ... Both National Team Development Program squads are participating at the NAHL Showcase this year. It is the first time both teams have been at the event at the same time.

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 20, 2008


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