USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Outlasts Host Slovakia, 7-6, at 2009 Under-17 Four Nations Cup

Published on November 6, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


TRNAVA, Slovakia - Seven different players scored for the U.S. National Under-17 Team as it defeated host Slovakia, 7-6, here tonight in its second game at the 2009 Under-17 Four Nations Cup. With the win, Team USA improved to 2-0-0-0 in the tournament, solidifying itself in first place.

"It's always good to come out with a win against the host country at an international event," said Ron Rolston, head coach for the U.S. National Under-17 Team. "Slovakia played hard the whole way through and our team showed some poise to hold on to the lead at the end of the game."

Connor Murphy (Dublin, Ohio) gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead 8:40 into the game after his snap shot from the top of the faceoff circles beat netminder Adam Nagy. Just 48 seconds later, Bruno Mraz answered back for Slovakia to make it 1-1.

The second period proved to be a wild one, with seven goals scored between the two teams. Slovakia's Karol Korim opened the floodgates just 33 seconds into the frame when he blasted a one-timer over the right shoulder of goaltender Matt Mahalak (Monroe, Mich.) to make it 2-1. Tyler Biggs (Cincinnati, Ohio) jammed home a rebound at the 2:24 mark to knot the score. Just 1:01 later, Blake Pietila (Brighton, Mich.) collected a loose puck in the high slot and fired a wrist shot over Nagy's glove to give the U.S. a 3-2 advantage. Vladimir Klinga responded with a tally for the Slovaks just 1:07 later to tie the score. At 14:18, Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmoor, Calif.) grabbed a loose puck on the right side of the net and wired a shot inside the right post to give Team USA the lead once again. Just 23 seconds later, J.T. Miller (East Palestine, Ohio) drove to the net hard and slammed the puck through Nagy to double the U.S. lead. With 1:32 to play in the second, Klinga tallied to make it 5-4.

Seth Ambroz (New Prague, Minn.) potted a highlight-reel goal just 55 seconds into the final frame. After falling to his back, Ambroz muscled a shot just under the crossbar to give Team USA a 6-4 advantage. Michael Paliotta (Westport, Conn.) fired a wrist shot through a screen and over Nagy's blocker at 5:20 to give the U.S. a three-goal cushion. Slovakia battled back, however. Marek Tvrdon scored at 9:53 to make it 7-5. With Nagy pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Klinga took Korim's feed and tapped it past Mahalak to bring Slovakia within a goal with just 49 seconds to play in regulation. Team USA was able to hold off an offensive flurry by the Slovakians in the closing seconds to earn the 7-6 victory.

Mahalak turned aside 40 shots, including 20 in the third period, to earn the win.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to action Saturday when it meets Switzerland at 8 a.m. EST in the finale of the 2009 Under-17 Four Nations Cup.

NOTES: Tyler Biggs was named Team USA's Player of the Game... Reid Boucher (Grand Ledge, Mich.) recorded three assists to pace Team USA with three points, while Biggs (1-1--2), J.T. Miller (1-1--2) and Michael Paliotta (1-1--2) each tallied two points... Blake Pietila leads the U.S. with four points (2-2) through the first two games... Seth Ambroz is Team USA's leading goal scorer with three, while Boucher paces the U.S. with three assists... Goaltender Matt Mahalak and forwards Seth Ambroz and Austin Wuthrich (Anchorage, Alaska) were added to the U.S. National Under-17 Team roster for the 2009 Under-17 Four Nations Cup... The U.S. National Under-17 Team is one of five U.S. teams competing during the International Ice Hockey Federation's November international break. To keep up with all of the U.S. teams in action this week, visit usahockey.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2009


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