| PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Gerry DiCunzolo (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Jake Prunty (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) each recorded two points, aiding the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team to a 4-1 victory over Switzerland here today at USA Hockey Arena in its second game of the 2025 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament.“We found a way to win, and it was great to see our power play score some goals,” said Jason Guerriero (Manorville, N.Y.), head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team. “We’re just trying to find ways to be better today than we were yesterday. Switzerland gave us a good game, but we stook to the basics of maintaining offensive-zone time and doing little things well.”With the win, the U.S. clinches its spot in Saturday’s (Aug. 9) championship game against Czechia.Switzerland struck first at 13:38 of the opening period as Kellan O’Leary fired a one-timer home from the slot after a centering feed from Alessandro Domenichelli.Ethan Sung (Pasadena, Calif.) scored an equalizer for the U.S. with 2:15 remaining. He tapped home a rebound chance after a shot from DiCunzolo.The U.S. took the lead at 11:42 of the second as Mark Pape (Shaker Heights, Ohio) scored on a rebound opportunity after a shot from Ryland Rooney (Dellwood, Minn.), beating Swiss netminder Luca Blaser with a backhand shot.Michael Tang (New York, N.Y.) nearly doubled the U.S. lead with 5:55 left in the middle stanza on a breakaway following a stretch pass from Anthony Valenti (Chicago, Ill.), but his chance was denied.Prunty gave the U.S. a 3-1 lead at 17:47, scoring on a wrister from the right faceoff circle that got past Blaser’s blocker.Ty Bergeron (Flat Rock, Mich.) extended Team USA’s lead 4:08 into the third, cashing in on a shorthanded breakaway generated by a pass from Logan Anderson (Estero, Fla.). U.S. netminder Kaeden Tate (Huntington Beach, Calif.) stood tall throughout the third, finishing the game with 18 saves.The U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team finishes the preliminary round against Czechia Friday (Aug. 8) at 4:30 p.m. ET at USA Hockey Arena. Tickets are available here.Team USA and Czechia will face off again the following day for the tournament championship at 4:30 p.m. ET. Tickets for the championship game can be purchased here.All Under-17 Four Nations Tournament games are streamed live on USAHockeyTV.com. |
