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USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Edges Czech Republic, 3-2, to Claim Five Nations Tournament Title

February 8, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


DMITROV, Russia - Brandon Fortunato (North Hills, N.Y.) scored the eventual game-winning goal and Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) made 20 saves as the U.S. National Under-18 Team edged the Czech Republic, 3-2, here today at Dmitrov Arena. With the victory, Team USA concludes tournament play with a perfect 4-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record and captures first place at the 2014 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament.

Joe Wegwerth (Brewster, N.Y.) put the Czechs on notice at 4:15 of the opening period. Shane Gersich (Chaska, Minn.) and Nolan Stevens (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) assisted on the play. Team USA doubled its lead when Dylan Pavelek (Marysville, Mich.) lit the lamp at 15:51. Ryan Wagner (Park Ridge, Ill.) collected the lone helper. Fortunato found the back of the net with 47 seconds remaining in the first to put the U.S. up 3-0. Jack Dougherty (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) recorded assists.

The Czech Republic notched back-to-back goals in the second stanza, just over one minute apart, to inch closer to the U.S. Team USA outshot the Czechs, 10-7, in the period.

Minney needed to make just three stops in the third period to help seal the victory for Team USA. Vitek Vanecek and Karel Vejmelka combined to make 31 total saves in the loss for the Czech Republic.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team now returns home and will face Bowling Green State University next on Feb. 21. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. EST at the BGSU Ice Arena. Team USA will then travel to Indianapolis to face the Indiana Ice on Feb. 22-23.

NOTES: Team USA outshot the Czech Republic, 34-22 ... The U.S. went 1-2 on the power play, while the Czech Republic also went 1-2 ... For the complete U.S. National Under-18 Team roster, click here ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team claimed its first title at the Five Nations Tournament since 2011. Team USA has now claimed first place seven times (1999, 2005, 2007-09, 2011, 2014) ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the Five Nations Tournaments. Scores will be designated with the #5nationsU18 tag ... For additional coverage, visit the NTDP Facebook page and follow @USANTDP on Twitter ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team trains with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary new software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

2014 U18 Five Nations Tournament Schedule - United States

Feb. 4-8, 2014 - Dmitrov, Russia

Date Opponent Location Time (EST) / Result

Tues., Feb. 4 Russia Dmitrov W, 5-2

Thurs., Feb. 6 Finland Dmitrov W, 8-3

Fri., Feb. 7 Sweden Dmitrov W, 4-2

Sat., Feb. 8 Czech Republic Dmitrov W, 3-2

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2014


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