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U18s snap Steel’s seven-game streak with 5-4 victory

By USAHockeyNTDP.com, 02/01/19, 9:30PM EST

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The U18s remain unbeaten since Jan. 1


Photo by Rena Laverty

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Danny Weight (Lattingtown, N.Y.) scored twice while Michael Gildon (Plano, Texas), Judd Caulfield (Grand Forks, N.D.), and Alex Vlasic (Wilmette, Ill.) scored one apiece in the U18’s 5-4 victory at USA Hockey Arena against the Chicago Steel on Friday (Feb. 1).

The U18s record 28-8-2-0, and Team USA now has a combined record of 16-13-2-3 in USHL play. 

The U18s struck first at 3:27 of the first period. Gildon sent the puck bar down with a slapshot from the top of the circle, giving Team USA a 1-0 lead. This marked the 500th goal for the U18s in a two-year period. Case McCarthy (Clarence Center, N.Y.) and Marshall Warren (Laurel Hollow, N.Y.) recorded assists.  

One minute and 16 seconds later, Chicago knotted the game at one on the power play.  John Spetz caught a pass at the top of the circle from Robert Mastrosimone, and Josiah Slavin tipped the puck into the net off of Spetz’s shot.

With 8:29 remaining in the first, the U18s regained a one-goal lead. Caulfield received a pass from Domenick Fensore (Thornwood, N.Y.) and sent the puck past Steel goaltender Reilly Herbst from the slot.

Weight extended Team USA’s lead to 3-1 at 7:29 of the second period. He sent the puck past Herbst’s blocker side off of Caulfield’s feed from in front of the net.

The Steel responded at 8:06 to cut the U18’s lead in half once again. Nick Abruzzese tossed the puck in front of the net to Neil Shea, who capitalized with a slapshot from the slot.

With 7:47 to go in the middle frame, Weight scored his second of the game, unassisted, when his shot from the side of the net was tipped in by a member of the Steel.

The Steel responded at 8:06 to cut the U18’s lead in half once again. Nick Abruzzese tossed the puck in front of the net to Neil Shea, who capitalized with a slapshot from the slot.

Box Score

Highlights

At 8:46 of the third frame, Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Ill.) took the puck to the net and Vlasic capitalized on the rebound, regaining a one-goal lead for Team USA. Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.) also assisted on the goal. This ultimately sealed Team USA’s 5-4 victory.

Cameron Rowe (Wilmette, Ill.) and Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) made a combined 25 saves in net for Team USA.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team travels to Sochi, Russia, to compete in the 2019 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament. It will return to action at USA Hockey Arena on Friday, Feb. 15, to face off against the Sioux Falls Stampede. Tickets for all home games are available for purchase at USAHockeyNTDP.com/tix.

NOTES: Team USA was 0-for-2 on the power play… Team USA was 2-for-3 on the penalty kill… Domenick Fensore earned Hardest Worker of the Game… Danny Weight earned First Star… Judd Caulfield earned Second Star… Alex Vlasic earned Third Star.

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