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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team Tops Phantoms In Shootout

November 3, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The U.S. National Under-17 Team topped the Mahoning Valley Phantoms 5-4 in a shootout to earn their fourth straight victory. In the shootout, Ryan Hayes (Syracuse, N.Y.) scored and Josh Unice (Toledo, Ohio) stopped all five Mahoning Valley shooters to earn the victory for Team USA.

Through back and forth action in the first two periods, the Mahoning Valley lead 2-1 in what looked to be a low-scoring affair. But, in the third period the teams combined for five goals to send the game to overtime.

James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) evened the score for Team USA 2:20 into the third period on a feed from Hayes and Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.). Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) gave Team USA the lead with 8:30 remaining in the game. Anthony Ciraulo knotted the game at three 4:05 later on a power play goal for the Phantoms. Just 22 seconds later, vanRiemsdyk scored his second goal to give Team USA the lead with only 3:03 remaining.

With the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, Mahoning Valley scored with 11 seconds remaining in the game. The game remained tied through the five minute overtime period.

In goal for Team USA, Unice stopped 46 of 50 Phantoms shots to earn his fourth win of the season. Matt Rust recorded his first playmaker (0-3) of the season, assisting on all three Team USA goals scored in the third period.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team will travel to Piestany, Slovakia on Monday (Nov. 7) to participate in the 2005 Four Nations Tournament. Team USA will face Russia, Switzerland and the host team, Slovakia in the round robin tournament.

NOTES: Tonight was the fourth shootout victory for the U.S. National Under-17 Team this season, bringing their shootout record to 4-2 ... Both Brad Phillips (Farmington Hills, Mich.) and Unice have earned two shootout victories apiece in net for Team USA ... This season, four different Team USA shooters have scored the winning goal in the shootout (Hayes, Manley, Shattenkirk, Albert) ...

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