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Oettinger Makes 25 Saves But U17s Fall in Four Nations Opener

By USA Hockey, 12/17/14, 12:15AM EST

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Team USA Plays Switzerland Tomorrow Night in Ann Arbor, Mich.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) put up a 25-save performance on the opening day of the 2014 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Russia as Team USA fell, 2-0, here tonight at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Alexander Yorovenko helped Russia get on the board first with a power-play goal 5:07 after puck drop. Nikiti Makeyev set him up for the one-timed slap shot from the right point that went sailing into the net. The U.S. had a chance to even the score at 16:32 of the second period when William Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) was hooked on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot, but he was unable to convert.

The U.S. pulled Oettinger to even the playing field after getting called for a penalty with 1:57 remaining, but Russia’s Vitali Abromov put away an empty-netter with 15 seconds left on the clock to seal the game.

Russia’s Vladislav Sukhachyov made 13 saves through the first 30 minutes before being replaced by Mikhail Berdin, who stopped 12 shots in the second half of the game.

Russia will face Slovakia on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. EST, followed by Team USA versus Switzerland at 7 p.m. All contests are being held at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Slovakia 3, Switzerland 1

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Jan Koziak backstopped Slovakia with 35 saves to defeat Switzerland, 3-1, in the opening game of the Under-17 Four Nations Tournament here today at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Switzerland opened scoring midway through the first period when Dominic Weder skated up the middle and netted a wrister past Samuel Bucek. Viliam Cacho evened the score on a breakaway goal to close out the opening frame.

Slovakia received the game’s first power play and used the opportunity to net the go-ahead marker when Marian Studenic poked the puck in through a crowded crease. Jakub Lacka doubled the lead at 7:28 of the second period following a forced turnover deep in the Swiss zone. The third period was scoreless, despite Switzerland outshooting the Slovaks, 14-5.

Swiss netminder Philip Wuthrich stopped 16 of 19 in the loss.

Slovakia will face off against Russia on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., followed by Team USA versus Switzerland at 7 p.m.

Notes

The players of the game were Livio Stadler (Switzerland) and Cacho (Slovakia) in the afternoon match up, and Oettinger (USA) and Sukhachyov (Russia) in the night cap … Switzerland held a 36-19 advantage in shots on goal in the early game, while Russia outshot the U.S., 26-25, in the late contest … Team USA has won six of the last seven Four Nations Tournaments, including last year’s event … The Four Nations Tournament was last held in the U.S. in 2012, when Ann Arbor hosted the U18 tournament … Tickets for the 2014 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament can be purchased prior to the event or at the door. Single-day tickets are available and include access to two games. Prices are $12 for adults, $7 for seniors and children, and $5 for groups of 10 or more. All tickets are general admission. To purchase tickets, call (734) 327-9251 or visit the USA Hockey offices at 2121 Oak Valley Drive in Ann Arbor.