Photo by Rena Laverty
PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Kamil Bednarik (Chicago, Ill.) had a goal and two assists for his fourth game of three-or-more points this season, but the U.S. National Under-18 Team fell to the Waterloo Black Hawks by a 7-4 final Friday evening at USA Hockey Arena.
The U.S. kicked off the goal scoring with a Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) tally less than five minutes into the game. After an LJ Mooney (West Mifflin, Pa.) attempt missed the net, Bednarik picked up the loose rubber and attacked the crease. He found Eiserman in the slot, who buried a one-timer for his 40th goal of the season.
Highlights
Waterloo responded with a pair of scores the rest of the period to take a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of action. First, it was Grady Deering, who redirected a Mike Phelan point shot over the shoulder of USA netminder Nick Kempf (Chicago, Ill.) at 7:45.
On a late-period power play, Teddy Townsend took a pass from Will Felicio at the right circle, took a stride in and buried a wrister in the top corner to give Waterloo a lead.
A high-flying middle frame began with Charlie Pardue (Winnetka, Ill.) evening the score once more at 3:26 of the second. From behind the net, Austin Baker (White Lake, Mich.) worked the puck along the boards to Shane Vansaghi (St. Louis, Mo.). He found a cutting Pardue who snuck his shot through the five-hole of Jack Spicer to tie the game at two apiece.
Waterloo's Jakub Altrichter put the visitors on top just 20 seconds later and Griffin Erdman doubled the Black Hawks' lead on the power play at 7:18.
Bednarik brought the U18s back within a score as he netted his 19th of the season just shy of the midway mark. After he won an offensive-zone faceoff back to Eiserman, his shot deflected off Mooney and right to Bednarik on the doorstep to bring it back to 4-3.
Eero Butella netted another Waterloo redirection, this one past Jack Parsons (Ithaca, N.Y.), who entered the game in relief, to restore the two-goal lead.
With 25 seconds left in the period, it was Team USA's turn to convert on the man advantage, this one courtesy of a Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn.) clapper from the center point. He was set up by Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass.) and Bednarik, who collected his third point of the evening.
Waterloo connected for the only two goals of the final period to secure a 7-4 victory on the road. Gavyn Thoreson netted less than two minutes into the period and Will Felicio capped the scoring with a late power-play marker.
The U18s continue their three-game weekend tomorrow night as the Madison Capitols come to town. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. from USA Hockey Arena and the first 500 fans in the building will get a pair of USA Hockey sunglasses, presented by Weingartz, as we skate into spring!
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