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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Takes On Czech Republic

April 19, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ÄNGELHOLM, Sweden -- The U.S. National Under-18 Team (4-0-0) will face the Czech Republic (3-2-0) tomorrow evening at 7:45 p.m. (1:45 EDT) in semi-final action at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship.

Tomorrow's game can be heard live via the Internet at www.usahockey.com. Mark Evans (Marquette, Mich.) and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Phil Housley (St. Paul, Minn.) bring all of the action live starting at 7:40 p.m.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team is led by Patrick Kane's (Buffalo, N.Y.) tournament-leading 11 points (6-5) and outstanding goaltending from Joe Palmer (Yorkville, N.Y.) and Brett Bennett (Williamsville, N.Y.). The duo has combined to allow only three goals in four games, stopping 73 of 76 attempts on the tournament.

Team USA topped the Czech Republic earlier in the tournament, 5-0, led by Rhett Rakhshani's (Huntington Beach, Calif.) two power-play goals and a shutout from Palmer. The Czechs topped host country Sweden tonight 3-0 in the cross-over round to earn a date with Team USA. In the other semi-final match-up Canada will face Finland tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. (10: 00 a.m. EDT).

The U.S. National Under-18 Team seeks a third gold medal in Under-18 World Championship history. Team USA earned gold last year defeating Canada 5-1 in Plzen, Czech Republic. In 2002 Team USA won its first gold in the Under-18 World Championship in Piestany, Slovakia, this core group of players went on to win the 2004 World Junior Championship for the first time in USA Hockey history. The U.S. National Under-18 Team has finished in the top four of the event in each of the last four years.

NOTES: USA defenseman Jamie McBain (Faribault, Minn.) leads the tournament in scoring by a defenseman with 10 points (1-9) ... Brett Bennett leads the tournament in save percentage at .968 after appearing in two games during the pool play ... Team USA leads the tournament in power-play conversion (40%) and penalty-killing efficiency (96.43%).

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