NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. National Under-18 Team Tops Finland in Shootout

Published on February 8, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


MOST, Czech Republic - The U.S. National Under-18 Team topped the National Under-18 Team from Finland in dramatic fashion this afternoon with a 3-2 shootout victory. After the Finns took the lead with 1:22 to play in the game, Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) deposited a perfect feed from linemate James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) with the extra attacker to even the game with 28 seconds remaining. After a scoreless overtime session vanRiemsdyk's shootout goal sealed the win for his club.

After a scoreless opening frame, vanRiemsdyk opened the scoring when he blasted a drive from the point past the Finnish goaltender just 21 seconds into the second period. Team Finland responded with a goal of its own from forward Nestori Lahde at the 2:18 mark of the second stanza.

Both squads upped the pressure in the third period but had nothing to show for it in the first 18 minutes of the frame. That all changed in the final two minutes of the contest when the teams exchanged goals in a 54-second time span. Finland defenseman Jesse Jyrkkio gave his team its first lead of the day at the 18:38 mark before Wilson's tally notched things at 2-2.

After the scoreless overtime session, Finland scored to open the three-man shootout before U.S. forward Ryan Hayes (Syracuse, N.Y.) evened the shootout at one with a goal in Team USA's first attempt. After Brad Phillips (Farmington, Mich.) stopped a Finish shooter, vanRiemsdyk buried his shootout attempt to give Team USA the advantage. Phillips then stopped the final Finnish attempt to seal the victory for his squad.

"Our team showed great character coming back in the last minute. I was very happy that we dominated play in the last two periods at even strength, despite playing last night," said U.S. Head Coach Ron Rolston (Fenton, Mich.). "We will need to find more energy to play Sweden tomorrow night. They are one of the top teams in the world and we will need to be prepared to play a full 60 minutes."

The U.S. National Under-18 Team (2-0-0-0) will face Sweden (1-0-0-0) tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. EST in its third contest of the four-game event.

NOTES: Colin Wilson notched Player of the Game honors for Team USA ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team is now 3-2-1 in international competition this season ... The tournament serves as Team USA's final international tune-up prior to the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship, played this year in Rauma and Tampere, Finland, from April 11-22.

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North American Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2007


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