GAME REPORT - USNTDP U17 VS JOHNSTOWN TOMAHAWKS
October 3 2020 - US NTDP U17 (4) at Johnstown Tomahawks (6)
The Under-17 team of the United States National Team Development Program traveled to Johnstown for their first game of the year. The Tomahawks returned several veterans from their squad that has been one of the best NAHL teams for the last two seasons. The U-17 team, featuring some of the best 2004 players in the country, were looking to quickly form a cohesive unit.
Photo Credit - USNTDP Twitter
Early in the game, the Tomahawks used their structure and experience to slow down the speed game of the U17s. The Tomahawks 1-2-2 forecheck clogged the center of the ice, forcing the U17 defenseman to chip the pucks off the walls rather than making clean breakout passes. Johnstown was able to get some early looks that were turned aside by uncommitted goaltender Tyler Muszelik. Johnstown scored the first goal of the game. #12 John Gelatt put hard pressure on Seamus Casey who through the puck up the wall.
The Johnstown defenseman pinched down the wall and through a low far side shot on net that Muszelik kicked directly into the slot and was deposited into the empty net by #18 Dominic Schimizzi with 15:24 left to play in the first period. The U17s had a powerplay but were unable to score. Johnstown built on this momentum scoring a second goal with 12:48 left in the first when Matt McQuade stripped the puck away from Logan Cooley to create a 2 on 1 shorthanded chance. McQuade ripped the puck low far side over Muszelik’s pad but under his glove.
The U17 defenseman consistently struggled on puck retrievals with the Tomahawks hard first man on the puck throughout the first period. Johnstown expanded its lead to 3 on an even-strength goal with 8:17 to go. With the teams skating at four aside, Reed Stark flipped the puck across the ice through the neutral zone. Tomahawk #24 Carson Grainer collected the puck and used his body position to drive to the net, putting on a weak shot that was stopped, but the rebound was put in by Stark, who beat Frank Nazar to the loose puck.
The U17s regrouped over the first intermission and came out a more formidable opponent. Cutter Gauthier opened the scoring for U17 a little more than four minutes into the second period. Kaden Muir corralled a loose puck from in front of his own net and fed it up to Rutger McGroarty who took the hit, but moved the puck to Gauthier with speed. Gauthier carried the puck through the neutral zone and around the Tomahawks defenseman towards the net, putting the puck through the five hole.
The Tomahawks took back the three goal advantage approximately 5 minutes later. McQuade won the puck out of a two on two puck battle behind the U17 net and fed the puck to Jay Ahearn who shot the puck by the goaltender’s blocker. Ryan Chesley scored the U17s second goal of the game off a faceoff win from Logan Cooley back to the right point. Chesley’s floater through traffic was not caught by the Tomahawks goalie. Johnstown responded 90 seconds later to make it 5-2 despite being on the penalty kill. Carson Grainer used his long active stick to take the puck away from Chaz Luscius to create a 2 on 1. Grainer took the puck down the ice and fired it by Muzelik. Johnstown went on the man advantage and put in another with a minute left in the period to head into the second intermission up 6-2. Ahearn draw two U17 players to him and dropped the puck down to McQuade who made a sweet East-West pass to Schimizzi on the back door for the quick release goal.
Similar to the second period, the U17s came out much stronger to start the period scoring two goals within the first five minutes. Marek Hejduk scored approximately 3 minutes in with assists from Maddox Fleming and Tyler Duke. Hejduk originially carried the puck into the offensive zone and made an East-West pass to Maddox Fleming near the top of the circle. Fleming fired a shot that was stopped by the goaltender who lost track of the puck. Hejduk came from behind the net to put in the rebound. Jimmy Snuggerud scored to make it 6-4 with an assist from Cole Spicer. Snuggerud intercepted a Johnstown pass in the offensive zone and moved it up to Spicer. Spicer transported the puck through the neutral zone into the offensive zone, passing it back to Snuggerud in the slot. Snuggerud fired the puck low glove. However, the U17s could draw no closer, as Johnstown settled in to a strong defensive posture that the U17s could not penetrate for significant chances over the last 15 minutes to hold the lead at 6-4.
Top Players
Matt McQuade - #22 Johnstown- ’01, 5’11”, 185 lbs. -(Uncommitted)- This Canadian forward finished last season with almost a point per game for the Nepean Raiders and appears poised for a breakout season in the NAHL. Fast, quick, skilled forward. Quick, accurate release off the rush. Uses his speed to pressure opposing defensemen on the forecheck.
Cutter Gauthier – #42 USA – ’04, 6’2”, 190 lbs (Boston College)- Big, strong, power center. Very good at faceoffs. Possesses the puck well using large frame to keep the puck away from the defenders. Strong transition player. Heavy, quick shot making him a dangerous scorer from anywhere below the top of the circle.
Rutger McGroarty – #58 USA – ’04, 6’1”, 191 lbs (Notre Dame)- Skilled and powerful two-way winger who sees the ice extremely well. Displays some creativity and high-end vision, along with a potentially lethal, accurate shot. Has an edge to his game. Good feet for a bigger player. Defensively responsible. Tough below the goalline and in the corners.
Jay Ahearn - #10 USA – ’01, 6’1”, 161 lbs. (Uncommitted) – Highly skilled, creative forward with good speed and quick acceleration. Two-hundred foot player who has the ability to set up teammates and generate chances for himself. Aggressive forechecker with a good active stick and strong angling ability. Will need to bulk up a bit to handle the grind of a full NAHL season. A Division 1 commit remains a possibility with a strong year.