Team USA Defeats Canada, 7-2, to Close World Junior Summer Showcase

U.S. netminder Ryder Fetterolf (Sewickley, Pa.) made four stellar saves, including a breakaway stop, in the final minute of Team USA’s first penalty kill with 11:15 remaining in the first to keep the game scoreless.

Fetterolf denied another strong Canadian power-play chance with 6:35 remaining, sliding across his crease to keep a one-timer from Braeden Cootes out of the net.

Cullen nearly broke the scoreless time on a power play with 5:34 to play, weaving through defenders to earn a chance from the slot, but his shot was stopped by Canada’s Lukas Beckman.

Team USA struck first at 1:32 of the middle frame, as Sammy Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) scored a shorthanded tally, cashing in on a breakaway chance after forcing a turnover in the defensive zone.

Fetterolf stood tall again at 2:33, stopping a one-timer from the slot with his mask to keep the U.S. ahead.

Canada scored the equalizer at 3:58, as Ethan Belchetz scored on a shot from the slot after a U.S. turnover. Dima Zhilkin scored on a deflection at 7:27 to give Canada a 2-1 lead.

Ethan Wyttenbach (Roslyn, N.Y.) responded 26 seconds later, scoring from just outside the crease after a cross-ice pass from Cullen to tie the game, 2-2.

Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) almost gave the U.S. its second shorthanded goal of the game with 8:50 remaining, but his breakaway chance rang off the post.