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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-17 Team's Rally Comes Up Just Short Against Alpena

January 18, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


BOARDMAN, Ohio - The U.S. National Under-17 Team erased a four-goal deficit, but the Alpena IceDiggers skated away with a 6-5 victory in the first game of the North American Hockey League Showcase at the Boardman Ice Zone Friday afternoon.

"We played well in the second period, but the special teams were a big part of the game in the third, and that kind've took away our momentum," said Ron Rolston, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. "Now we have to get back on track tomorrow against another team [Marquette] that is in front of us in the league standings. It will be important for us to improve in the early stages of the game so we don't have to play from behind."

The IceDiggers tallied a pair of goals in the opening period, as JC Gulch scored a power-play marker at the 6:31 mark, and Tyler Pilmore chipped in an even-strength tally at 12:15 of the frame.

Russell Anderson and John Puskar spotted Alpena a 4-0 lead with two quick goals within the first 2:15 of the second stanza. The rest of the period belonged to Team USA, however, as it capped the frame with three straight markers.

David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) started the scoring barrage at the 4:09 mark. After taking a feed from Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass.), Wohlberg skated the puck from the back of the Alpena net into the slot, where he put a backhander up high past netminder Kevin Graves. A.J. Treais (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) also picked up a helper on the play.

At 10:27 of the frame, Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) netted his 12th goal of the 2007-08 campaign off assists from Grant Scott (Sewickley, Pa.) and Jerry D'Amigo (Binghamton, N.Y.). Lynch banged in a rebound in front of the IceDiggers' net courtesy of a well-timed pass off the stick of Scott.

Hayes tacked on another goal for Team USA with just 1:08 left in the period. Treais started the scoring sequence by directing a pin-point pass from the left of the Alpena net onto the stick of Hayes, who was set up in the left corner of the crease. Hayes then slid a low shot by Graves on the glove side.

The third period's scoring began with the first of two tallies for Team USA's Kevin McCarey (Baldwinsville, N.Y.). McCarey finished off his squad's four-goal explosion with a power-play goal at the 10:24 mark. He directed a shot from the slot by Graves into the top of the net. Tyler Amburgey (Rowlett, Texas) was credited with the primary assist, as his shot from the right point was re-directed by McCarey. Nick Mattson (Chanhassen, Minn.) doled out the second assist on the goal, his 15th of the season.

Alpena regained the lead for good with back-to-back goals from Brian Ross and Jim McCusker at 13:13 and 14:14, respectively.

McCarey made it a 6-5 game with 1:06 left in the contest when he converted on a partial breakaway. Steven West (Milford, Mich.) fired a tape-to-tape pass across the neutral zone to McCarey, who then snapped a wrist shot by Graves from the left circle.

Team USA pulled goaltender Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.) with 55 ticks left, but was unable to score again in the waning seconds.

Maxwell posted 25 saves for the U.S. National Under-17 Team, while Graves turned away 32 shots for the IceDiggers.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team (19-21-1) continues the NAHL Showcase against the Marquette Rangers tomorrow afternoon at the Boardman Ice Zone. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.

Notes: Kevin McCarey (2g), Jimmy Hayes (1g, 1a) and A.J. Treais (2a) each secured multi-point performances ... McCarey, Grant Scott (1a) and Steven West (1a) recorded their first points with the U.S. National Under-17 Team this year ... Joe Marciano (Alta Loma, Calif.) saw his first action with the U.S. National Under-17 Team in the 2007-08 slate ... David Wohlberg has netted three goals in each of his three games with the U.S. National Under-17 Team this season.

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2008


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