Eleven U.S. players recorded points as the U.S. National Under-18 Team topped the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 7-4, in a Thanksgiving Eve affair at USA Hockey Arena. Team USA was led by a two-goal performances by Max Gildon (Plano, Texas) and Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis) and five assists from Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.).

In the opening minutes of the game, Casey Gilling gave Muskegon an early 1-0 lead by finishing a rebound. 

Gildon gave Team USA a quick turnaround lead by burying a pair of goals just 1:07 apart, including a power-play marker in the top right corner and a finish off an odd-man rush.

At 14:02, Hughes had a denied attempt in-close, but Jacob Tortora (Victor, N.Y.) was there to get his stick on the loose puck to make it 3-1. Right after, the Lumberjacks got through on a breakaway but goaltender Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich.) made the stop.

Josh Maniscalco (Perkiomenville, Pa.) scored his first of the season with :21 on the clock in the first period to send the game into the second frame with the Under-18 Team up 4-1.

Muskegon's Andrei Svechnikov found the back of the net in the opening shift of the second period to cut the U.S. lead, but Phil Kemp (Greenwich, Conn.) capitalized on a set up Hughes at 7:12 to bring the score to 5-2. That helper marked Hughes' third assist of the night.

With :02 left on a Lumberjacks power play, Koby Bender converted after a point shot took a few bounces in the U.S. crease at 16:24.

Team USA made it 6-3 at 3:25 when Hughes blasted a shot from the point that was saved and popped out to Graham Slaggert (South Bend, Ind.). Slaggert fed a pass to Logan Cockerill (Brighton, Mich.), who put the puck into the open net.

Anthony Del Gaizo pulled the Lumberjacks back within two, but Tkachuk scored twice in a 2:30 span. Colby Bukes added a shorthanded goal with 1:46 to play to account for the 8-5 final.

1. Quinn Hughes (5 assists)
2. Brady Tkachuk (2 goals, 1 assist)
3. Max Gildon (2 goals)