NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls to Traverse City, 5-3

October 10, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev.) notched two points (1-1) as the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to the Traverse City North Stars, 5-3, here tonight in its first game against North American Hockey League North Division competition.

Kyle Jean put Traverse City ahead with a shorthanded tally at 6:20 of the opening stanza after he streaked down the ice and put a backhand shot past netminder Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.). Team USA answered back at 13:42 after Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) buried a pass from Nick Shore (Denver, Colo.). The North Stars came right back just 30 seconds later on a goal by Sean Burke who picked up a rebound and fired it past Campbell for a 2-1 lead. Chase Balisy (Fullerton, Calif.) tied the score after putting the puck behind goaltender C.J. Motte at the 14:27 mark to cap a 45-second span that included three goals.

The North Stars capitalized on a man advantage to take a 3-2 lead at 7:14 of the second period as Eric O'Hearn's cross-crease pass found Marc Thompson who slammed it by Campbell from the right post. Phil Wendecker doubled Traverse City's lead at 17:36 after his shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle found the back of the net. With just two seconds to play in the middle stanza, Zucker picked up a rebound and shovled it past Motte to cut the deficit to 4-3.

In the final frame, Burke scored an empty-net goal at 19:51 to ice the 5-3 victory for the North Stars.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to action tomorrow night in Traverse City at 7 p.m. ET.

NOTES: Team USA out shot the North Stars by a 28-14 margin ... Jason Zucker recorded his second multi-point performance of the season ... Matt Nieto (Long Beach, Calif./2-3--5) notched an assist to tie him with Zucker (4-1--5) for the team lead with five points.

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North American Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2008


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