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ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) stopped 33 shots in net for Team USA, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team was tripped up by the undefeated Des Moines Buccaneers, 3-1, this afternoon, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.
Des Moines opened up the scoring 2:34 into the first frame with a goal from Corey Schueneman. Oettinger stopped a Buccaneer penalty shot attempt at 4:13 to keep the U.S. to within one. But Des Moines doubled its advantage with a power-play goal at 16:22. Team USA managed eight shots in the period but couldn't find the back of the net.
The Buccaneers notched the lone goal of the middle stanza with only 46 seconds left on the clock. The power-play marker put the U.S. behind, 3-0.
Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) put Team USA on the board at 15:46 of the third period. Skating down the left side, Pastujov wristed a shot that Ryan Ruck appeared to initially save, but the puck trickled in. Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) and Max Jones (Rochester, Mich.) collected assists on the play. The U17s outshot Des Moines, 13-5 in the frame, in an attempt to ignite a comeback, but the Buccaneers held on to win 3-1.
The U.S. National Under-17 Team takes to the ice again next weekend when it hosts the Tri-City Storm in a two-game United States Hockey League series. Opening face-off on Friday (Oct. 24) and Saturday (Oct. 25) is at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Des Moines outshot Team USA, 36-32 … The Under-17 Team went 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Buccaneers scored on two of their six tries with the man advantage … Clayton Keller extended his point streak to six games … Nick Pastujov has recorded at least one point in four consecutive contests.