“I thought it was a really good opening game for our team,” said head coach Scott Paluch (Bowling Green, Ohio). “I loved the intensity of our players, and the ability to possess the puck and make plays was very good. I think it was a good first building block and a very positive beginning.”

After a quiet first period, the U.S. broke through in the opening seconds of the middle frame when Jimmy Snuggerud (Chaska, Minn.) fired a feed from Rutger McGroarty (Lincoln, Neb.) at the left circle past Swiss goaltender Alessio Beglieri to make it 1-0. Lane Hutson (North Barrington, Ill.) also picked up an assist on the tic-tac-toe play.

The U.S. struck again with 6:11 remaining in the second period when Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis.) slotted a loose rebound in the crease to Lucius who was waiting at the back door to bury the feed past Beglieri and give Team USA a 2-0 advantage.

Howard tallied a goal of his own just 26 seconds later to extend Team USA’s lead to 3-0, and Ryan Chesley (Mahtomedi, Minn.) rounded out the scoring for the U.S. late in the third period to seal the 4-0 victory.

Dylan Silverstein (Calabasas, Calif.) and Arthur Smith (Farmington, Conn.) combined efforts in goal to record the shutout for Team USA.

NOTES: Seven skaters tallied points in the victory … Cruz Lucius led all U.S. skaters with three points (1G, 2A), followed by Isaac Howard and Maddox Fleming who each recorded two assists … Follow the U.S. Youth Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team as it competes at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games here.