KINDERSLEY, Saskatchewan — The U.S. Junior Select Team defeated Switzerland, 7-0, in its opening contest of the 2014 World Junior A Challenge. Goaltender Eric Schierhorn (Anchorage, Alaska/Muskegon Lumberjacks) stopped 26 shots for the shutout, while Anthony Angello (Manilus, N.Y./Omaha Lancers) lead the U.S. with four points (1-3).
“I thought we had a really good team effort tonight,” said Jay Varady, head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team. “We had a lot of contributors on offense and defense, as well as a great outing from our goaltender.”
Team USA controlled play through the first half of the opening period, netting its first goal at 11:13 on a tic-tac-toe play from Dakota Joshua (Dearborn, Mich./Sioux Falls Stampede) to Mitch Reinke (Stillwater, Minn./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) to Joe Snivley (Herndon, Va./Sioux City Musketeers), who tapped the puck in at the side of the net for the 1-0 lead.
The U.S. won an offensive zone faceoff and picked up its second goal at 15:31 when Thomas Novak (River Falls, Wis./Waterloo Black Hawks) redirected the point-shot past the Swiss goaltender to make it 2-0.
At 6:41 of the second stanza, Angello skated the puck up ice and slid it cross-ice to Andrew Oglevie (Fullerton, Calif./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) who finished the play for the 3-0 lead. Just 1:44 later, Shane Gersich (Chaska, Minn./Omaha Lancers) took a breakout pass from Blake Hillman (Elk River, Minn./Dubuque Fighting Saints) near center ice, carried the puck along the left wing and beat the opposing goaltender with wide angle shot to make it 4-0.
The U.S. made it 5-0 shortly after its man advantage expired with 5:49 left in the second period. On the play, Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn./Waterloo Black Hawks) chipped in the puck near the goalmouth.
The U.S. extended its lead, with less than three minutes into the third frame, when Oglevie took advantage of a Swiss turnover for his second goal of the night. At 13:31, Angello cashed in on the power play for his lone goal of the game, giving Team USA the 7-0 lead.
Team USA is back in action tomorrow afternoon against Canada East. Puck drop is at 4:30 p.m. ET, and a game live stream is available here. Check USAHockey.com for complete Team USA coverage at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge. For in-game updates, follow @USAHockeyScores and use #WJAC2014.
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