Team USA celebrates one of its three goals against Chicago on Sunday, March 3. Photo by Tom Sorensen.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) turned aside 24 shots, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team was shutout by the Chicago Steel, 3-0, on March 2, 2013, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The game was the first in a two-game series between the United States Hockey League Eastern Conference rivals.
Team USA found itself down a goal late in the first frame when a deflected puck caromed past Miska for the score at 18:49. The tally came on the power play. Steel goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos was tested just twice in the period by the U.S., stopping both tries to preserve the lead.
Minney made 33 saves against Chicago on Sunday. Photo by Tom Sorensen.
Chicago doubled its advantage at 5:39 and extended its lead over Team USA at 17:05 of the second stanza. The Under-17 Team put nine shots on goal in the period, but were unable to solve Sakellaropoulos.
The U.S. outshot the Steel, 11-4, in an attempt to ignite the comeback needed, but were held scoreless and blanked, 3-0.
Ryan Hitchcock (Manhasset, N.Y.) scored one goal and added two assists the following afternoon (March 3), as the U.S. National Under-17 Team was clipped by the Chicago Steel, 4-3, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.
Chicago tallied the first goal of the game at 7:31 on the power play. The Steel doubled its lead at 12:52 and Team USA entered intermission down, 2-0.
Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) made nine stops in the scoreless second stanza to keep the Under-17 Team within striking distance.
Bjork had one goal and one assist and was named 1st Star on Sunday. Photo by Tom Sorensen.
Hitchcock cut the Steel lead in half, 2-1, just 40 seconds into the final frame. Jack Glover (Golden Valley, Minn.) and Anders Bjork (Mequon, Wis.) registered assists on the play. Chicago struck back on the power play to regain the two-goal advantage at 3:29. Ryan MacInnis (St. Louis, Mo.) lit the lamp at 8:02 to keep pace with the Steel. Hitchcock and Johnathan MacLeod (Dracut, Mass.) earned helpers on the score. Chicago was awarded a penalty shot at 16:06 and converted to go up, 4-2. A goal with 53 seconds remaining pulled the U.S. to within one. Bjork potted the power-play marker with Hitchcock and Ryan Bliss (Bedford, N.H.) collecting assists. Team USA could not notch the game-tying goal, however, and were clipped, 4-3.
Minney made 33 saves in the loss for the Under-17 Team, while Chris Nell turned aside 22 shots in the victory for the Steel.
The U.S. National Under-17 Team will next host the Green Bay Gamblers on March 8-9. Friday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, while Saturday's tilt is set for 3:30 p.m.
Three Stars of the Game
1st Star
Chicago Steel
Alex Sakellaropoulos, goalie (22 saves)
2nd Star
Chicago Steel
Jaccob Slavin, defense (1 goal)
3rd Star
Under-17 Team
Ryan Hitchcock, forward
Three Stars of the Game
1st Star
Under-17 Team
Anders Bjork, forward (1 goal, 1 assist)
2nd Star
Chicago Steel
Alex Roos, forward (2 goals)
3rd Star
Under-17 Team
R. Hitchcock, forward (1 goal, 2 assists)
Photo Gallery
Chicago Steel vs. Under-17 Team
Game action between the Chicago Steel and the U.S. National Under-17 Team on March 2-3, 2013, at the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Ice Cube. Photos by Tom Sorensen.