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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Falls To Sixth-Ranked Wolverines In Overtime

October 8, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The U.S. National Under-18 Team fell to the #6 ranked University of Michigan Wolverines tonight in overtime at Yost Arena by a 3-2 count. NTDP alumnus T.J. Hensick's (2001-03) breakaway goal with less than one second remaining in overtime stifled the upset attempt from Team USA.

After a scoreless opening frame, in which Team USA outshot the Wolverines 11-7, Team USA gained the first advantage of the game midway through the second period. U.S. forward James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) corralled a loose puck behind the Michigan net and fed Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) who buried a shot past Wolverines netminder Billy Sauer. Michigan evened the score with 1:22 remaining in the second period when Andrew Cogliano beat U.S. netminder Brad Phillips (Farmington Hills, Mich.) on the power-play.

Team USA gained the 2-1 advantage 9:56 into the third period when Ryan Hayes (Syracuse, N.Y.) gathered in his own rebound in front of the Wolverines net, then beat Sauer with a backhand shot. With only 1:11 remaining in the game, vanRiemsdyk was whistled for a tripping penalty when collided with NTDP alumnus Jack Johnson (2002-04) in the U.S. zone. Johnson then tied the game when he threw a slapshot through a crowd in front of Phillips for the Wolverines' second power-play tally of the night to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Hensick grabbed a lose puck in the neutral zone with just seconds left in the game and was able to beat Phillips as time expired to give Michigan the 3-2 victory.

Despite the loss, Phillips was strong in net tonight for Team USA stopping 36 of 29 Wolverines attempts in his first loss of the season.

"Our guys worked extremely hard tonight and deserved a better fate," said U.S. Head Coach Ron Rolston (Fenton, Mich.). "We will take a lot of lessons out of tonight's game and this loss will only make us stronger going forward."

The U.S. National Under-18 Team travels out east this week to battle the top-ranked Boston College on Friday night, Oct. 13, in Chestnut Hill, Mass., and the University of New Hampshire on Saturday night, Oct. 14, in Durham, N.H.

NOTES: Nine NTDP alumni were in the University of Michigan line-up tonight, including all three starting forwards and both starting defenseman.

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