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USA Falls to Czech Republic, 2-0, at U-17 Five Nations

By USAHockey.com, 08/16/14, 9:00AM MDT

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CRIMMITSCHAU, GERMANY — The U.S. Under-17 Select Team fell to undefeated Czech Republic, 2-0, today at the 2014 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament. Team USA had seven power plays and racked up 41 shots on goal, but it could not overcome the Czechs' second period marker. The U.S. yielded an empty-net goal with 17 seconds remaining.
 
U.S. goaltender Ryan Edquist (Lakeville, Minn.) gave a great performance, stopping 26 of 27 shots. His only goal against came during a power play. The team awarded Max Gerlach (Flower Mound, Texas) U.S. Player of the Game for his efforts at both ends of the ice.
 
“Two good teams battled their hearts out today, and in the end the Czechs were one goal better,” said Cary Eades, head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team. “However, I was real proud of our effort from start to finish and in holding our composure under some difficult circumstances. We had a bunch of grade A’s (scoring chances), but couldn’t find a way to get one past goalie Adam Brizgala—he was a brick wall. Our goalie (Edquist) was also outstanding.”
 
The scoreless first period was full of penalties, a combined eight between the teams.
 
The Czechs began the second period on the power play and tallied the game’s decisive goal at the 2:30 mark. As the period progressed, both teams began to play a more physical game, battling for net-front ice and trading quality-scoring chances.
 
The physicality continued into the third stanza, again, resulting in numerous penalties. Of Team USA’s three third period power plays, the last came in the final two minutes. The U.S. pulled Edquist for a two-man advantage, however, the Czechs gained possession of the puck and dumped it into the empty net to solidify the win.

The Czech Republic clinched first place in the tournament with the victory. The U.S. can place second with a victory tomorrow (Aug. 17) vs. Germany. Game time against the host nation is 11:30 a.m. ET.

USA vs. Czech Republic Box Score

First PeriodScoring: none. Penalties: USA, Wait (slashing), 0:15; CZE, Kachyna (holding), 1:36; USA, Tufte (hooking), 1:48; USA, Gerlach (slashing), 3:59; CZE, Bench (too many men), 8:47; USA, Rossini (holding), 15:24; USA, Gerlach (cross-checking), 17:19; USA, Wait (tripping), 18:15. 

Second PeriodScoring: 1, CZE, Karafiat (Havelka, Kousal), 2:30 (PP). Penalties: USA, Rossini (boarding), 0:38; USA, Bellows (elbowing), 3:22; CZE, Novak (cross-checking), 12:23; CZE, Vala (cross-checking), 19:26.

Third PeriodScoring: 2, CZE, Zidek (), 19:43. Penalties: USA, Kiersted (hooking), 4:53; USA, Bellows (slashing), 6:18; USA, Bellows (10-minute misconduct), 6:18; USA, Yamamoto (interference), 10:57; CZE, Najman (slashing), 11:33; CZE, Vala (tripping), 14:19; CZE, Reichel (hooking), 17:54.

Shots by Period 1st 2nd 3rd Total
USA 11 15 15 41
CZE 10 6 12 28

 

Goals by Period 1st 2nd 3rd Total
USA 0 0 0 0
CZE 0 1 1 2

 

Goaltenders   Time 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Edquist USA 58:13 10/10 5/6 11/11 26/27
Brizgala CZE 60:00 11/11 16/16 12/12 41/41

 

Special Teams USA CZE
Penalties (Penalties/Minutes) 12/32 7/14
Power Play (Goals/Chances) 0/7 1/11

Team USA Results

Date Opponent Time (Local/ET)
Aug. 10 Germany W, 10-0
Aug. 13 Slovakia W, 6-2
Aug. 15 Switzerland W, 5-3
Aug. 16 Czech Republic L, 0-2
Aug. 17 Germany W, 8-2

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