Midway through the opening frame, Finland doubled its advantage when Oliver Rinne scored on a chance in front to make it 2–0.
Team USA answered with a buzzer-beater before the first intermission. Pressuring heavily on the forecheck, Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.) stripped the puck from a Finnish defender and fed Nolan Fitzhenry streaking through the slot. Fitzhenry ripped a shot past the goaltender to cut the deficit to one heading into the second.
The middle frame belonged to the United States. In the offensive zone, Finnegan Sears (Medford, Mass.) fired a shot from the top of the circles that missed wide, but the lively rebound off the end boards bounced directly to Rocco Pelosi (Sewell, N.J.). Pelosi collected the puck, put it between his legs and tucked it home to tie the game.
Just over two minutes later, the U.S. took its first lead of the game on Nolan Fitzhenry’s second goal. Once again the forecheck generated the chance, this time from Brayden Willis (Gilbert, Ariz.), who intercepted a Finland clearing attempt and fed Fitzhenry alone between the circles. Fitzhenry sniped a shot past the Finnish netminder to give Team USA the 3–2 edge heading into the third period.
In the final frame, the U17s controlled possession and limited Finland’s chances, preventing any serious threats to the one-goal lead. Eli Winters (Muskegon, Mich.) stood tall, turning aside every shot he faced in the period.
Kane Barch (Plano, Texas) added the insurance marker with an empty-net goal, securing Team USA’s 4–2 victory.
Winters started in net and had 21 saves in the win.
The U17s are back tomorrow morning as they take on Switzerland in their second game of the Vierumaki Cup. Puck drop is set for 11:30 a.m ET and will be live on Leijonat TV.