Team USA Wins Second Exhibition at World Juniors
December 23, 2004 | Men's Hockey
For the second-straight game, former Badger Ryan Suter scored the game's first goal, this time in Team USA's 6-3 win over Germany, to complete the exhibition schedule Wednesday, as the United States now heads to the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championships.
After a scoreless first period, team captain Suter used a hard shot from the point to put the Americans up 1-0 at 4:57 of the second period. The goal would be the first of six total goals in the period.
Germany responded quickly, scoring three goals within 67 seconds to take a two-goal lead. First, Kai Hospelt capitalized on a U.S. penalty, scoring the equalizer from down low. Next, Marcus Kink would go stickside off a pass from Steffen Tolzer for Germany's first lead. The final German goal of the frenzy came on an Andre Reiss breakaway with just over 13 minutes to play in the second period.
The German lead wouldn't last long. Robbie Schremp started the U.S. comeback, firing a hard shot from the circle at 13:34. Just over four minutes later, Dan Fritsche brought the teams even, turning a pass from Porter into a nifty backhanded score at 17:54.
Fritsche finished with two goals including the game-winner. With the score tied at three and just seven minutes remaining in regulation, Fritsche fired a spinning puck over the right shoulder of German goalie, Thomas Greiss. Kevin Porter and Chris Bourque would seal the win for the U.S., scoring the final goals with less than five minutes remaining.
Al Montoya started the game for the U.S. before trading with Cory Schneider (Marblehead, Mass./Boston College) at the 10 minute mark of the second. Germany also switched netminders at the midpoint with Youri Ziffzer relinquishing duties to Thomas Greiss. Schneider and Greiss each were creditted with the decision.
Ziffzer was named Player of the Game for Germany, while Fritsche recieved the honors for the U.S., which faces Russia on Dec. 25 in the team's tournament
opener at 7:35 p.m. at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
