SOBESLAV, Czechia - Five different players scored for the U.S. National Under-18 Team, but the late comeback attempt fell short in a 6-5 loss to Finland at the U18 Five Nations in Sobeslav. 

The U.S. added the game's next pair of goals near the middle of the opening period. Fondrk gave them the lead with a beautiful individual effort. After Lincoln Kuehne (West Fargo, N.D.) made a great play to keep the puck in the zone, Fondrk took it around the entire offensive zone, cut towards the net and finished on the backhand for a 2-1 lead. 

Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.) was the recipient of a tremendous tic-tac-toe passing sequence to put Team USA up 3-1 at 13:25. It was Cole McKinney (Lake Forest, Ill.) who kept the puck in the zone this time and quickly found Jack Murtagh (East Greenbush, N.Y.) along the left-wing boards. He one-touched it to Gallant, stationed backdoor, to extend the USA advantage. 

Finland got one back on a flukey play before the end of the period to make it a 3-2 contest after 20 minutes. The Finns were called for a delayed penalty and USA netminder Harrison Boettiger (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) left for the bench. A U.S. low-to-high passing sequence went awry and the puck carried all the way back into the unattended net. 

Less than a minute into the second, Finland returned the game to even and then went on to take the lead at 5:22 off a quick snipe from Lauri Kouhia. 

A Finnish power-play marker gave the Europeans a two-goal advantage just shy of the game's halfway mark, and the 5-3 score stood until the second-period buzzer. 

After Finland made it 6-3 on a 5-on-3 opportunity, Moore got the score right back for the U.S. on the ensuing power play. Fondrk deflected a Finnish clearing attempt to lead Moore in alone, who buried it under the blocker to bring it back to a two-goal deficit. 

Andrew O'Neill (Fargo, N.D.) brought Team USA within one with 68 seconds to play in regulation. He converted on a second-chance opportunity while positioned in the crease.

The U.S. brought pressure for the remainder of regulation, but could not find the tying goal in the eventual 6-5 final. 

The U18s continue Five Nations play tomorrow back in Tabor. They square off with host Czechia at 12:00 p.m. ET and the game can be streamed live on CzechIceHockey.tv. 

PLYMOUTH, Mich. -

the U.S. National Under-18 Team

Coming soon!

Game wrap up...

The U18s are back at USA Hockey Arena next Friday, Oct. 20 as they host the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET and tickets are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling the box office at 734-453-8400.