November 8, 2009

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - Eamonn McDermott (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Fargo Force) tallied a goal and an assist as the U.S. Junior Select Team captured its second straight World Junior A Challenge championship with a 2-1 win over Canada West here tonight at Credit Union Place. Team USA finished the tournament with a 4-0-1-0 record.

"The team showed some great resiliency, not only tonight, but for the entire tournament," said Mark Carlson, head coach of the 2009 U.S. Junior Select Team. "They continued to fight when trailing tonight and the coaching staff is extremely proud of their effort. It's a great feeling winning the championship for the second straight year."

After a scoreless opening period, Kellen Jones netted a power-play goal at 10:01 of the second period to give Canada West a 1-0 lead.

The U.S. tied the game with McDermott's power-play marker at 16:07 of the middle frame. Shane Berschbach (Clawson, Mich./Indiana Ice) passed to David Gerths (Ankeny, Iowa/Lincoln Stars) in the slot, who fired the puck on net. McDermott slid down from his defensive spot and knocked the rebound past Canadian West goaltender Sean Bonar.

In the final stanza, Matt Leitner (Los Alamitos, Calif./Fargo Force) scored the game-winning goal 50 seconds into the period. After collecting a Nick Mattson (Chanhassen, Minn./Indiana Ice) pass, McDermott passed to Leitner up the left wing. He beat a defenseman and fired the puck through Bonar's five hole while falling to the ice.

U.S. netminder Eric Mihalik (Avon Lake, Ohio/Des Moines Buccaneers) turned aside 28 shots in the championship-winning effort.

NOTES: Eamonn McDermott was named U.S. Player of the Game ... Mac Bennett (Warrick, R.I./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) and Shane Berschbach, who finished third among all skaters with eight points (5-3), were named to the all-tournament team ... Eric Mihalik led all netminders with a .940 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against average ... For Team USA's roster, click here. Twenty-one of the 22 players compete in the United States Hockey League, the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league ... The World Junior A Challenge was in its fourth year and the U.S. was competing in the tournament for the third consecutive year. The U.S. also won the championship in 2008 and garnered a third-place finish in 2007.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: CAN W, Bodie (tripping), 3:59; USA, Parks (slashing), 11:05; USA, Parks (checking to the head), 13:19; USA, Parks (misconduct-checking to the head), 13:19.

Second Period - Scoring: 1, CAN W, K. Jones (Kunyk, McLeod), 10:01 (pp); 2, USA, McDermott (Gerths, Berschbach), 16:07 (pp). Penalties: USA, Gravel (tripping), 9:04; CAN W, Gallacher (holding), 11:24; CAN W, Fritz (tripping), 15:16; USA, Albers (holding), 16:14; USA. McDermott (cross-checking), 18:07.

Third Period - Scoring: 3, USA, Leitner (McDermott, Mattson), :50. Penalties: CAN W, Gallacher (delay of game), 10:18.

Power Play: USA 1-4; CAN W 1-5
Penalties: USA 6-20; CAN W 4-8
Officials: Referees - Francois Fortain, Jonathan Langille; Linsemen - Mario Maittie, Peter Sheppard