University Select Team Drops 3-0 Decision to Czech Republic
By Craig Stancher // USA Hockey // January 25, 2007
TORINO, Italy – The U.S. University Select Team fell to the Czech Republic, 3-0, in its final contest of the 2007 Winter World University Games. Team USA earned an eighth-place finish in the tournament, tying its best placement since returning to the Games in 2001 with players from the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
“Our goaltending was outstanding once again tonight and the effort was there after the first period,” said Team USA Head Coach Chad Cassel (Champaign, Ill.). “Overall I was extremely proud of the way our guys played, both tonight and throughout the tournament. We were a bounce or two away from being a 4-1 team.”
The Czech Republic’s Jan Kubista scored the lone goal of the first period when he corralled the rebound of a blocked shot and slipped the puck inside the left post past Team USA goaltender Anthony Feyock (Johnstown, Pa./University of Rhode Island) at 5:49. Feyock later prevented the Czechs from taking a 2-0 first-period lead when he stoned Zdenek Mraz on a breakaway at the 13:19 mark.
The teams battled to a stalemate in the middle frame, although Team USA captain Nick Krebsbach (Minot, N.D./North Dakota State University) came close to putting the team on the board after joining Johnny Liang (Glenview, Ill./University of Illinois) on a 2-on-1 rush at 6:10. From the middle of the ice, Liang made a feed along the right boards to Krebsbach, whose shot went between the legs of Czech goaltender Petr Sevcik, but missed the goal to the far side.
The Czechs scored two goals in the final frame to put the game away. Lukas Hauer made it 2-0 when he blasted a shot from the point that found its way past a screened Feyock at 15:23, while Kubista added an empty-net goal with 39 seconds remaining.
Feyock turned aside 41-of-43 shots in goal for Team USA.
NOTES: The United States concluded the 2007 Winter World University Games with a 1-4-0 record ... Michael McMullen (Chester Springs, Pa./Penn State University) and Drew Heredia (Wadsworth, Ill./University of Illinois) led the U.S. University Select Team with two goals and an assist apiece, while Lukas DeLorenzo (Export, Pa./Penn State University) also added three points (1-2) … Team USA broke or tied several U.S. University Select Team records during the 2007 Winter World University Games, all of which had been set since the United States returned to the Games in 2001 with players from the ACHA. The U.S. contingency set new records for goals in a game (5) and shorthanded goals in a game (2), while tying the record number of goals in a period (3). In addition, Heredia became only the third player in U.S. University Select Team history to record a multi-goal game … Heredia missed today’s games due to a broken ankle he suffered in the third period of last night’s 5-2 victory over Korea … Tonight’s game marked the third meeting between the United States and the Czech Republic since Team USA returned to the Winter World University Games in 2001 with players from the ACHA. The Czechs earned a 9-0 victory on Feb. 11, 2001, and a 4-1 win on Jan. 15, 2003 ... The U.S. University Select Team also earned an eighth-place finish during the 2001 Winter World University Games.
GAME SUMMARY
Scoring By Period
USA 0-0-0 -- 0
CZE 1-0-2 -- 3
First Period – Scoring: 1, CZE, Kubista (Kriz), 5:49. Penalties: CZE, Fiedler (cross checking), 6:10; USA, Podelnyk (cross checking), 8:42; USA, Fuhs (hooking), 16:37; USA, Cash (cross checking), 19:51.
Second Period – Scoring: None. Penalties: CZE, Kubista (hooking), 2:57; USA, Eberenz (boarding), 7:25; USA, Kuehn (holding), 9:34; USA, Schmitt (delay of game), 9:55; CZE, Nemec (elbowing), 12:22; USA, Chubirka (elbowing), 16:56.
Third Period – Scoring: 2, CZE, Hauer (Zluva), 15:23 (5x3 pp); 3, CZE, Kubista (unassisted), 19:21 (en). Penalties: CZE, Fiedler (interference), 4:16; USA, Kuehn (5-minute major – checking to the head), 6:48; USA, Kuehn (game misconduct), 6:48; USA, Schmitt (cross checking), 9:26; CZE, Hauer (interference), 11:40; CZE, Raska (delay of game), 12:43; USA, Berry (interference), 13:45; USA, Eberenz (interference), 15:12; USA, Cash (roughing), 16:16.
Shots By Period 1 2 3 Total
USA 4 6 10 20
CZE 13 16 15 44
Goaltending (SH-SV) 1 2 3 Total
USA, Feyock, 59:32 13-12 16-16 14-13 43-41
CZE, Sevcik, 59:54 4-4 6-6 10-10 20-20
Power Play: USA 0-6; CZE 1-12
Penalties: USA 12-47; CZE 6-12
2007 Winter World University Games Schedule
Torino, Italy • Jan. 17-27
DATE OPPONENT VENUE RESULT
Jan. 13 West Virginia (ex.) The Gardens Ice House W, 1-0
Jan. 18 Canada Tazzoli Rink L, 0-5
Jan. 19 Slovakia Tazzoli Rink L, 2-3
Jan. 22 Russia Tazzoli Rink L, 2-5
Jan. 24 Korea Tazzoli Rink W, 5-2
Jan. 25 Czech Republic Torre Pellice L, 0-3
