Photo by Rena Laverty
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - In its first Kroger College Series game since October, U.S. National Under-18 Team fell to the nationally-ranked University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 6-1, tonight inside Ralph Engelstad Arena.
It was a physical first period but Team USA held its own as it owned the edge in shots with nine and was an even with eight faceoff wins. Starting U.S. netminder Brady Knowling (Chicago, Ill.) was sound in net and turned aside seven shots to keep things at zero after the first 20.
Despite holding its own, it was the Fighting Hawks who got on the board first, shorthanded, off a shot from the slot at 3:47 of the second. North Dakota put itself up a pair after finding the back of the net at 11:08 of the period. The scoring opened up for the Fighting Hawks as it added another 3:50 following its second goal with its first tally on the power play. AJ Garcia (Romeoville, Ill.) had a good look in the closing minutes of the middle frame off a breakaway but his attempt was gloved to keep it 3-0.
The Fighting Hawks tallied three in the third period with a second power play goal at 8:43, followed by one even strength at 13:34. Its sixth goal of the contest came 5-on-5 at 15:32.
Team USA and Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) broke up North Dakota's team shutout bid at 17:44 with his fifth goal of the year. Mutryn garnered the puck along the goal line and fed it towards the crease as it deflected it into the back of the net to make it 6-1, the eventual final.
Knowling stopped 11 shots in 30:24 of ice time, while Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.) turned aside 13 in 29:29.
Team USA returns to the ice Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov. 25 & 26) for the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge. The CHL-USA Prospects Challenge will start Tuesday, Nov. 25, inside the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, with puck drop slated for 8:00 p.m. ET. The two-game series concludes Wednesday, Nov. 26 in Lethbridge, Alberta at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena, with puck drop set for 8:00 p.m. ET. Both games will be televised live on NHL Network.
The U18s are back at USA Hockey Arena Friday, Dec. 5 as it'll host the Lincoln Stars and will wear its community tribute third jersey for the first time this season. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET and tickets are available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix or by calling the box office at 734-453-8400.
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