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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Opens Four Nations Tournament With Victory

November 7, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


DMITROV, Russia - After trailing, 4-0, the U.S. National Under-17 Team rattled off six unanswered goals to earn a 6-4 victory over Russia at Dmitrov Arena Friday afternoon. Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) scored a hat trick and Adam Murray (Anchorage, Alaska) made 18 saves to lead Team USA in its lone exhibition before the 2007 Four Nations Tournament kicks off Friday (Nov. 9).

"Today was a good comeback for our team," said Ron Rolston, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. "The Russians have a very talented team, but we did not quit when we got behind. We have to remember that this was an exhibition game, and the tournament starts on Friday. We will need to play well for 60 minutes in every game to succeed."

The Russians scored their first goal 41 seconds into the game as Stanislav Bocharov converted on a breakaway while his team was shorthanded. Evgeny Molotilov tallied a power-play goal at 10:19 of the period and Sergey Chvanov gave his team a 3-0 advantage when he scored off a back door play at the 15:33 mark of the opening period.

Team USA responded with four goals of its own in the second period.

Jerry D'Amigo (Binghamton, N.Y.) tapped in a rebound at 3:28 to put Team USA on the board. Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J.) gained the lone assist on the play. Morin recorded his team's second goal of the game at 6:03 after he tipped in a rebound right in front of the Russians' net. Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) was credited with the lone assist on the goal.

Drew Shore (Denver, Colo.) netted his fifth goal of the year at the 17:38 mark with a power-play tally. Ryan Bourque (Boxford, Mass.) took a shot from the point and Shore put in the rebound. Morin tied the game up at four apiece just over a minute later courtesy of helpers from Bjorn Krupp (Atlanta, Ga.) and D'Amigo.

Team USA secured its first lead at the 10:41 mark of the third period after Chris Brown (Flower Mound, Texas) notched his first game-winning goal of the year thanks to an assist from Ryan Walters (Rosemount, Minn.). Taking advantage of a turnover by the Russians behind their own net, Walters grabbed a loose puck and threw it out to the front of the net. Brown finished the play by slamming a five-hole shot into the back of the net.

The final goal for Team USA came with 2:03 left in the game as Morin and Palmieri teamed up on a neutral zone turnover to add an insurance goal. Morin completed his hat trick when he converted on a perfect one-timer pass from Palmieri on the wing.

After allowing four goals in his first 12 shots, Murray settled in and stopped the final 10 shots he faced for Team USA.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team begins its quest for a championship in the Four Nations Tournament Friday (Nov. 9) with a matchup against Sweden. The game is set to start at 4 p.m. local time and 8 a.m. ET.

NOTES: Morin's hat trick was the first by a member of the U.S. National Under-17 Team this season. Morin has amassed five multi-point games this year ... Palmieri has a team-best six multi-point games in 2007-08 ... D'Amigo picked up his first multi-point effort of the year ... Walters scored an assist in his first game as a member of the U.S. National Under-17 Team ... Team USA went 1-for-4 on the power play, compared to a 1-for-6 mark by the Russians ...

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