Plymouth, MI- The Niagara hockey team defeated the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) 3-2 in a shootout in an exhibition game on Thursday night.
First Period
The USNTDP kicked the scoring off at the 14:33 mark in the first period to bring the score to 1-0.
Niagara had five shots on goal leading the way was Carter Randklev with two. Lane Brockhoff, Shane Ott, and Jonathan Ziskie all had one shot on goal in the first period.
The Purple Eagles penalty kill was perfect in the first frame killing off two penalties, three shots found their way to goaltender Mitchell Day on the power play.
Day was forced to come up big in the first where he saw 12 shots come his way stopping all but one.
Second Period
The Purple and White tied the game at the 17:41 mark courtesy of Cole Mickle. To set up the play Aron Jessli took the faceoff and won it back to Jay Ahearn who then played it to Randklev. Randklev then played the puck back to Ahearn who found Mickle at the left point where he buried a shot low glove side. Ahearn who is the team leader in assists and Randklev who has 10 assists this season picked up assists on the play.
The Purple Eagles had the edge in shots with 12 shots compared to the USNTDP nine in the second period.
Day came up big with multiple key saves to keep the USNTDP deadlocked at one after two periods.
Third Period
The USNTDP took the one-goal lead back making it 2-1 at the 5:40 mark.
Niagara tied the game back up at two with a goal coming from Ahearn at 13:15. The play was set up from the point with Mickle putting the puck into the corner where Randklev got the puck at the half wall where he then found Jessli sitting at the post who found a streaking Ahearn with a back door pass and the captain made no mistake to put the puck in the back of the net. Randklev picked up his second assist of the game.
With Ahearn's goal, the Purple Eagles forced overtime.
Overtime
Neither team found the back of the net in the overtime period. The USNTDP had the lone two shots in overtime.
Shootout
The USNTDP went first in the shootout, and Cole Hudson was stopped by Day on a five-hole attempt.
Randklev went next and would also miss with a between-the-legs shot.
To start the second round the USNTDP Lucas Van Vliet would be shown the door by Day's left pad.
Niagara's Johnny Wescoe went next and was also stopped.
The third shooter for the USNTDP was James Hagens who fired the puck wide going glove side on Day.
Niagara's Noah Hackett would call the game scoring the only goal of the shootout scoring high glove side in the bottom of the third round.
Niagara Notes
·      Niagara is now 2-1 all-time against the USNTDP in exhibitions. Last season Niagara won 8-5 at Dwyer Arena.
·      The Purple Eagles had 26 shots in the game.
·      Day made 29 saves along with three saves in the shootout.
·      Both Ahearn and Ranklev had two points.
·      The five man line of Ahearn, Randklev, Jessli, Mickel, and Ziskie were all on the ice for both games.
·      Niagara did not allow the dangerous USNTDP power play to score on any of their three attempts.
Up Next
Niagara heads back home to Dwyer Arena to host RIT who is currently ranked 19th in the most recent USCHO poll. The Purple Eagles and Tigers play a home-and-home series with Feb. 1 being Star Wars Night at Dwyer Arena. Niagara travels to Rochester on Feb. 3. Puck drop for the games are scheduled for 7 pm on Thursday and 5:05 pm on Saturday.
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