Jan. 22, 2008
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -
The Adrian College men's varsity hockey team registered a 6-5 overtime win over the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 Team in an exhibition contest on Tuesday night.
In a back-and-forth game, the U.S. Under-18 Team struck first, scoring 1:29 into the contest to get the early lead in Ann Arbor. Shawn Skelly scored his first of three goals on the night just before the five minute mark in the game to knot the score at one apiece. The U.S. team capitalized on a power play opportunity at 6:43 to regain the lead. Brad Houston erased the U.S. advantage with a goal with 11:58 left in the first period to push the game to 2-2.
In the second period, the U.S. grabbed a 4-2 lead by the 12:20 mark in the period to put the pressure on the Bulldogs. Drew Satterly and Eric Miller responded in favor of the Bulldogs, scoring goals in the final two minutes of the period to lock the score at 4-4 when both teams went back to the locker rooms at intermission.
Skelly gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the night 7:08 into the third period to give the visitors the 5-4 advantage. The U.S. team put the game back into a gridlock just over five minutes after Skelly's goal, knotting the game at 5-5 and eventually forcing overtime.
The Bulldogs wasted little time in the extra frame to put the game away as Shawn Skelly completed the hat trick by netting the game-winner 47 seconds into overtime.
Brad Fogal, Bryan Scott, and Jeremy Cross all saw time in goal for the Bulldogs, combining for 38 saves on the night. Fogal led all three goalies with 21 saves.
The win does not count toward the Bulldogs' overall win-loss-tie record or season statistics, but it did serve as a strong preparation for the remainder of the Bulldogs' season. They will face two of the three teams on their heels in the league in their final four MCHA series.
The Bulldogs host Northland College at Arrington Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26 and will look to maintain their first-place standing in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association.
