Indians swept by USA Under-17s

The Soo Kewadin Casino Indians thought they had turned the corner after last weekend's solid showing at the North American Hockey League showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.

After a slow start to the season, the Indians went to the showcase and brought home a near perfect 3-0-1 record.

This weekend, while facing the US National Team Development Program's (USNTDP) Under-17 team, the Indians dropped a pair of home games to drop their record to 5-9-2 on the season.

Friday night's 2-1 loss and Saturday's 3-2 loss were hard pills to swallow for the Indians who have been underachieving this season.

Saturday night's game was very disappointing from an Indians standpoint. The Indians dominated the game early on, but could not beat US netminder Brett Bennett.

The Indians had a number of chances and thought they had opened the scoring just under four minutes in, but had a goal waved off as the net came loose from its pegs before the goal.

Team USA did not record their first shot of the game until there was just over a minute left in the period. Then, in the final minute of the period, the USNTDP caught a break as the Indians were put two-men short.

With 14 second left in the period, the Under-17s made the Indians pay as defenceman Kevin Montgomery scored through a screened Troy Redmann in the Indians goal.

In the second period, Team USA added to their lead as Rhett Rakhshani beat Redmann to put the Indians behind 2-0.

After hitting the post midway through the period, Team USA put the Indians into an even deeper hole as Chris Summers beat Redmann through the five-hole at 16:11 to chase the netminder from the game. Craig Vardy came in to finish off the night for the Indians.

In the third period, the Indians showed the enthusiasm which was lacking in the second frame. Ray Kaunisto, who was named the game's second star, got the Indians on the board at 13:53.

Then, with just over a minute left in the game, Andrew Broughton's goal pulled the Indians to within one.

If not for a big stop by Bennett in the game's dying seconds the Indians could have very well pulled out a tie but it was not to be as the USNTDP Under-17 team completed the weekend sweep with Saturday's 3-2 victory.

Bennett was exceptional in the Team USA goal. To go along with his first star nomination, he made 29 saves for the victory. Redmann and Vardy combined to stop 13 shots in the loss.

On Friday night, a goal by Chris Atkinson with 3:08 left in the third period was the difference maker as the Under-17 team took the 2-1 decision. Michael Ratchuk also scored for Team USA while Tiger Marcotte scored the lone Indians goal.

Following Saturday night's game, a visibly disappointed Indians coach, Joe Shawhan, declined comment on the game.

The Indians now prepare to face the Cleveland Barons in an important weekend showdown at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Center on Friday and Saturday night in the Michigan Sault. Game time on both nights is 7 p.m.