Team USA dropped its first game of the 2024 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament on Saturday to Czechia. Here are my standouts and top performers from the Americans.
Team USA dropped its first game of the 2024 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament on Saturday to Czechia. Here are my standouts and top performers from the Americans.
#11 Will Bent, F
Bent made up for a quiet game on Friday with two goals in the game. The Tri-City Storm draft pick and Providence commit tied the game at two in the first period, burying a rebound on a second-chance opportunity. On a similar-looking play in the third period, Bent tied the game shortly into Team USA's power play. The forward possesses a strong net-front presence and a knack for finding rebounds.
#4 Nick Bogas, D
Nice game from Bogas, despite racking up 25 minutes in penalties before the second-period horn. The Waterloo Black Hawks pick showed good poise quarterbacking the power play and was rewarded with his first goal of the tournament on a wrister that just beat the first-period horn. He was part of a large scrum with five seconds left in the second period, which resulted in an early end to his night.
#24 Kalder Varga, F
Another two points for Varga, who picked up the primary assist on Bogas’s goal. The forward had the play of the day in the first period when he blocked a shot in the defensive zone and took the puck unassisted the other way for a goal. Varga finished with two points on two shots.
#5 Levi Harper, D
Harper continues to show up in these postgame reports because of his skill set as a two-way defenseman. The Tri-City Storm draft pick was credited with three assists, including a secondary assist on Bogas’s goal and primary assists on Noah Davidson and Bent’s goals.
#16 Noah Davidson, F
Back-to-back games with a goal for Davidson, who recognized Harper’s shot attempt was sailing wide of the net. The Waterloo Black Hawks draft pick corralled the rebound off the endboards and quickly put it into the net. Davidson finished with four shots on goal and won his only faceoff.
#12 Joseph Salandra, F
Similar to Davidson, Salandra now has goals in consecutive games. The Chicago Steel pick opened the scoring on a much-needed goal after Czechia scored two quick goals to start the game. Salandra finished a beautiful play in transition, with Nate Pederson and Ryan Poirier collecting assists on the tally.