USA Triumphs Over Germany 10-4 in Thrilling World Juniors Opener!

The U.S. goaltender Trey Augustine (South Lyon, Mich./Michigan State University) thwarted Nick Maul on a two-on-one chance with 2:13 left to uphold Team USA’s two-goal lead following the first period.

Trevor Connelly (Tustin, Calif./Providence College) increased the U.S. lead merely 1:38 into the second period, taking advantage of a pass from Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass./Boston University) to elevate Team USA to a 3-0 advantage.

Germany’s Julius Sumpf netted a goal on the power play at 5:00, and David Lewandowski scored with 10:37 remaining in the middle period to reduce the U.S. margin to 3-2.

Hagens registered his second goal of the match at 14:01, launching a shot beneath Pertuch’s arm to extend Team USA’s lead to 4-2.

Brandon Svoboda (Level Green, Pa./Boston University) netted what turned out to be the decisive goal at 18:40, as he slotted a backhand shot into the net after a rebound. Perreault fired a wrist shot into the net 59 seconds later, establishing a 6-2 advantage for Team USA after two periods.

Carey Terrance (Akwesasne, N.Y./Erie Otters) scored 3:04 into the third period, finalizing a two-on-one chance with Svoboda to widen the U.S. lead to five.

Lenny Boos scored for Germany at 5:37 before Brodie Ziemer (Hutchinson, Minn./University of Minnesota) contributed two goals at the 7:16 and 9:44 timestamps, effectively sealing the game.

Following Timo Ruckdaschel’s goal for Germany at 16:14, Eiserman scored the last U.S. goal, resulting in a 10-4 final score.

Augustine recorded 18 saves for the U.S. in the triumphant match.

The U.S. National Junior Team will return to preliminary round competition against Latvia on Saturday (Dec. 28) at 3:30 p.m. ET. The contest will be aired live on NHL Network.

NOTES: Gabe Perreault, with two goals and an assist along with seven shots on goal, earned the title of the U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outshot Germany, 56-22 … Team USA went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Germany converted 1-for-4.