2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

United States 6 – Slovakia 1

WIN OVER SLOVAKS WRAPS UP SEMIFINAL SPOT FOR U.S.

PORT ALBERNI, BC – One night after a nail-biting win over Quebec, the United States made sure there would no such excitement on Thursday afternoon at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The 2008 silver medalists booked a spot in Saturday’s semifinals as Emerson Etem scored a pair of goals and set up another in a 6-1 win over Slovakia at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.

The Americans also got a pair of goals from Nick Shore and singles from Michael Mersch and Matthew Nieto in wrapping up a final four spot for the third straight World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and seventh time in the last eight.

Matej Bene scored the lone goal for the Slovakians, converting on a shorthanded breakaway early in the first period. The European side, which was outshot 48-13 overall, is winless in three preliminary round games and is in danger of going 0-4 in the prelims for the second year in a row.

The 3-0 Americans will face 3-0 West on Friday night at Oceanside Place in Parksville (7 p.m. PST) in a battle for first place in Group B. Slovakia wraps up its preliminary round schedule with an afternoon contest at the Alberni Valley Multiplex against Finland (2 p.m. PST).


Game Information/Renseignements sur le match
Game #/No. de match 13 Round/Ronde Preliminary
Arena/Aréna Alberni Valley Multiplex Location/Lieu Port Alberni, B.C., Canada
Date Thurs. Jan. 01, 2009 Time/Heure 02:00 PM PT

 

Box Score/Compte 1 2 3 Final
USA 3 2 1 6
SVK 1 0 0 1

 

Goals & Penalties/Buts et pénalités
First Period/Première période

Goals/Buts :
02:28 USA 84 Michael Mersch (40 Shane Sooth, 63 Jacob Fallon)
05:28 SVK 8 Matej Bene SH
15:13 USA 71 Emerson Etem (57 Nick Shore)
15:41 USA 57 Nick Shore (79 Jason Zucker, 71 Emerson Etem)

Penalties/Pénaltés :
05:11 SVK 17 Mário Kuráli (Hooking)
05:45 USA 91 Matthew Nieto (Tripping)
16:56 SVK 14 Lukás Leskanic (Holding)
Second Period/Deuxieme Période

Goals/Buts :
07:36 USA 57 Nick Shore (79 Jason Zucker)
14:22 USA 71 Emerson Etem (55 Derek Forbort)

Penalties/Pénaltés :
05:24 SVK 10 Dávid Bondra (Slashing)
08:28 SVK 21 Martin Marincin (Holding)
08:28 SVK 21 Martin Marincin (Holding)
17:42 SVK 21 Martin Marincin (Tripping)
20:00 SVK 21 Martin Marincin (Roughing)
20:00 USA 63 Jacob Fallon (Roughing)
Third Period/Troisième Période

Goals/Buts :
00:34 USA 72 Justin Faulk (91 Matthew Nieto) PP

Penalties/Pénaltés :
00:18 SVK 8 Matej Bene (Slashing)
09:47 SVK 14 Lukás Leskanic (Interference)
13:52 USA 57 Nick Shore (Hooking)
14:16 USA 74 Frankie Simonelli (Tripping)
16:49 USA 63 Jacob Fallon (Hooking)
19:30 SVK 21 Martin Marincin (Roughing)

 

Goaltenders/Gardien(ne)s de but
USA 36 Jack Campbell On 1/00:00 Off 3/20:00
SVK 1 Juraj Simboch On 1/00:00 Off 3/20:00

 

Shots on Goal/Tirs au but 1 2 3 Total
USA 18 19 11 48
SVK 2 5 6 13

 

Players of the Game/Joueur(se) du match
USA 71 Emerson Etem
SVK 1 Juraj Simboch

 

Officials/Officiels
Referee/Arbitre Brett Luerson
Lines People/Juges de lignes Ron Diettrrle, Scott Edwards