ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) netted two goals and added one assist, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team outlasted the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 4-2, on March 14, 2013, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. With the victory, the U18s improved to 17-5-2 (W-L-OTL) against United States Hockey League foes this season.

The RoughRiders struck first just 59 seconds into the opening frame. Team USA answered at 5:01 when Butcher launched a shot that snuck past Cedar Rapids netminder Chris Birdsall. J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) and Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) collected assists on the power-play tally. A late goal by Cedar Rapids sent the U.S. into the locker room down, 2-1.

Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) skated the length of the ice and ripped a shot under the cross bar to knot the game, 2-2, at 1:45 of the second stanza. Butcher and Blake Weyrick (Ojai, Calif.) registered assists on the power-play marker. Team USA staked a one-goal lead at 11:34 off of Butcher's stick. The defenseman intercepted a RoughRiders clearing attempt and wristed a shot into the net, giving the U.S. a 3-2 advantage.

The U18s pulled away at 6:42 of the third period when Connor Clifton (Matawan, N.J.) lit the lamp. Eichel and Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) assisted on the insurance goal. Team USA held Cedar Rapids to three shots in the frame. Weyrick stopped each attempt and 15 shots total in the win for the U.S.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team will face its cross-state rivals, the Muskegon Lumberjacks, tomorrow night (March 15) at 7:15 p.m. EDT. The game will be held at L.C. Walker Arena. Muskegon holds a 2-0-0 lead in the series versus the U18s, winning both games in Ann Arbor, Mich.

1st Star
Under-18 Team
Will Butcher, defense (2 goals, 1 assist)

2nd Star
Under-18 Team
Jack Eichel, forward (1 goal, 1 assist)

3rd Star
Under-18 Team
Hudson Fasching, forward