Huskies fall at USNTDP in exhibition play
PLYMOUTH, Mich. – The No. 20-ranked Michigan Tech hockey team wrapped up exhibition play with a 5-2 loss to the U.S. National Under-18 Team on Saturday. Nick Nardella and Ryland Mosley scored for the Huskies.
"We found the guys that were willing to play at the pace and compete that is required against a team like this. This team is the best this country has to offer," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "I gave everybody a chance early, but I got exactly what I wanted out of it. We needed to figure out who can play at this level.
"I'm obviously not happy with a 6-2 butt-kicking but we learned a lot about ourselves tonight."
USNTDP improved to 8-0 which includes wins over four NCAA teams. The Red, White, and Blue jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two goals in the first period and two in the second.
Cole Eiserman scored an even-strength goal 4:05 into the game. Ryan Leonard made it 2-0 with a power play tally at 12:42 of the first.
Will Vote added to the lead after a teammate took at Jed Pietila and fed it out front for a 3-0 advantage 66 seconds into the second. Oliver Moore found the back of the net on a backdoor play 4:09 into the second.
Tech got on the board at 7:42 of the second when Tyrone Bronte fed Nick Nardella in the slot. Jake Crespi created a turnover behind the net for the second assist.
"That was a good play by Bronte on that goal," Shawhan added. "He's been working hard in practice and played really hard tonight."
USNTDP regained the four-goal lead 45 seconds into the third after Will Smith made a strong move to the middle and fed it over to Ryan Leonard who finished off the play.
Ryland Mosley scored 4:52 into the third on a backhanded shot, cleaning up a rebound to make it 5-2. Kyle Kukkonen and Brett Thorne assisted.
Cole Eiserman scored a power-play goal at 16:27 for the final tally.
USNTDP outshot Tech 28-18. Max Vayrynen made 22 saves for the Black and Gold.
The Huskies were 0-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill.
Tech heads up to The Last Frontier for a nonconference series at Alaska. The Huskies and Nanooks play Thursday and Friday.
