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PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Three different players scored but the U.S. National Under-17 Team was edged, 4-3, in overtime by the Czech Republic here tonight at USA Hockey Arena. The game was the first for Team USA at the 2016 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament.
The United States struck first 1:27 into the opening frame when Josh Norris (Oxford, Mich.) jammed the puck past Czech Republic goaltender Tomas Vomacka during a net-front scrum. The Czechs responded with back-to-back tallies 1:03 apart to chase U.S. starting goaltender Adam Scheel (Lakewood, Ohio).
In the second period, the U.S. controlled play for a majority of the frame, outshooting its opponent 17-3, but the Czech Republic extended its lead at 9:16. Team USA answered when with 29 seconds remaining on the clock, Jacob Tortora (Victor, N.Y.) skated end-to-end and deked Vomacka to pull the United States back within a goal.
Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa.) stuffed a rebound, from a Reilly Walsh (Andover, N.H.) shot on the power play, under the goaltender to knot the game, 3-3, just 2:37 into the third period. Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Ill.) also collected an assist on the play. The U.S. outshot the Czech Republic, 14-6, but neither team found the back of the net and game went into overtime.
A late tripping penalty on the U.S. gave the Czechs the man advantage in the extra frame. Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich.) got a piece of the game-winning goal but the puck went up and over the goaltender, ending the game, 4-3, in favor of the Czech Republic.
St. Cyr stopped 10 shots in 53:38 of relief time for Team USA in the setback, while Scheel made four saves. Vomacka turned aside 49 saves for the Czech Republic in the victory.
The U.S. National Under-17 Team is back in action tomorrow (Feb. 10) versus Finland. Puck drop is slate for 7 p.m. ET at USA Hockey Arena. The game will stream live on FASTHockey.com.
PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Netminder Lassi Lehtinen stopped 36-of-38 shots, backstopping Finland to a 4-2 victory over Russia in the opening contest of the 2016 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament here today at USA Hockey Arena.
The Finns jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening half of the first frame with goals from Joni Ikonen at 6:20 and Jesse Koskenkorva at 9:31 of the frame. Russia tested Lehtinen 22 times in the period, but the Finnish goalie kept the puck out of the net.
In the middle stanza, Finland struck at 10:38 to push its advantage to three tallies. Aleksi Heponiemi lit the lamp with assists awarded to Santeri Virtanen and Ikonen.
Russia notched back-to-back markers to pull within a goal with 8:08 left in the third stanza. Iaroslav Alekseev and Ivan Chekhovich potted the goals for the Russians. Finland scored late to help seal the win over Russia, 4-2.
Finland earns three points with the regulation win and next faces the United States tomorrow (Feb. 10) at 7 p.m. Russia is also back in action tomorrow and looks for its first points in the matinee game versus Sweden at 3:30 p.m.