U.S. National U-18 Team Tops
Texas, 3-1
09/20/07 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team
BLAINE, Minn. - Goaltender Nick Maricic (Alto Loma, Calif.) made 29
saves to backstop the U.S. National Under-18 Team to a 3-1 victory
over the Texas Tornado here tonight at the 2007 North American
Hockey League Showcase.
"I thought this was a good start for us in the Showcase," said John
Hynes, head coach of Team USA. "The guys were focused and they
executed on the things we worked on throughout the week, plus
Maricic was very solid in the net tonight."
Justin Florek (Marquette, Mich.) struck on the
power play to give Team USA a 1-0 lead at 2:07 of the first period
after he tapped a rebound past goaltender Thomas Callaghan. Team USA
preserved the lead by not allowing a single shot on goal in the
opening period.
In the second stanza, Colin Reddin (Corona Del
Mar, Calif.) tipped Steven West's (Milford, Mich.) slap shot from
the blue line past Callaghan to double Team USA's lead at 2:32. Sam
Lofquist (Faribault, Minn.) added another power-play tally on a slap
shot from the right point with just 23 seconds left in the period to
give Team USA a 3-0 advantage.
Texas spoiled the shut out bid when Ben Miller
one-timed a slap shot past Maricic at 7:30 of the final frame to
account for the 3-1 final.
The U.S. National Under-18 Team returns to action
tomorrow against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at 3:15 p.m. CDT at the
Schwan Super Rink.
NOTES: Patrick Gaul (Pittsburgh, Pa.) leads the
U.S. National Under-18 Team with three points (1-2) through two
games after recording an assist tonight ... Nick Maricic improved
2-0-0-0 on the season after the win ... All of Team USA's games at
the 2007 NAHL Showcase will be broadcast live via the B2 Networks. A
link to the broadcasts can be found on the National Team Development
Program page at usahockey.com
