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Photo by Minnesota Elite League
NEW HOPE, Minn. - Lukas Zajic (Plainfield, IIl.) scored twice and added an assist and Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.) made a career-high 32 saves as the U.S. National Under-17 Team topped the Minnesota Elite League All-Stars 5-3.
The Elite League struck first with a Junior Podein forehand-backhand move on the power play at the 8:19 mark of the opening 20.
Zajic evened the game minutes later on the power play with a toe-drag release from the low slot after he picked the puck off an Elite League defender.
Brody Dustin regained the lead for the hosts, burying one from the hashmarks with 5:32 left in the period.
Zajic found his second of the game with just 1:19 to play, finishing a perfectly placed Victor Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) stretch pass through the neutral zone, with a forehand-backhand deke.
Dayne Beuker (Portland, Ore.) brought the U.S. it's first lead of the contest with a shorthanded tally, potting a centering feed from Mikey Berchild (Minnetonka, Minn.) from the slot 5:59 into the second.
Mason Minor answered for the All-Stars exactly 60 seconds later, picking up a rebound outside the paint.
Plante made it a 4-3 game, beating Elite League goaltender Cody Niesen with a backhand score off a feed from Brody George (Johnstown, Pa.) along the right boards with :49 left in the middle frame.
Sammy Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) brought the final count to 5-3, accepting a dish from Zajic atop the right circle, pausing and firing a wrister glove side.
The two teams face off again tomorrow from New Hope Ice Arena with puck drop slated for 10:00 a.m. ET.