Fondrk gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead just 35 seconds later, connecting with Cullen Potter (Minneapolis, Minn.) at the point and going forehand-backhand on the doorstep.

The Ice Wolves cut the lead in half with a power-play goal 23 seconds into the middle frame, then tied things up at the 1:42 mark.

New Mexico went up 3-2 as Rasmus Leijonhiielm capitalized on a U.S. change and scored on the breakaway 5:34 into the period, then Ryan Johnson quickly made things 4-2 with a one-timer on the powerplay at the 6:59 mark. The Ice Wolves took a 5-2 lead just shy of the game’s halfway mark with a third power-play goal, and a fourth made things 6-2 with 9:05 to play in the period.

Jacob Kvasnicka (Plymouth, Minn.) added a third to the U.S. tally with 5:00 left in the second. Asher Barnett (Wilmette, Ill.) carried the puck all the way up the ice from behind the U.S. net and fed it Kvasnicka on the rush, who tipped it stick side past Ice Wolves goaltender Jackson Fuller.

An empty netter with 3:54 to play in the final period sealed things at 7-3.

Patrick Quinlan (Kennett Square, Pa.) played the first and third in net for the U.S., stopping all 25 shots he faced, while Joey Slavick (Westland, Mich.) saw the middle frame and had 10 saves.

The Under-17 Team will take the next week off from games before it’s back on the ice for the 2023-24 home opener Sept. 29 against the Green Bay Gamblers. Puck drop is set for 7pm ET and tickets can be purchased by calling the USA Hockey Arena box office at 734-453-8400.