Photo by Rena Laverty
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - In its regular season finale, the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell against the Youngstown Phantoms, 6-1, tonight inside Covelli Centre.
The Phantoms got on the board quick and took a 1-0 lead with 19:18 to play in the period. However, JP Hurlbert (Allen, Texas) answered moments later and evened things up with 16:36 to go. All by himself, Hurlbert poked the puck away to force a turnover, sped into the offensive zone and fired one from faceoff dot and beat Youngstown's starting netminder Melvin Strahl. The Phantoms nearly went ahead on the power play with under 8:00 to go, but starting U.S. goaltender Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.) denied a pair of opportunities.
The Phantoms broke the tie 5:31 into the second frame as it converted on a power play chance. Youngstown's Ryan Rucinski increased the teams lead with a pair as Team USA went down, 4-1, after 40 minutes of play. Team USA had several good looks to start the third, but Rucinski, once again, found the back of the net, making a steep comeback attempt for the U17s.
The Phantoms added one more before the final horn as the U17s fell, 6-1.
Carrithers stopped 29 shots in the season finale.
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