U18s continue hot streak; beat Capitols 5-4 to extend winning streak to 11 games

USA Hockey National Team Development Program

U18s continue hot streak; beat Capitols 5-4 to extend winning streak to 11 games

By USA Hockey's NTDP, 03/14/25, 9:45PM EDT

Richard Gallant scores game winner at 18:02 of third period

Photo by Rena Laverty

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - The U.S. National Under-18 Team posted a 5-4 win over the Madison Capitols as Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.) scored the game winner with just 1:58 remaining in the third period. It marked the 11th straight win, including their sixth-straight USHL victory for the U18s.

Team USA took the early 1-0 lead on a goal by Jack Murtagh (East Greenbush, N.Y.) at the 8:48 mark of the opening stanza. Donny Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) sent a pass to Murtagh, who was wide open in the slot and pushed the puck past the goaltender. Will Moore (Ithaca, N.Y.) also picked up an assist on the goal.

Five goals were tallied in the second period. Madison tied the game at 1-1, just 1:55 into the second period, on a goal by Egor Barabanov.

The U18s regained the lead, 2-1, on a goal by Cole McKinney (Lake Forest, Ill.) at 4:26. Team USA dumped the puck into the offensive zone, and the Capitals goalie went behind the net to stop the puck. Gallant stole the puck and passed it out to McKinney, who deposited the puck into the open net. It marked McKinney’s 20th goal of the season.

Murtagh made it 3-1 for the U18s a little over three minutes later at the 7:46 mark. McKinney sent a pass to Murtagh, who was alone on the back door, for his second goal of the night and his 20th of the season. Gallant also picked up an assist on the play.

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Just 42 seconds later, Madison cut the lead to 3-2 on a goal by Bobby Cowan. John Stout had the original shot on goal and Cowan poked the rebound behind USA netminder Joey Slavick (Westland, Mich.).

The U18s increased their lead to 4-2 at 17:58 on a goal by Will Belle (Minnetonka, Minn.). Belle won the puck battle behind the Capitals net and skated around the left side of the goalie to pick up his fourth goal of the season. Moore and Charlie Trethewey (Woodbine, Md.) picked up the assists on the goal.

The Capitols opened the third period by scoring back-to-back goals. Finn Brink scored at the 4:11 mark to make it 4-3, before Sam Kappell scored at 12:50 to knot the score at 4.

Gallant tallied the game-winner with just 1:58 remaining in the third period as he tipped the puck past the Madison goaltender to give the U18s, a 5-4 lead. Drew Schock IV (Green Bay, Wis.) and Jacob Kvasnicka (Wayzata, Minn.) picked up the helpers on the game winner.

Slavick finished with 20 saves to earn his eighth win of the season.

The U18s and Capitols will play against tomorrow (March 15) at USA Hockey Arena. Face-off is set for 7pm ET. Tickets are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling the box office at 734-453-8400.