Photo by Rena Laverty
PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Team USA earned its second win of the tournament, beating Switzerland 3-1, along with Team Russia who registered a 6-1 victory over Slovakia on Day 2 of the 2018 Under-17 Four Nations Cup on Wednesday at USA Hockey Arena. Both undefeated teams have sealed its place in the championship game Saturday and will go head-to-head this Friday (Dec. 14).
“Russia won the World Under-17 Challenge and at this point, they’ve proven they’re the best team in the world at this age level,” said U.S. National Under-17 Team head coach Seth Appert. "This is a great opportunity and we’re excited for it. What a great challenge for us to play the best team in the world, one of our arch-rivals, on back-to-back nights in our building. It’s going to be outstanding.”
USA 3, SWITZERLAND 1
Daniyal Dzhaniyev (Brooklyn, N.Y.) gave Team USA a one-goal lead early in the first, netting an unassisted goal just 3:12 into play.
Team USA successfully killed off a penalty before Switzerland’s Stefano Bottini answered back with an unassisted goal to tie the game with 7:32 left in the first.
Almost halfway through the second period at 9:05, Jacob Truscott (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) scored with a low wrist shot to give Team USA a 2-1 lead. The play began when Landon Slaggert (South Bend, Ind.) skated the puck up the center and passed it off to Chase Yoder (Fairview, Texas), who gave a centering pass to Truscott.
Shortly after, Thomas Bordeleau (Houston, Texas.) deked two Swiss players, and fired a shot from the top of the left circle, scoring unassisted on the power play at 10:35 in the second period.
The U17’s defense stood tall entering the final frame, maintaining its two-goal lead after killing off five penalties.
Team USA produced many scoring opportunities on the power play throughout the third, outshooting Switzerland 42-12, but the score stayed 3-1 at the final buzzer.
NOTES: Team USA went 1-for-4 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. Team USA outshot Switzerland 42-12. Jacob Truscott earned Player of the Game honors for Team USA. Fabian Ritzmann earned Player of the Game honors for Switzerland. The 2018 Under-17 Four Nations is presented by Hines Park Lincoln Chevrolet.
RUSSIA 6, SLOVAKIA 1
Russia earned its second win of the 2018 Under-17 Four Nations Cup with a 6-1 victory against Slovakia on Wednesday at USA Hockey Arena.
Alexandr Pashin was the lone goal-scorer with 1:51 remaining in the first period, giving Russia a 1-0 lead at the end of the frame.
At 14:35 of the second period, Kirill Kirsanov scored on the power play to double Russia’s lead, with assists from Ignat Kokhanin and Vasili Ponomaryov.
Ivan Didkovski scored on a breakaway pass from Aleksandr Kondratenko, putting Russia’s ahead by three with 9:44 left in the second period.
Shakir Mukhamadullin and Vasili Ponomaryov tallied two additional Russia goals to end the period with a 5-0 lead.
Pavel Tyutnev extended Russia’s lead to 6-0 on an odd-man rush with 5:41 left in the third period.
Oleksiy Myklukha scored a short handed goal to put Slovakia on the board with 1:59 to go, but Slovakia ultimately fell to Russia 6-1.
Slovakia will play Switzerland at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 14.
Russia will face off with Team USA at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 14.
Tournament packages and daily ticket passes are still on sale. A weekend-only pass, which includes a parking voucher, is also available for the games Friday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 15 for $25.
To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit USAHockeyNTDP.com/4NationsTix or call the USA Hockey Arena box office at 734.453.8400.
NOTES: Team Russia went 3-for-5 on the power play. Team Slovakia went 1-for-5 on the power play. Russia outshot Slovakia, 42-13… Shakir Mukhamadullin earned Player of the Game honors for Russia. Simon Latkoczy earned Player of the Game honors for Slovakia. The 2018 Under-17 Four Nations is presented by Hines Park Lincoln Chevrolet.
Team rosters, broadcast details and other information can be found on the tournament website, found here ... All of the tournament action will be covered by the USA Hockey NTDP and USA Hockey Arena social media accounts (@USAHockeyNTDP and @USAHockeyArena) ... Get involved with the conversation by using the tournament hashtag #4NationsU17.
Highlights
2018 Four Nations Cup Schedule
| DATE | HOME | AWAY | TIMES/RESULTS | TICKETS | STREAMING | STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Dec. 11 | Russia | Switzerland | RUS 9, SUI 1 | Buy Tickets | Watch Live | Live Stats |
| Tue, Dec. 11 | USA | Slovakia | USA 7, SVK 2 | Buy Tickets | Watch Live | Live Stats |
| Wed, Dec. 12 | Slovakia | Russia | RUS 6, SVK 1 | Buy Tickets | Watch Live | Live Stats |
| Wed, Dec. 12 | USA | Switzerland | USA 3, SUI 1 | Buy Tickets | Watch Live | Live Stats |
| Fri, Dec. 14 | Switzerland | Slovakia | SUI 3, SVK 1 | Buy Tickets | Watch Live | Live Stats |
| Fri, Dec. 14 | USA | Russia | USA 4, RUS 2 | Buy Tickets | Watch Live | Live Stats |
| Sat., Dec. 15 | Switzerland | Slovakia (3rd Place Game) | SVK 4, SUI 2 | Buy Tickets | Watch Live | Live Stats |
| Sat., Dec. 15 | USA | Russia (1st Place Game) | RUS 3, USA 2 (OT) | Buy Tickets | Watch Live | Live Stats |
HIGHLIGHTS
2018 Four Nations Cup News
U17s place second at 2018 U17 Four Nations Cup
- By USAHockeyNTDP.com 12/15/2018, 5:30pm EST
2018 Four Nations Cup: Day 4 Notebook
- By USAHockeyNTDP.com 12/15/2018, 10:00am EST
USA and Switzerland earn victories on Day 3 of Four Nations Cup
- By USAHockeyNTDP.com 12/14/2018, 5:30pm EST
