Wisconsin Drops U.S. Under-18 Team 6-5
December 16, 2005 | Men's Hockey
Sophomore Joe Pavelski scored with 54 seconds left in regulation to give the No. 1 Wisconsin men's hockey team a 6-5 win over the U.S. Under-18 National Team in an exhibition game Friday night at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers (14-2-2 overall, 11-1-2 WCHA) tallied five goals in the third period and out-shot Team USA 46-11 over the game's final 40 minutes.
Freshman Shane Connelly (Cheltenham, Pa.) made 19 saves in his first action as a Badger.
Juniors Andrew Joudrey (New Bedford, Nova Scotia) and Robbie Earl (Los Angeles) led the way offensively. Joudrey notched two power-play goals in the third period while Earl recorded four assists.
Future Badger Blake Geoffrion had a goal and an assist to lead Team USA, which is now 3-9-1 against NCAA teams this season. Goalie Joe Palmer stopped 45 shots.
The Under-18 Team took a 2-0 lead into the locker room after the first period thanks to goals by Chris Atkinson and Bill Sweatt.
UW freshman Tom Gorowsky (Lino Lakes, Minn.) cut the lead in half 5:43 into the second. Gorowsky tipped a shot past Palmer from between the circles for his first goal as a Badger.
Team USA struck back with a goal by Ryan Flynn at the 12:18 mark of the second to carry a 3-1 advantage into the third period.
Wisconsin knotted the game at three with goals by Davis Drewiske (Hudson, Wis.) and Joudrey 1:49 and 2:35 into the third. Drewiske scored with a shot from the right point while Joudrey tallied his first of two power-play goals with a tip-in from the slot.
Team USA battled back again, taking a 4-3 lead just over two minutes later when Geoffrion's shot from the right circle beat Connelly five-hole.
Joudrey tied the game at four at the 7:15 mark of the third with another tip-in goal on the power-play.
After the Under-18 Team took a 5-4 lead 13:14 into the third, senior Tom Gilbert (Bloomington, Minn.) tied the game at five with 5:21 left in regulation.
Pavelski (Plover, Wis.) gave the Badgers their first lead of the night with a power-play goal at 19:06 of the third. The sophomore made a move through two defenders, then cut around a sprawled Palmer to tap the puck into an open net. Earl and Gilbert added assists on the game-winning goal.
UW finished the game 4-for-10 on the power play while Team USA was 0-for-4.
Wisconsin returns to the ice for the 17th Annual Badger Hockey Showdown Dec. 30-31 at the Kohl Center. Action begins on Dec. 30 when Northern Michigan meets Wayne State at 4 p.m. and Wisconsin plays Western Michigan at 7 p.m. The Badgers will also play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 with the early game starting at 4 p.m.
