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U.S. National Under-17 Team Skates Past Finland in Quarterfinal

By USAHockeyNTDP.com, 11/07/19, 8:30PM EST

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The U.S. netted five third period goals

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - The U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated Finland, 8-4 in its quarterfinal match-up today (Nov. 7) at the Under-17 Hockey Challenge behind a hat trick from Chaz Lucius (Grant, Minn.). 

“Outstanding result,” head coach John Wroblewski said after the game. “I thought it was a complete team effort. I thought every guy really played a strong game and it’s important that we continue to believe in that identity.  It’s what worked today and it’s what allowed us to break the game open against Finland. Now is the hard part.”

Justin Janicke (Maple Grove, Minn.) scored his 10th goal of the season at 9:30 of the first period. Tyler Boucher (Haddonfield, N.J.) sprung Janicke at center ice and after winning a foot race, and tipping the puck behind Finland’s goaltender at the top of the slot, Janicke pushed the puck in. 

Finland responded at 11:08 of the first to tie the game, 1-1.

Lucius gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead at the beginning of the second period. Lucius collected the puck in the middle of the slot and sent it under the blocker of Finland’s Paavo Kohonen.

At 7:29 of the second period, Finland evened the game again.

Lucius scored his 20th goal of the year at the 10:31 mark of the middle frame, sneaking the puck in on a one-timer from Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.).

Sasha Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) sent the puck to the front of the net where Dylan Duke (Strongsville, Ohio) tipped it into the back of the net and gave Team USA a 4-2 lead. Sean Behrens (Barrington, Ill.) also picked up an assist on the goal.

At 7:31 of the third period, Jack Hughes extended the U.S.’s lead, 5-2 after skating from Team USA’s blueline and wristed it in from the right circle. Pastujov picked the assist on the goal.

Liam Gilmartin (Falls Church, Va.) tapped in Team USA’s sixth goal of the afternoon before Lucius netted his third of the game, completing his first international hat trick.

Pastujov tallied the U.S.’s eighth goal of the game at 17:04 of the third period with help from Martin and Duke.

Finland also netted two in the third for an 8-4 final score.

The U.S. continues play tomorrow in semifinal action. The U.S. will play the winner of the Canada Red vs. Canada White quarterfinal game. 

Game Summary

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Tournament History

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World Under-17 Hockey Challenge News