Theo Kiss opened up the scoring for the Buccaneers, after scoring on a mini-break at 6:32 of the first period.

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The U18s fought right back. After driving wide on the defenseman, LJ Mooney (West Mifflin, Pa.) threw it towards the front of the net. Following the puck, Mikey Berchild (Minnetonka, Minn.) was able to clean up the loose play, tying the game 1-1 going into the second period.
 

Des Moines took the lead right back when Yaroslav Bryzgalov capitalized on a turnover and put the Bucs up 2-1.

Just 40 seconds later, Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass) gathered the puck through the zone. Entering, he threw a wrist shot through traffic, beating the Buccaneers goaltender, tying the game.

Drew Schock IV (Green Bay, Wisc.) capitalized just two minutes later. Jumping into the zone, he got the puck on a pass from Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), and fired it on net to give Team USA the lead.

The U18s were able to get another one late into the second. Mikey Berchild again, found himself in the right spot at the right time. On the draw, the puck was won back to Schock IV, who fired it on net, finding Berchild’s stick to give him his second of the game.

Des Moines made it a 4-3 game out of the second intermission, off a shot from Theo Kiss.

The Buccaneers tied it right after, Keaton Orrey shot one on net, making the score 4-4.

Cole McKinney led the charge for Team USA afterwards. Stealing the puck into the offensive end, he walked into the top of the circle and didn’t miss for the unassisted goal.

The U18s continued the momentum. LJ Mooney took the puck passed the defenseman. Walking it in front, he stuffed it home for the 6-4 lead.

Continuing the pressure short-handed, Will Moore (Ithaca, N.Y.) made the perfect feed over to the driving Asher Barnett (Wilmette, Ill), putting it home and giving him his fourth of the year.

From there, Team USA shutdown the Bucs in the third, and Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass) was able to throw one from the opposite end into the empty net, solidifying the win.

Joey Slavick (Westland, Mich.) made 13 saves in the win.

The U18s are back tomorrow night (March 29th) taking on the Waterloo Black Hawks. The games will stream live on FloHockey.