WATERLOO, Iowa - Anders Bjork (Mequon, Wis.) and Sonny Milano (Massapequa, Mass.) scored one goal and added one assist each, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to the Waterloo Black Hawks, 6-2, at Young Arena on Jan. 11.

The Black Hawks opened scoring at 10:23 of the first period. Bjork responded for Team USA at 11:31, with Milano earning the lone assist. Waterloo regained the lead at 13:01 and the U.S. entered intermission down by one.

Two back-to-back goals early in the second stanza by Waterloo propelled the Black Hawks to a 4-1 advantage. Team USA cut the lead in half when Milano netted a goal at 4:13. Bjork and Ryan Bliss (Bedford, N.H.) collected assists on the play. Waterloo put the puck into the net twice more, once on the power play, before time expired on the frame.

Team USA had nine shots in the third period, but was unable to ignite the comeback bid and dropped a 6-2 decision to Waterloo. Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) and Blake Weyrick (Ojai, Calif.) combined to make 39 saves in the loss for the U.S., while Eamon McAdam turned aside 17 shots in the win for Waterloo.

The following night (Jan. 12), the Under-17 Team traveled to Urbandale, Iowa to take on the Des Moines Buccaneers at Buccaneer Arena. Ryan Hitchcock (Manhasset, N.Y.) and Chris Wilkie (Omaha, Neb.) netted one goal and registered one assist each, as the U.S. earned one point in a shootout loss versus Des Moines.

Des Moines tallied the first goal of the game at 7:13 of the opening period. Hitchcock struck back for Team USA at 9:56. Wilkie and Ryan MacInnis (St. Louis, Mo.) collected assists on the play. Blake Christensen (Rochester Hills, Mich.) seized the lead for the U.S. at 11:48. Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Jared Fiegl (Parker, Colo.) assisted on the go-ahead marker. The back-and-forth battle continued as the Buccaneers knotted the game, 2-2, at 13:36. Wilkie regained the lead for the U17s with just 51 seconds remaining in the period. Hitchcock and Jack Glover (Golden Valley, Minn.) earned helpers on the score.

After a scoreless second stanza, Des Moines tied the game once more at 6:14 of the third period. After regulation, Team USA and the Buccaneers were locked, 3-3. A five-minute overtime period would not find a winner and the contest moved to a shootout.

Milano scored in the first round, but Des Moines notched goals in the third and fourth rounds to claim victory and the extra point.

Minney made 43 saves in the shootout loss for the Under-17 Team, while Billy Christopoulos kicked out 31 shots in the win for the Buccaneers.

1st Star
Waterloo Black Hawks
V. Hinostroza, forward (1 goal, 2 assists)

2nd Star
Waterloo Black Hawks
J.T. Stenglein, forward (1 goal, 1 assist)

3rd Star
Waterloo Black Hawks
Austin Vieth, forward (1 goal, 1 assist)

1st Star
Des Moines Buccaneers
Zach Saar, forward (1 assist)

2nd Star
Des Moines Buccaneers
A. Wemmeborn, forward (1 goal, 1 assist)

3rd Star
Des Moines Buccaneers
Luke Voltin, forward (1 goal)