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Photo by Rena Laverty
PLYMOUTH, Mich. - JP Hurlbert (Allen, Texas) scored a highlight-reel Michigan goal and added an assist, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team dropped a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Youngstown Phantoms tonight inside USA Hockey Arena.
The Phantoms jumped out to a 3-0 lead to open the contest. Kazimier Sobieski scored from the left point 1:54 in, Kuzma Voronin added a second from the low slot at 7:26, then Landan Resendes added a third 3:24 later.
Lukas Zajic (Plainfield, Ill.) got the U.S. on the board with 16.7 left in the first, going forehand-backhand to flip the puck over the pad of Phantoms netminder Owen Lepak. AJ Garcia (Romeoville, Ill.) earned an assist on the play with a perfectly placed pass.
Victor Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) brought the U17s within one 8:51 into the middle frame. Logan Lutner (Maple Grove, Minn.) carried the puck into the zone to find Plante, who danced into the slot for the finish.
Sammy Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) tied the game at 3-3 with 2:54 left in the second. Hurlbert won a puck battle along the left boards, carried it behind the net and found a waiting Nelson, who snapped it home.
Andrei Molgachyov got his stick on a redirect to regain Youngstown's lead with 9:08 left in the game.
Hurlbert knotted it again with a Michigan wraparound goal 3:13 later off a feed from Logan Stuart (Manhattan Beach, Calif.). Lutner earned an assist as well.
But Luke Osborn put the game on ice with a power-play goal in the final minute for a 5-4 final.
The U17s continue the holiday weekend fun at USA Hockey Arena on Friday as they host the Des Moines Buccaneers in the annual Black Friday Game. Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m. ET and tickets are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling the box office at 734-453-8400.