The U17s struck first just under 10 minutes into the opening period. On the power play, Alexander Milojevic (Chicago, Ill.) fired a pass from the near faceoff circle that deflected off Hudson Salvador (Warren, N.J.) in front to give Team USA the early 1-0 lead.

Muskegon responded with 3:01 left in the first, capitalizing on a rebound to even the score at 1-1 heading into the intermission.

The Lumberjacks grabbed a 2-1 lead five minutes into the second period on a quick shot from Jack Christ.

The NTDP answered seven minutes later while shorthanded. Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.) fed Willis with a breakout pass that led to a clean breakaway, and Brayden Willis sniped the puck into the top-right corner to tie the game at two.

Three minutes later, Muskegon reclaimed the lead on a Jake Stewart slapshot from the point during a power play.

Midway through the third, Nolan Fitzhenry (Andover, Minn.) intercepted a pass and skated in on a two-on-one with Willis. Fitzhenry delivered a perfect cross-ice feed that Willis buried for his second goal of the night, tying the game once again with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

The duo connected one more time to complete the comeback. With five minutes left, Rocco Pelosi (Sewell, N.J.) started the rush from center ice, finding Fitzhenry in the corner, who fired another pinpoint pass to Willis in the slot. Willis buried the shot to complete his hat trick—the first of the season for the U17s—and seal the 4-3 win.

Nate Chizik (Washington, Pa.) earned the victory, stopping 24 shots.

The U17s travel to Muskegon tomorrow to complete the home-and-home series against the Lumberjacks. Puck drop is set for 6:10 p.m. ET at Trinity Health Arena.