Under-17 Team Blanked by Muskegon in First Game After International Break

USA Hockey National Team Development Program

Under-17 Team Blanked by Muskegon in First Game After International Break

By USA Hockey, 02/15/13, 11:00PM EST

Edwin Minney made 25 saves for Team USA en route to being named the second star of the game. Photo by Tom Sorensen.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) made 25 saves, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team was blanked by the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 3-0, on Feb. 15, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The game marked the return to United States Hockey League action for Team USA after competiting in the Five Nations Tournament (Feb. 6-10).

Joe Wegwerth lines up for the faceoff against Muskegon. Photo by Tom Sorensen.

Muskegon scored its first goal at 14:17 of the opening period. The power-play tally was the lone marker in the frame. Team USA put eight shots on Lumberjacks goaltender Kevin Lindskoug, but were unable to find the back of the net.

The U.S. found itself down, 2-0, less than two minutes into the middle stanza. Team USA came close to edging within one goal several times, punctuated by Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) ringing the puck of the post late in the period, but could not score.

Down two goals as time was expiring on the contest, Minney raced to the bench in favor of the extra attacker. Muskegon won the next faceoff and scored into the empty net to send the U17s away with a 3-0 loss.

Team USA enjoys a day of in between tilts before hitting the road to Indianapolis, Ind. on Sunday (Feb. 17). The U17s will face the Indiana Ice at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Puck drop is slated for 3:05 p.m. EST.