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U17s Shut Out Slovakia, 5-0, Face Russia in Title Game

By USA Hockey, 12/19/14, 10:15PM EST

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Jake Oettinger Stops All 15 Shots Faced; Clayton Keller Records Three Points

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) stopped all 15 shots he faced and Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.) scored one goal and added two assists as the U.S. National Under-17 Team shutout Slovakia, 5-0, here tonight at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. With the victory, Team USA earns a spot in the 2014 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament title game tomorrow (Dec. 20) versus Russia.

The U.S. opened the scoring with just 1:14 remaining in the first frame. William Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) went inside his defender and slipped one past Slovak netminder Jan Koziak for the tally. Keller sprung Lockwood with an entry pass to earn the lone assist.

The U.S. netted two power-play goals to grab the 3-0 lead after two periods of action. Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) knocked in his own rebound at 9:27 to double the Team USA advantage. Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Joey Anderson (Roseville, Minn.) assisted. Anderson then struck at 16:49 with Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y.) and Keller earning the helpers.

Keller pushed the Team USA lead to four goals at 14:50 of the third, notching a power-play marker from a scrum in front of the net. Timmy Gettinger (North Olmstead, Ohio) followed up his own chance for the fifth U.S. goal at 18:15. Trent Frederic (St. Louis, Mo.) and Graham McPhee (Bethesda, Md.) collected assists on the play.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team next faces Russia in the title game at the 2014 U17 Four Nations Tournament. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The game will be broadcast live on FASTHockey.com.

Switzerland 2, Russia 6

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Maksim Rasseykin netted two goals and Mikhail Berdin made 21 saves as Russia topped Switzerland, 6-2, here this afternoon at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Russia finishes round-robin play with a perfect 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record while Switzerland falls to 0-0-0-3.

Switzerland notched the first goal of the game at 15:08 of the opening period. Axel Andersson put a shot on net that was deflected in front by Lee Roberts for the score. Russia answered at 17:59 off the stick of Platon Popov and the two teams were tied, 1-1, after 20 minutes.

Russia tallied four-straight markers in the second stanza to pull away from Switzerland. Maxim Bain gave Russia the lead just over two minutes into the period with Rasseykin scoring just nine seconds later. Rasseykin's second goal, scored at 4:49 pushed the Russian lead to three goals, 4-1. Igor Geraskin made it 5-1 at 7:11.

Switzerland and Russia traded tallies in the third period. Fabian Berni pulled the Swiss closer at 2:05, but the lead proved insurmountable as Russia added a goal on the power play at 15:15.

Notes

The players of the game were Lockwood (USA) and Koziak (Slovakia) … Team USA outshot Slovakia, 46-15 … Team USA has won six of the last seven Four Nations Tournaments, including last year’s event … The Four Nations Tournament was last held in the U.S. in 2012, when Ann Arbor hosted the U18 tournament … The afternoon game saw Russia defeat Switzerland, 6-2 ... Tickets for the 2014 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament can be purchased prior to the event or at the door. Single-day tickets are available and include access to two games. Prices are $12 for adults, $7 for seniors and children, and $5 for groups of 10 or more. All tickets are general admission. To purchase tickets, call (734) 327-9251 or visit the USA Hockey offices at 2121 Oak Valley Drive in Ann Arbor.

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