Home USA U.S. Opens Five Nations with 5-2 Win Over Czech Republic

U.S. Opens Five Nations with 5-2 Win Over Czech Republic

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U.S. continues play Thursday against Slovakia at 9:00 a.m. ET
 
VISP, Switzerland – Carey Terrance (Akwesasne, N.Y.) tallied two goals and one assist to help lead the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team past the Czech Republic inside Lonza Arena in its opening 2021 Five Nations Tournament contest. 

“We had a good start to the game,” said Bob Mancini, head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team. “We sustained the pressure we needed to get a good start to the tournament and we’ll be ready for our game on Thursday.”

The U.S. attacked the net first as Matt Mania (Olmstead Township, Ohio) skated across the blue line and dished the puck to William Whitelaw (Rosemount, Minn.), who was trailing toward the right face-off dot and found the back of the net. The U.S. offensive attack was relentless, as Mania kept pressure behind the net of the Czech defense and found a streaking Terrance in front of the net.

Terrance buried his shot past Czech netminder Michael Hrabal to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead. Terrance added a second goal in the first, set up by Danny Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) who forced a neutral zone turnover and pushed the puck across the blue line, putting Terrance all alone in the slot before he buried Team USA’s third goal.

The U.S. kept the game rolling as Jayson Shaugabay (Warroad, Minn.) shot from behind the goal line and bounced the puck off the Czech goaltender’s back to give the team a four-goal lead. The Czech Republic added a goal shortly after, but Team USA answered back as Nelson added a goal of his own, giving the U.S. a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Nelson finished the game with three points, adding two assists to his second period tally.The Czech Republic recorded a goal in the third to bring the game to 5-2, but the U.S. would hold on to win its first game of round-robin play.Thomas Kiesewetter (Plymouth, Mass.) started in net for the U.S. and recorded the win.

The U.S. will face Slovakia Thursday (Aug. 19) at 9:00 a.m. ET at Lonza Arena in Visp, Switzerland. Action will be streamed live on YouTube.

(USA Hockey Photo)