GENEVA, Ill. – Despite outshooting Chicago, 37-22, a three-goal first period from the Steel doomed the U.S. National Under-17 Team early as the team dropped a 6-3 decision Sunday afternoon at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Andre Gasseau (Garden Grove, Calif.), Jimmy Snuggerud (Chaska, Minn.) and Cole Spicer (Grand Forks, N.D.) tallied the goals for the U.S. in the loss. 

The U17s return to USA Hockey Arena this weekend when they host the Youngstown Phantoms for a Friday-Saturday-Sunday series. Tickets can be purchased by visiting USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling 734-453-6400 x396.

Snuggerud got the U.S. on the scoresheet at the 6:03 mark of the frame, rocketing a slapshot from the top of the zone off a feed from Seamus Casey (Estero, Fla.) past Steel netminder Simon Latkoczy to cut the lead to 3-1. 

The Steel added a pair of goals to take a 5-1 advantage before the Wilmer-Gasseau-Kaplan line capitalized on a fast transition out of the U.S. zone. Devin Kaplan (Bridgewater, N.J.) slotted a pass to Jeremy Wilmer (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) who then found Gasseau across the crease for the score to make it a 5-2 game. 

The Steel added a sixth goal in the opening moments of the final stanza, but the U.S. kept up the pressure, outshooting Chicago 13-5 throughout the period. 

In his return to the ice from injury, Spicer tapped a pass from Maddox Fleming (Rochester, Minn.) past Latkoczy to cut the lead to 6-3. 

Cameron Korpi (South Lyon, Mich.) and Kaidan Mbereko (Aspen, Colo.) combined for 16 stops in the loss.