Cannon Thibodeau scored twice and Finn Sears had a goal and two assists as the U.S. National Under-18 Team beat host Switzerland 7-3 on Sunday, Nov. 8, at SWISS Arena in Kloten, Switzerland, to close the U18 Five Nations tournament. The Americans finished 3-1-0-0 and placed third, scoring 15 goals and allowing eight over four games.
How it happened
Switzerland scored first at 4:53, but the U.S. took over the rest of the opening period. Thibodeau tied it from Sears, Sears put the Americans ahead on his own at 14:41, Thibodeau scored again at 17:34 with Sears assisting, and Nolan Fitzhenry added his second goal of the tournament 20 seconds later. The Swiss scored once more before intermission to make it 4-2.
Switzerland pulled within one on a power-play goal at 4:47 of the second period. Brayden Willis answered at 10:42, set up by Fitzhenry, and scored again 2:34 later to put the U.S. up 6-3. Ryland Rooney finished the scoring with an empty-net goal in the third.
In goal
Nate Chizik started and earned his second win of the tournament. Noam Aebischer started for Switzerland.
What’s next
The U18s return to USHL play at home in Plymouth with a two-game Carnival Weekend set against the Chicago Steel, Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. at USA Hockey Arena. The NTDP’s U17 team, fresh off its World U17 Hockey Challenge title, hosts the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday, Nov. 21.
Earlier in the tournament: NTDP U18 Game Recap: vs. Finland (Nov. 6).
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