skip navigation

U17s fall to Sweden to conclude 2019 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament

By USAHockeyNTDP.com, 02/10/19, 8:15AM EST

Share

Tuch nets goal in loss

 TRANÅS, Sweden — The U.S. National Under-17 Team concluded the 2019 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament with a third-place finish after a 4-1 loss to Sweden on Sunday at Stiga Arena.

"Disappointed for our guys as we put ourselves in a great position to win a championship today with a very strong effort," U.S. National Under-17 Team head coach Seth Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn.) said. "Sweden capitalized on two turnovers and their goaltender was beyond outstanding today as we threw everything at him.”

Luke Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) opened the scoring on the power play 9:40 into the game with the help of Ty Smilanic (Elizabeth, Colo.) and Jake Sanderson (Whitefish, Mont.).

Sweden responded with a power-play goal 3:12 later, leaving the game tied at one apiece heading into the middle frame.

Team USA obtained multiple scoring opportunities over the course of three power plays throughout the middle stanza but was unable to find the back of the net. Sweden took the lead with 25 seconds left in the frame, off a shorthanded two-on-one breakaway.

Sweden increased its lead to 3-1 when they capitalized off a Team USA turnover in the neutral zone 8:18 into the third period, before they concluded the scoring with 2:29 left with an empty-netter.

Drew Commesso (Norwell Mass.) stopped 15 of 19 shots faced in the loss.

NOTES: Matthew Beniers earned Player of the Game recognition … Ty Smilanic was awarded Best Forward of the tournament with two goals and five assists … Drew Commesso was awarded Best Goaltender of the tournament with two shutouts ...Team USA went 1-for-5 on the power play and 6-for-7 on the penalty kill ... The U17s outshot Sweden by a 36-19 margin.

Tournament Schedule

Date Home Away Time (EST) Tickets
Tuesday, Nov. 8 Finland Switzerland 3:30 p.m. Tuesday Pass
Tuesday, Nov. 8 USA Czechia 7:00 p.m. Tuesday Pass
Wednesday, Nov. 9 Sweden Switzerland 3:30 p.m. Wednesday Pass
Wednesday, Nov. 9 Finland USA 7:00 p.m. Wednesday Pass
Thursday, Nov. 10 Sweden Finland 3:30 p.m. Thursday Pass
Thursday, Nov. 10 Switzerland Czechia 7:00 p.m. Thursday Pass
Friday, Nov. 11 Czechia Sweden 3:30 p.m. Friday Pass
Friday, Nov. 11 Switzerland USA 7:00 p.m. Friday Pass
Saturday, Nov. 12 Czechia Finland 3:30 p.m. Saturday Pass
Saturday, Nov. 12 USA Sweden 7:00 p.m. Saturday Pass

Five Nations News