U.S. National Under-17 Team Drops Two Hard Fought USHL Matchups

USA Hockey National Team Development Program

U.S. National Under-17 Team Drops Two Hard Fought USHL Matchups

By USA Hockey, 12/11/12, 12:00PM EST

Blake Christensen snaps off a shot against the Omaha Lancers at Ralston Arena. Photo by Allan Gardner.

RALSTON, Neb. – Chris Wilkie (Omaha, Neb.) had one goal and added an assist, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to the Omaha Lancers, 4-3, at Ralston Arena on Dec. 7. The game was the first of a two-game road trip within United States Hockey League play.

Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y.) put the U.S. on the board first just 20 seconds into the game, scoring off a takeaway. The Lancers answered with three consecutive goals to take a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission. Two of Omaha’s three first period goals came with the man advantage.

Wilkie had one goal and one assist in front of his hometown crowd. Photo by Allan Gardner.

Team USA mounted its comeback at 3:45 of the second stanza when Wilkie one-timed the puck into the net. Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) and Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) assisted on the power-play marker.

Ryan MacInnis (St. Louis, Mo.) knotted the contest at 1:08 of the final frame when he chipped in the puck at the front of the net. Milano and Wilkie collected helpers on the goal. Former NTDP forward, Kyle Osterberg (Lakeville, Minn./2010-12), scored the eventual game-winning tally at 3:56, capping a night in which he scored two goals and added an assist for the Lancers.

Minney turned aside 35 shots in the loss for the Under-17 Team, while Cole Bruns made 20 saves in the win for Omaha.

The following afternoon (Dec. 8), Eichel netted two goals against Tri-City, but the U.S. dropped a 6-3 decision to the Storm at the Viaero Event Center in Kearney, Neb.

Team USA staked a 1-0 lead at 15:17 of the first period off of Eichel’s first goal of the game. Eichel again found the back of the net at 1:37 of the middle frame before Tri-City erupted for five straight goals.

MacInnis brought the U.S. to within two goals at 4:18 of the third frame. Ryan Hitchcock (Manhasset, N.Y.) earned the lone assist. The goal extended MacInnis’ scoring streak to three games. The Storm added a late goal to seal the victory, 6-3, sending Team USA home with two losses on the weekend.

Henry Dill (Columbus, Ohio) kicked out 46 of 52 shots in his first appearance for the Under-17 Team in the setback, while Jonas Mattsson made 18 saves in the win for Tri-City.

The Under-17 Team next hosts the Fargo Force at the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Ice Cube on Dec. 13-14. Puck drop for both nights is 7 p.m. EST. Tickets are available by calling USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program office at (734) 327-9251.