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Joel Farabee (Cicero, N.Y.) led six different U.S. goal scorers with a pair of markers to help the U.S. National Under-17 Team to a 7-2 win against the Muskegon Lumberjacks in its United States Hockey League regular season opener here tonight at USA Hockey Arena.
Spencer Stastney (Mequon, Wis.) earned Team USA the first marker of the game by burying a loose puck in the Muskegon crease at 11:57 of the opening period.
With 2:49 on the clock, Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) beat Lumberjacks netminder Adam Brizgala with a rocket from the top of the right circle. Just 1:15 later, K'Andre Miller (Hopkins, Minn.) sent a stretch pass from the U.S. zone to Patrick Giles (Chevy Chase, Md.) at the Muskegon blue line. Giles caught the puck in stride, took off on a breakaway, and extended Team USA's lead to 3-0 to close out the period.
At 6:25 of the second frame, Jake Pivonka (Woodridge, Ill.) staked the U.S. to a 4-0 advantage when a shot from the left circle made its way into the far side of the net. Farabee added another with 4:07 remaining.
Bode Wilde (Birmingham, Mich.) and Farabee added two more goals in a span of :12 before Muskegon got on the board with a tally at 7:01.
A power-play goal from Muskegon's Keenan Suthers accounted for the 7-2 final.
Goaltender Keegan Karki (Sartell, Minn.) turned away 29 shots in the win, while Muskegon's Brizgala stopped 10 of 15 shots before being relieved by Keith Petruzzelli in the third period. Petruzzelli finished with 11 saves.
NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will continue USHL competition when it faces the Youngstown Phantoms at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 30, at USA Hockey Arena. Click here to purchase tickets ... The U17s and Muskegon Lumberjacks faced off twice in the preseason. Muskegon earned wins in both matchups: 6-3 on Sept. 9 and 4-1 on Sept. 10.