Maine takes care of a chippy U-18 Team at the CX4

GUSTAV NYQUIST HAD 3 ASSISTS IN PORTLAND SUNDAY

The University of Maine men's ice hockey team skated to a 5-1 win over the U.S. Under-18 Team on Sunday afternoon in a game played at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine. Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden) had three assists in the game, while Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Josh Van Dyk (Woodstock, Ontario) each chipped in with a goal and an assist.

Team USA took a 1-0 lead when Reid Boucher tipped a Robbie Russo shot past Maine goalie Martin Ouellette (St.-Hippolyte, Quebec) at 14:00 of the first period. Jake McCabe also assisted on the goal. Maine tied the game up just a minute later when Mike Cornell (Franklin, Mass.) fired a shot from the left face-off circle past US Under-18 Team goalie Matt McNeely. Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden) each assisted on the goal.

Maine took the lead with just 11 seconds remaining in the first period when Flynn stuffed the puck past McNeely just inside the right post. Adam Shemansky (Robbinsville, N.J.) and Van Dyk assisted on the play.

Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) extended Maine's lead to 3-1 just 50 seconds into the third period on a goal set up by Will O'Neill (Salem, Mass.) and Nyquist.

VanDyk got on the scoreboard when he received a pass from Nyquist and fired a shot past McNeely from the slot at 7:33 of the third period. Robby Dee (Plymouth, Minn.) also picked up an assist on the play.

Maine capped the scoring at 18:08 when Jon Swavely (Reading, Pa.) scored from the right face-off circle. Mike Banwell (Scarborough, Ontario) and Brice O'Connor (Londonderry, N.H.) each assisted on the tally by Swavely.

Maine finished the game with a 39-23 advantage in shots on goal. The black Bears were 3-for-9 on the power play, while the U.S. Under-18 Team finished the game 1-for-5.

Maine goalie Ouellette made 22 saves in goal. Matt McNeely made 34 saves for the U.S. Under-18 Team.

The Black Bears return to action on Saturday, Jan. 8 when they travel to Merrimack for a Hockey East Conference game with the Warriors. Puck drops is scheduled for 4 PM.