The US National Development Team Program continued their dominance of the Four Nations Cup on Sunday with the Under-17 and Under-18 team bringing home gold.
The Under-17 team shutout the U17 Four Nations hosts, Russia, 5-0 to win their third consecutive gold medal at the tournament. On the other side of Europe, the Under-18 team defeated host Switzerland 6-2 to win the team’s fourth consecutive gold medal at the Under-18 level.
The Under-18 team overcame Sweden’s two first period power play goals to win their opening game 3-2. Cameron Darcy (Northeastern) scored once and Nicolas Kerdiles (Wisconsin) netted the game tying and winning goal in a game that saw the US go on the penalty kill 11 times. Kerdiles would go on to lead the tournament with five goals, including two in the team’s gold medal clinching game.
The team defeated Finland to remain undefeated, beating Finland 3-1 with a Jacob Trouba (Michigan) power play goal proving to be the game winner. Brendan Silk’s (Boston College) first period goal was enough to clinch the gold medal game over Switzerland.
Goaltender Jared Rutledge (Michigan) started the Sweden and Switzerland game, making a combined 53 saves on 57 shots. Counterpart Collin Olson (Ohio State) impressed in the Finland game, allowing one goal on 25 shots.
With the exception of newcomer Riley Barber (Miami), the tournament marked the second consecutive year the group of players went undefeated at a Four Nations Cup tournament. The group of players won all four games to take gold at the 2010 Under-17 Four Nations Cup last year in Woodridge, Ill.
The Under-17 team opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over Slovakia. Goaltender Hunter Miska (undecided) was perfect making twenty saves en route to the shutout. Miska would also shut out Russia in the team’s final game and was named the tournament’s top goaltender.
Saturday night, the team would score eight goals in the first two periods to help a struggling Charlie Frye (undecided) who allowed four goals on 15 shots before being replaced by Miska in the third. Connor Chatham (Denver) scored two early second period goals, including the game winner, while Tyler Motte (Michigan) added two as well in the third period. Sunday night, the team was propelled by the play off J.T. Compher’s (Michigan) game winning goal and two assists to defeat Russia for the Under-17 Four Nations gold medal.
Both teams return to Ann Arbor, Mich. with a focus on the USHL aspect of the season. The Under-18 team plays the league leading Green Bay Gamblers Friday and Tri-City Storm Saturday while the Under-17 team takes the weekend off and plays the Waterloo Blackhawks next Tuesday.