NAHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Blanks Marquette, 3-0

Published on March 21, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Kevin McCarey (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) netted two goals and goaltender Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.) made 12 saves in leading the U.S. National Under-18 Team to a 3-0 win over the Marquette Rangers Friday night at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

"It was a very focused team effort for our guys tonight," said John Hynes, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team. "We are looking at this series as a chance for us to assist the U.S. National Under-17 Team in its playoff run."

Team USA tallied its first marker of the evening at 7:05 of the second period when McCarey poked a rebound past Marquette netminder Beau Christian, from right in front of the net. Justin Florek (Marquette, Mich.) took a the initial shot from the point, while Patrick Gaul (Pittsburgh, Pa.) handed out the second assist on the goal.

McCarey notched his second tally of the evening at the 4:50 mark of the final period, thanks to assists from Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn.) and Vinny Saponari (Powder Springs, Ga.). Schroeder left a drop pass for McCarey in the low slot that McCarey slipped into a partially open net.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team scored its last goal of the contest at 10:46 of the third stanza as David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) put a shot from the front of the net by Christian on the glove side. Saponari left a one-timer pass for Ryan Hegarty (Arlington, Mass.) at the point, and Hegarty's shot misfired right onto the stick of Wohlberg at the crease.

Marquette pulled Christian with 1:38 left in regulation, but Team USA held on to preserve the shutout.

Christian finished with 27 saves in the loss for the Rangers.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team (26-20-2-4) plays Marquette tomorrow night at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. EDT.

Notes: Kevin McCarey tied a season high with two goals ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team notched its second blanking of the year, and its first since Nov. 7 when it defeated Switzerland, 2-0, at the Four Nations Tournament in Huttwil, Switzerland ... Brandon Maxwell recorded his first shutout as a member of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, and his second blanking of the 2007-08 season ... Team USA allowed just 12 shots, marking its lowest total of the year.

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2008


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