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Photo by NAHL
BLAINE, Minn. - Mikey Berchild (Minnetonka, Minn.) scored twice on the power play to lift the U.S. National Under-17 Team to a 3-2 win over the Shreveport Mudbugs tonight inside the Super Rink at the NAHL Showcase.
Shreveport broke the ice 14:10 into the game with a score from Lucas Deeb going short-side past Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.).
Berchild found the equalizer with 1:46 left in the period, capitalizing on a power play opportunity with a rocket of a one-timer from the point off a dish from Abe Barnett (Wilmette, Ill.). Logan Stuart (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) picked up an assist as well.
Stuart added a second for Team USA with his first career goal just 45 seconds into the middle frame. Berchild grabbed a loose puck off a pad save by Carrithers and found Wyatt Cullen (Moorhead, Minn.) in stride, who dished it to Stuart for the finish just outside the paint.
Berchild put the U.S. up by two with his second power-play tally of the game. Dayne Beuker (Portland, Ore.) kept in a Shreveport clearing attempt along the right boards, fed it to Barnett at the point and Barnett found a cutting Berchild, who snapped one past Mudbugs netminder Seth Murch with 1:58 left in the period.
Brent Litchard got Shreveport within one 5:52 into the final frame, but Carrithers stood tall to pick up his second career win, finishing with 28 saves.
The U17s close out the NAHL Showcase tomorrow as they take on the Minnesota Wilderness from the Super Rink at 6:15 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed live on NAHLTV.