USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Scores Shootout Victory Over Sweden, 2-1, in World Under-17 Challenge

Published on January 3, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


WINDSOR, Ont. - Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) each scored shootout goals, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team earned a shootout victory over Sweden, 2-1, in the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge semifinals here this evening at the WFCU Centre. With the win, Team USA improves to 4-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) and advances to the championship game against the winner of the Canada Ontario - Russia semifinal.

"It is a great feeling to be playing tomorrow in the title game," said Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. "We have to rest up and be ready for an exceptional team tomorrow in the finale."

Team USA had eight shots on goal in the opening frame, but could not put the puck past Swedish netminder Ebbe Sionas. Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) turned aside both shots he faced in the period and the teams entered the first intermission scoreless.

Sweden seized the lead off a shorthanded breakaway at 17:20 of the second stanza. The U.S. recorded nine shots on goal in the frame, but did not score and trailed Sweden, 1-0, after two periods.

Michael McCarron (Macomb, Mich.) tied the game for the U.S. at 3:10 of the third frame. Scott Savage (San Clemente, Calif.) and Dawson Cook (Cadillac, Mich.) collected assists on the tally. The goal would stand as the lone marker in the period and the game was sent into a 10-minute overtime.

The U.S. pressured Sweden in the overtime session, firing eight shots on net, while holding Sweden to three. Neither team potted the game-winning goal and the contest would be decided in a best-of-three shootout.

Demko turned aside Sweden's first shooter with a stick save. Allen skated in next for Team USA and slipped the puck past Sionas to give the U.S. a one-goal advantage. Demko then made a sprawling pad save on the next Swedish shooter to preserve the lead for Team USA. Shooting next, Louis scored with a wrist shot into the top of the net to secure the victory for the U.S., as it defeated Sweden, 2-1.

Demko turned aside 22 shots for Team USA in the victory, while Sionas made 38 saves for Sweden in the loss.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team will face the Canada Ontario - Russia winner tomorrow (Jan. 4) at 7 p.m. EST. The game will be held at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont. A full schedule and results are below.

NOTES: Thatcher Demko was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... The U.S. went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Sweden went 0-for-5 with the man advantage ... Team USA recorded 39 shots on goal, while Sweden had 23 ... For Team USA's full roster, click here ... The 2012 World Under-17 Challenge includes two pools of five teams. Pool A consists of teams from Canada Atlantic, Germany, Canada Quebec, Canada Ontario and Sweden. Pool B consists of teams from the Czech Republic, Canada Pacific, Russia, Canada West and the United States ... Exclusive videos will be posted on the USA Hockey YouTube channel under the World Under-17 Challenge playlist ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #U17CHAL ... All games during the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be available via live webcast at FASTHockey.com ... For additional coverage, visit USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Facebook page ... The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams train with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary new software program released on October 1, 2010 that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2012


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