ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Four different players scored and nine total players registered at least one point, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team tripped up the Indiana Ice, 4-1, on Jan. 18, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. With the win, Team USA split the mini-series with the Ice, earning two points in the standings. The Under-17 Team faced the Ice on Thursday (Jan. 17) and fell, 6-3.

The U.S. struck first at 1:51 of the opening frame when Sean Malone (West Seneca, N.Y.) found the back of the net. Connor Clifton (Matawan, N.J.) and Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) earned assists on the tally. John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn.) doubled the lead for Team USA at 17:52, one-timing a Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) pass past Ice netminder Dalton Izyk. J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) collected the second assist on the goal.

Keaton Thompson (Devils Lake, N.D.) added to the U.S. lead at 6:56 of the second period. Shane Eiserman (West Newbury, Mass.) found Thompson inside of the blue line for the wrist shot snipe. Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.) also assisted. Team USA led Indiana, 3-0, after 40 minutes of play.

Indiana spoiled the shutout at 3:50 of the final frame, but the U.S. would not give up another goal in the period. Motte added an empty net marker in the closing seconds to send Team USA away victorious, 4-1.

Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) made 14 saves in the win for the Under-18 Team, while Izyk kicked out 34 shots in the loss for the Ice.

Team USA is back in action tomorrow (Jan. 19) at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, when the Under-17 Team faces the Sioux City Musketeers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The U18s will close out the weekend with a tilt against the Chicago Steel on Sunday (Jan. 20) at 3:30 p.m.

1st Star
Under-18 Team
Sean Malone, forward (1 goal)

2nd Star
Under-18 Team
John Hayden, forward (1 goal)

3rd Star
Under-18 Team
Gage Ausmus, defense