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NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Downs Mahoning Valley, 2-1

December 13, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Will Yanakeff (Jerome, Mich.) stopped 28 of the 29 shots he saw and Chase Balisy (Fullerton, Calif.) talled a shorthanded goal that proved to be the game winner as the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Mahoning Valley Phantoms 2-1 here tonight.

After a scoreless first period, Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) was able to squeeze the puck past Mahoning Valley netminder Garrett Bartus at 4:45 in the second frame to give Team USA a 1-0 lead. At 9:29, the Phantoms tied the game after Erik Higby slammed a rebound past Yanakeff into the upper-left corner of the net. The U.S. quickly regained the lead at 12:40 when Matthew Nieto's (Long Beach, Calif.) feed sprang Balisy for a breakaway. Balisy then deked left and slid the puck by Bartus on the left side for the shorthanded go-ahead marker.

Team USA held Mahoning Valley scoreless in the third period as Yanakeff stopped 14 shots to seal the victory.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team is back in action on Friday (December 19) against the Springfield Junior Blues of the North American Hockey League South Division. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

NOTES: Will Yanakeff now owns a .897 save percentage

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2008


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