AROSA, Switzerland — Six different players scored for the United States as the U.S. Under-17 Select Team defeated Switzerland, 6-3, in an exhibition game prior to the 2015 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Arosa, Switzerland.
“I thought we battled hard today,” said Pat Boller (Queens, N.Y.), head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team. “It was a great first game for us. Switzerland competed from start to finish. We’ll review video and focus on improving for our next opponent.”
After a scoreless first period, Sasha Chmelevski (Northville, Mich.) put the U.S. on the board 20 seconds into the second frame when he buried a rebound off a shot from Bobby DeFriest (Coral Springs, Fla.).
Two minutes later, Isaac Johnson (Andover, Minn.) scored on a one-timer off a feed from Chmelevski to double Team USA’s lead. Next it was Clayton Phillips (Edina, Minn.), who deflected a one-timed shot from Wyatt Bongiovanni (Birmingham, Mich.) during a U.S. power play to make it 3-0.
With 13:15 to play in the second period, the Swiss got on the board with a shot from the top of the circle. Switzerland scored again on a wrist shot from the right circle to close within one goal.
At 4:20 of the third frame, Connor Mayer (Champlin, Minn.) regained a two-goal lead for Team USA. Less then a minute later, Switzerland responded with a tally off a two-on-one.
Then, with eight minutes to play, Mayer intercepted a Switzerland pass and rocketed a shot off the crossbar before Brannon McManus (Newport Beach, Calif.) scored on the rebound for Team USA.
Jacob McGrew (Orange, Calif.) put home an empty-net goal to account for the 6-3 final.
Team USA’s first official game of the Under-17 Five Nations will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. ET when the U.S. takes on the Czech Republic.
Tag(s): 2014 Boys Select 16