Two From URI Help Team USA Beat Japan In World University Games

ERZURUM, Turkey – Paced by shorthanded goals from Michael Lepre (Chesterland, Ohio/Kent State University) and Devin Sheehan (Binghamton, N.Y./University of Rhode Island), the U.S. Men's National University Team topped Japan, 5-3, at the 2011 Winter World University Games. Eleven players recorded a point for Team USA, which advances to the fifth-place game against Slovakia tomorrow (Feb. 5) at 1 p.m. EST.

“This is a huge win for us, especially since Japan has beaten us at the last two tournaments,” said Dave Debol, head coach of the U.S. Men's National University Team. “We've accomplished our goal of placing higher than we ever have before at this tournament and earning fifth place would be a great honor.”

Team USA opened the scoring 6:39 into the first period, when Lepre notched a shorthanded tally. Augie Hoffmann (Lake Forest, Ill./University of Oklahoma) sent a feed to Lepre, who skated up ice on a breakaway and fired a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that beat Japanese goaltender Yuta Narisawa.

Japan tied the game at the 10:45 mark of the second period, but the U.S. gained a 2-1 edge less than five minutes later with a goal by Alan Dionne (North Scituate, R.I./University of Rhode Island).

Tim O'Brien (Bethel Park, Pa./Penn State University) then scored with just :38 remaining in the middle frame to give Team USA a two-goal cushion heading into the third period.

The U.S. took a 4-1 lead 4:38 into the third period when Sheehan scored Team USA's second shorthanded goal of the game. Japan scored twice to cut the U.S. lead to 4-3, but Kevin Kranker (Lake Orion, Mich./Oakland University) notched a power-play goal to secure the 5-3 victory.

Team USA goaltender Erik Hudson (Spokane, Wash./Iowa State University) made 36 saves in the win, while Narisawa stopped 29 shots for Japan.

NOTES: Team USA's highest finish at the Winter World University Games is seventh place (2009) … The U.S. finished 1-for-6 on the power play, while Japan went 2-for-8 with the man advantage … The complete U.S. roster can be found here and information on the schools and states represented can be found here… Dave Debol, head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Michigan Dearborn, is serving as head coach of the 2011 U.S. Men's National University Team after having served as an assistant coach for the squad in 2007 and 2009. He is assisted by Scott Balboni, head men's ice hockey coach at Penn State University, and Dan Phelps, head men's ice hockey coach at Adrian College … USA Hockey coverage of the U.S. Men's and Women's National University Teams throughout the 2011 Winter World University Games can be found on the tournament homepage; on the Team USA – World University Games blog; on USA Hockey's Facebook page; and by following #WUG on Twitter … The Winter World University Games is a biannual multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The international competition is staged in both the summer and the winter, similar to the Olympic Games. For more information, click here.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period – Scoring: 1, USA, Lepre (Hoffmann), 6:39 (sh). Penalties: USA, Lassik (hooking), 4:47; JPN, Hozumi (hooking), 10:47; JPN, Terao (hooking), 16:54.

Second Period – Scoring: 2, JPN, Terao (Sato, Sakagami), 10:45 (pp); 3, JPN, Dionne (unassisted), 15:07; 4, USA, O'Brien (Gorczyca, Pilmore), 19:22. Penalties: USA, Loecher (tripping), 5:03; USA, Kranker (elbowing), 6:02; USA, Lassik (misconduct, roughing), 8:43; USA, Hudson (delaying-the-game), 10:31; JPN, Sato (holding), 19:54; JPN, Sato (roughing), 19:54.

Third Period – Scoring: 5, USA, Sheehan (Contratto), 5:23 (sh); 6, JPN, Murakami (Ikeda), 7:52; 7, JPN, Yamada (Takami), 9:40 (pp); 8, USA, Kranker (Ciaverilla, DeSano), 13:19 (sh). Penalties: USA, Krannich (slashing), 4:20; USA, Macari (hooking), 5:41; USA, Balint (hooking), 9:11; JPN, Sakagami (interference), 13:05; JPN, Kaneko (high-sticking), 17:20.

Power Play: JPN 2-8; USA 1-6
Penalties: JPN 6-12; USA 8-26
Referee: Martin Gasparik
Linesmen: Henri Neva, Peter Stano
Attendance: 415

2011 Winter World University Games
Men's Team USA Schedule
Jan. 27-Feb. 6 • Cemal Gürsel Sport Complex • Erzurum, Turkey

ERZURUM, Turkey – The U.S. Women's National University Team fell to Canada, 8-1, here today at the 2011 Winter World University Games. The U.S., which is competing in the women's tournament for the first time, will play in the bronze-medal game against Slovakia tomorrow (Feb. 5) at 2:30 a.m. EST.

After Canada took a 2-0 lead at the 12:46 mark of the first period, the U.S. responded with a goal to cut its deficit in half. Team USA led a rush into the offensive zone and Lindsay Reihl (Cheshire, Conn./Penn State University) fed the puck to Charlotte Hoium (Falcon Heights, Minn./Michigan State University), who sent a shot past Canadian goaltender Liz Knox.

Canada scored just :55 into the middle frame and notched two more goals to take a 5-1 lead into the third period.

Team USA killed four penalties in the final frame, but Canada scored three unanswered goals to seal the victory.

Goaltender Heather Rossi (Effort, Pa./Penn State University) made 48 saves for the U.S., while Knox and Beth Clause stopped six shots for Canada.

NOTES: The 2011 Winter World University Games marks the first time the U.S. is sending a women's team after women's ice hockey was added to the tournament in 2009. During the Games, Team USA faced all five other countries participating in women's ice hockey at the tournament – Slovakia, Turkey, Finland, Canada and Great Britain – in the preliminary round … The complete U.S. roster can be found here and information on the schools and states represented can be found here … Mo Stroemel, who is beginning his fourth season as head coach of the Penn State University Lady Icers, is serving as head coach of the 2011 U.S. Women's National University Team, while Vince O'Mara, head coach of the Lindenwood University women's ice hockey team, and Cory Whitaker, head coach of the Grand Valley State University women's ice hockey team, are serving as assistant coaches … USA Hockey coverage of the U.S. Men's and Women's National University Teams throughout the 2011 Winter World University Games can be found on the tournament homepage; on the Team USA – World University Games blog; on USA Hockey's Facebook page; and by following #WUG on Twitter …The Winter World University Games is a biannual multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The international competition is staged in both the summer and the winter, similar to the Olympic Games. For more information on the 2011 Winter World University Games, click here.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

First Period – Scoring: 1, CAN, Provost (Lally), 1:50; 2, CAN, Seedhouse (Sollis), 12:46; 3, USA, Hoium (Reihl), 15:39. Penalties: USA, Ducie (delaying-the-game), 3:00; USA, Black (tripping), 4:41; USA, Weaver (body checking), 9:03; USA, Winters (cross-checking), 10:44.

Second Period – Scoring: 4, CAN, Styles (Fenerty), 0:55; 5, CAN, Miles (Bettez), 11:12; 6, CAN, Webster (Miles, George), 17:49. Penalties: CAN, Provost (elbowing).

Third Period – Scoring: 7, CAN, Provost (Deschenes), 0:39; 8, CAN, Fenerty (Provost), 7:29; 9, CAN, Deschenes (unassisted), 18:12 (pp). Penalties: USA, Wynn (slashing), 2:09; USA, Crawford (delay of game), 5:28; USA, Rossi (charging), 11:18; USA, Weaver (hooking), 14:28; USA, Crawford (cross-checking), 17:59.

Power Play: CAN 1-9; USA 0-1
Penalties: CAN 1-2; USA 9-18
Referee: Zuzanna Findorova
Linesmen: Magdalena Cerhitova, Merve Sarimert
Attendance: 1750

2011 Winter World University Games
Women's Team USA Schedule
Jan. 27-Feb. 6 • Cemal Gürsel Sport Complex • Erzurum, Turkey