Badgers drop exhibition to U.S Under-18 Team

Friday, January 13

MADISON, WI

7 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

U.S. Under-18 Team (Exhibition)

Charlie Stramel against the U.S Under-18 Team

Photo by: Meg Kelly

Badgers drop exhibition to U.S Under-18 Team

January 13, 2023 | Men's Hockey

Box Score (PDF)

Lucius nets lone goal in exhibition match

By: Clara Boudette

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's hockey team hosted the U.S Under-18 team for an exhibition contest at the Kohl Center on Friday.

Team USA, composed of some of the best talent from around the country, faces a variety of collegiate and USHL opponents and boasts a 12-4 record against NCAA Division I teams this season.

They showed it early when USA's Will Vote found the back of the net just over a one minute into the first period. He tapped in a rebound from Oliver Moore and Aram Minnetian on the left side of the crease.

The Badgers headed into the second period looking to get on the board.

Cruz Lucius answered the call at 7:35 in the second period when he fired a wrist shot bar-down and into the net. Defenseman Mike Vorlicky set up the play when he connected with Lucius below the goal line. Lucius fended off three blue jerseys and dropped the puck to Vorlicky along the boards, who then set him up for a shot in the slot.

📽️: Lucius with a wicked wrister from the slot 🔥

🍎: Gorniak, Vorlicky pic.twitter.com/Q7LwAuRgwk
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 14, 2023

Team USA restored their lead minutes later when Ryan Fine picked up a loose puck in the Badger's zone and flipped it past goaltender Kyle McClellan on his backhand.

Moore put Team USA up 3-1 at 13:37 in the second period. Vote stepped up on a Badger defenseman on the blue line, allowing Moore to scoop up the puck and take off down the ice, netting a wrist shot from the right side of the zone.

USA scored three unanswered goals in the third period.

Beckett Hendrickson skated the puck into Wisconsin's zone and scored on a two-on-one rush, assisted by Ryan Fine and Minnetian.

Moore added to the tally when he set up Ryan Leonard with a breakout pass that he skated deep into the Badgers' zone and slipped past McClellan.

USA jumped to a 6-1 lead at 6:29 in the third period when Moore scored his second goal of the game on the power play, assisted by Fine and Drew Fortescue.

Ben Garrity took over in net for McClellan at 8:18 in the third period and was perfect on 11 shots faced in the final stretch for a final score of 6-1, USA.

Notes to know:

Kyle McClellan made 16 saves in net
Team USA's Brady Cleveland and Zach Schultz are part of the Badger's 2023 incoming class
Current Badgers Daniel Laatsch, Owen Lindmark, Cruz Lucius, Ty Smilanic and Charlie Stramel previously played for the U.S National Team Development Program
The Badgers were without defensemen Anthony Kehrer, Corson Ceulemans and Daniel Laatsch due to injury

Next Up: The Badgers face No. Ohio State for a two-game series at the Kohl Center on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 20-21. Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m. Watch Friday's game on Bally Sports Wisconsin and Saturday's game on Bally Sports Wisconsin Extra. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey