NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Edged by Traverse City, 5-4, in SO

Published on March 20, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Nick Shore (Denver, Colo.) scored twice during regulation and once in a shootout as the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to the Traverse City North Stars, 5-4, here tonight.

Shore put the U.S. ahead, 1-0, just 3:41 into the first period with a power-play goal. The tally came after Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn.) skated in down the left side, slid the puck to Shore who snapped a shot past netminder C.J. Motte from the left side.

In the second period, Shore struck again just 20 seconds in after he took a pass from Kevin Clare (New Rochelle, N.Y.), skated down the left side and fired a snap shot past the glove of Motte. Traverse City stormed back with a pair of goals just 1:05 apart to make it 2-2. At 11:28, Garrett Thompson gave the North Stars the lead.

Kyle Jean made it 4-2 at 5:27 of the third period after his shot beat netminder Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.). At 7:41, Clare brought the U.S. back within one with a power-play goal after he followed up a long rebound and zipped a shot from the left faceoff circle just underneath the crossbar. Team USA knotted the score when Bryan Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) tapped in a rebound off of a Shane Sooth (Canyon County, Calif.) shot at 10:07. Neither team was able to find the go-ahead goal in regulation, sending the game to overtime.

After the extra period went scoreless, the game was decided in the shootout. Shore went first for Team USA and converted after faking to his backhand and slipping the puck past Motte. Traverse City's Jean and Kyle Bonis each scored to give the North Stars the 2-1 shootout lead. In a must-score situation, Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) skated in on Motte, spun 360 degrees and put the puck past Motte to tie it up. However, Traverse City's final shooter, David Johnston, beat Maxwell with a snap shot over the glove to give the North Stars the 5-4 victory.

Maxwell stopped 21 shots on the night.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team will play the North Stars again tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET in Traverse City.

NOTES: Despite falling in the shootout, the U.S. remained in second place of the NAHL North Division, just one point ahead of the North Stars. The U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Team have combined for a 32-15-5 record in the league ... Team USA converted on each of its two power-play opportunities, while holding Traverse City scoreless twice on the penalty kill ... Along with Nick Shore (2-0--2), Justin Faulk (0-2--2) and Kevin Clare (1-1--2) each tallied two points.

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2009


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