LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Team USA concluded the 2014 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp with a 3-0 win against the Czech Republic at the Olympic Center's USA Rink. Over the final three games of camp, which included wins over Sweden and Finland, the U.S. outscored opponents 19-2.
Midway through the first period, Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich./University of Michigan) put Team USA in front 1-0. Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis./University of Denver) and Ryan Collins (Bloomfield, Minn./U.S. National Under-18 Team) played catch at the blue line before Collins snapped a cross-ice pass to the left post that Motte received and chipped inside the left post.
The U.S. padded its lead to two goals at 5:14 of the third stanza. Skating six-on-five due to a delayed penalty, the U.S. outmanned the Czechs in front of the net as Chase De Leo (La Mirada, Calif.) flicked a rebound high into the net. Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz./U.S. National Under-17 Team) and Anthony Florentino (West Roxbury, Mass./Providence College) earned the assists.
On the power play, John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn./Yale University) completed the scoring with 1:53 remaining by tipping Mike Downing’s (Canton, Mich./University of Michigan) point shot into the goal.
Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif./Boston College) and Brendan Burke (Scottsdale, Ariz.) combined for the shutout. Demko started and made nine saves in 20 minutes. Burke played the final 40 minutes, turning away six shots.
NOTES: Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass./U.S. National Under-18 Team) and Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y./U.S. National Under-18 Team) finished as the camp's scoring leaders with nine points apiece. Eichel had a goal and eight assists, while Milano had two goals and seven assists ... Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y./U.S. National Under-18 Team) had a camp-best six goals and tied for third in points with eight. Motte also had eight points (5-3).