NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Tops Mahoning Valley, 3-1

Published on April 24, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Michael Mersch (Park Ridge, Ill.) netted two goals and Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.) made 27 saves as the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, 3-1, here tonight in Game 4 of the Robertson Cup Playoffs second-round series. With the win, Team USA drew even with the Phantoms, 2-2, in the best-of-five series. The two teams will meet Friday (April 25) in the decisive Game 5 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube at 7 p.m. ET.

Mersch staked the U.S. to a 1-0 lead at 12:44 of the opening stanza when he converted on a Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) feed in the middle slot. The Phantoms answered back when Stefan Salituro banked a shot into the U.S. net at 16:21 to draw even.

In the second period, Mersch's wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle found its way through a screen and past goaltender Jordan Tibbett at 11:27 to give the U.S. a 2-1 advantage. Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn.) and Chase Balisy (Fullerton, Calif.) registered assists on the play. Maxwell stopped all seven shots he saw in the middle frame to keep the U.S. ahead after 40 minutes.

With just 1:27 to play in regulation, Austin Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) banked a shot off of Jordan Tibbett and into the net to ice the 3-1 victory for Team USA. Maxwell turned aside all 12 shots he faced in the third stanza.

The winner of Friday's contest will represent the North American Hockey League North Division at the Robertson Cup Championship in Mason City, Iowa, April 28-May 3. USA Hockey's National Team Development Program will be offering special ticket prices for Game 5.

NOTES: Michael Mersch leads Team USA with five goals in the postseason, while Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif.) paces the squad with seven points (3-4). Mersch (5-1--6), Justin Faulk (3-3--6) and Jacob Fallon (Southlake, Texas/2-4--6) are tied for second with six points each ... Brandon Maxwell is 5-3-0 in postseason play and has recorded a 2.77 goals-against average and .910 save percentage.

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North American Hockey League Stories from April 24, 2009


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