NEW HOPE, Minn. - Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek, Calif./1-3) and James Sanchez (Northbrook, Ill./2-2) recorded four points each to help lead the U.S. National Under-17 Team in a 11-1 rout of Minnesota Elite League's Team Southwest at New Hope Arena today. Team USA finished the two-game mini series with the Elite League outscoring opponents 19-3 in two victories.

Team USA opened the scoring at 7:34 of the first frame when Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) took the puck away from Team Southwest in the slot and found the top corner of the net. Max Jones (Rochester, Mich.) doubled the U.S. lead, 2-0, firing a shot low glove side from the right face-off dot. Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y.) and Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) registered helpers on the play. The third U17 marker of the period came off the stick of Sanchez, who backhanded a rebound past Team Southwest goalie Jon Flakne.

The onslaught continued early in the second stanza as Pastujov's second tally gave Team USA a 4-0 advantage. Khodorenko assisted. Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.) pushed the lead to five at 9:57, finding daylight from the point through traffic. Keeghan Howdeshell (Brighton, Mich.) and Paul Washe (Troy, Mich.) collected helpers on Krys' score. Thirty-seven seconds later, Trent Frederic's (St. Louis, Mo.) shot from the slot found the back of the cage. Graham McPhee (Bethesda, Md.) and James Greenway (Potsdam, N.Y.) earned assists. Sanchez capped a four-goal second period at 14:12 on the power play and Team USA entered the break firmly in control, up 7-0.

Khodorenko notched a rebound goal at 2:24 of the third frame with Sanchez and Ryan Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn.) helping to create the chance. Keller scored twice, at 5:27 and 9:26, with Anderson adding a tally at the 17-minute mark to extend the U.S. lead to 11-0. A late rebound marker by Team Southwest spoiled the shutout bid for Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.), but the U17s won handily, 11-1, for their second straight victory.

Oettinger made 22 total saves in the win for Team USA, while Flakne and Jacob Berger combined to stop 25 shots in the loss for Team Southwest.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team will look to continue its momentum next week when the Des Moines Buccaneers visit Ann Arbor, Michigan. The U17s will face the Bucs on Saturday (Oct. 18) at 7 p.m. ET, before clashing once more with Des Moines the next afternoon (Oct. 19) at 3:30 p.m.

Team USA outshot Team Southwest, 36-23 ... The U.S. and Team Southwest both went 1-2 on the power play ... Fourteen players recorded at least one point in the game ... In total, 18 different players earned points in the two-game series versus the Minnesota Elite League ... Defenseman Matthew Kiersted (Elk River, Minn.), a North Dakota verbal commit from Elk River High School, skated in the two games against the MEL this weekend ... Forward Paul Washe (Troy, Mich.) also joined the squad this weekend. Washe currently plays for Victory Honda's midget major team.

1. James Sanchez, Team USA

2. Patrick Khodorenko, Team USA

3. Nick Pastujov, Team USA