TRURO, Nova Scotia. - Brayden Willis (Gilbert, Ariz.), Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), and Nolan Fitzhenry (Andover, Minn.) combine for seven points but the U.S. National Under-17 Team fall to Canada White in the semifinals of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, 8-7.

Freddie Schneider (Edina, Minn.) cut the deficit to one with just 15 seconds remaining in the period. Off an offensive-zone draw, Schneider won the faceoff back to Nolan Fitzhenry, who slid the puck down low to Brayden Willis in the slot. Willis turned and fired a shot that was stopped, but Schneider pounced on the rebound to make it 2–1 heading into intermission.

The second period opened in chaotic fashion, with both teams trading goals in a flurry of offense.

After killing off a penalty that carried over from the first, Willis exited the box and immediately converted on a breakaway, slipping a shot between the pads of Sam Berthiaume to tie the game.

Moments later, Canada White reclaimed the lead on a goal from Ben Harvey.

Less than a minute later, Michael Tang (New York, N.Y.) found the back of the net for his first of the tournament, capping off a sharp passing sequence to even things at 3–3.

Team USA took its first lead of the night just 50 seconds later, when Willis collected a loose puck in the Canada zone and circled around a defender before finding Carter Meyer alone in front for the go-ahead tally.

Canada White responded quickly with a goal from Sam Roberts to knot the score at 4–4.

After the early scoring surge, the U.S. settled in and began to control play. Their pressure paid off late in the frame on the power play, as Willis worked the puck along the wall and fed Meyer in the slot. Meyer made a slick, no-look backhand pass to Fitzhenry, who buried the shot into an open net to give Team USA a 5–4 advantage heading into the third.

Maddox Schultz scored for Canada White to tie the game early in the final period.

Four minutes later, Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) fought off a Canadian defender and muscled his way to a rebound goal, his first of the tournament.

Canada answered back with just over five minutes remaining in regulation to tie the game at 6-6.

Team USA quickly reclaimed the lead when Braden Horton (Souderton, Pa.) lofted a pass out of the defensive zone and over a Canadian defender, springing Ty Bergerson (Flat Rock, Mich.) on a breakaway. Bergerson buried the chance to make it 7-6.

Canada White continued to find a way, as Brenner Lammens netted the equalizer late to send the game into overtime.

In the extra frame, despite several strong U.S. scoring chances, Liam Pue gathered his own rebound on a 2-on-1 rush and scored the game-winner for Canada White.

The U17s are back tomorrow afternoon as they play at 3:30 in the Third-Place game against either Canada Red or Czechia. The game will be streamed on TSN.