VARKAUS, Finland – Bolstered by Kyle Palmieri's (Montvale, N.J.) hat trick, the U.S. National Under-18 Team notched a 5-3 victory over Finland here today to close the 2008 Five Nations Tournament in first place. Team USA posted a 3-1-0 record (W-W/OT-L) in the event and recorded its fourth ever Five Nations Tournament title.

"To win a tournament like this it takes mental determination and a commitment to playing as a team, and we were able to do both of those things throughout the week," said John Hynes, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team. "Hopefully, the success we had in this tournament can help us gain some momentum as we prepare for the IIHF World Under-18 Championship in April."

Palmieri opened the game's scoring at the 3:54 mark of the first period, thanks to an assist from Joe Marciano (Alta Loma, Calif.). Team USA built a 2-0 lead at 1:44 of the second stanza when David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) lit up the scoreboard, with help from Nick Pryor (Woodbury, Minn.).

Kristian Nakyva notched Finland's first goal of the contest at the 15:06 mark of the middle session.

The third period proved to be an offensive exhibition as a total of five goals were scored by the two teams. Palmieri notched a power-play marker at 2:14, before providing the game-winner a little over three minutes later, thanks to an assist from Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.).

Teemu Hartikainen tallied for Finland at the 6:56 mark, but Robbie Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) quickly answered for Team USA at 13:43 of the stanza. Kristo picked up his second helper of the game on the play.

Matias Myttynen added a final marker for the Finnish squad to make it 5-3, but that was as close as the score would get.

Goaltender Brandon Maxwell (Winter Park, Fla.) filed his second consecutive win for Team USA after stopping 28 of the 31 shots he saw. Joonas Kuusela made 34 saves for Finland.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team (19-17-1-4) will now compete in the North American Hockey League’s first annual Top Prospects Tournament, set for February 17-19 at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich. The event will feature all-star teams from the NAHL's Central, North and South Divisions, as well as a team from the U.S. National Team Development Program, competing in a three-game, round-robin tournament.
 

Notes: Team USA has won the Five Nations Tournament three other times — 1999, 2005 and 2007 ... The U.S. National Under-18 Team is 6-2 in international games this year ... Team USA is 5-1 in its last six contests ... Kyle Palmieri (three goals) notched his first hat trick and first game-winning goal as a member of the U.S. National Under-18 Team ... He finished in a tie for first among Team USA players with six points (four goals, two assists) at the 2008 Five Nations Tournament ... Jordan Schroeder also notched six points (three goals, three assists) at the 2008 Five Nations Tournament ... Danny Kristo (two assists) finished in a tie for third on the team with four points (two goals, two assists) at the 2008 Five Nations Tournament ... Jeremy Morin (four goals) shared the third spot with Kristo on Team USA's point chart during the tournament ... Brandon Maxwell and Joe Cannata (Wakefield, Mass.) each recorded two wins at the 2008 Five Nations Tournament.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

 

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Palmieri (Marciano), 3:54. Penalties: FIN, Rasi (interference), 0:50; FIN, Blomqvist (tripping), 4:57; USA, Palmieri (roughing), 15:56.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, USA, Wohlberg (Pryor), 1:44; 2, FIN, Nakyva (Ikonen), 5:06. Penalties: FIN, Kivisto (holding), 5:57; USA, McCarey (holding), 7:59; USA, Hegarty (high sticking), 12:58; FIN, Myttynen (charging), 15:27.

Third Period - Scoring: 3, USA, Palmieri (unassisted), 2:14 (pp); 4, USA, Palmieri (Kristo), 5:20; FIN, 2, Hartikainen (Rasi, Hietikko), 6:56; 5, Czarnik (Kristo), 13:43; 3, FIN, Myttynen (Ikonen), 18:56. Penalties: FIN, Eronen (kneeing), 0:23; USA, Pryor (holding), 11:13.

 

Power Play: FIN 0-4; USA 1-5
Penalties: FIN 5-10; USA 4-8
Officials: Referees - Jyri Ronn, Tatu Savolainen; Linesman - Antti Juntenen
Attendance: 1,003

 

U.S. National Under-18 Team 2008 Five Nations Tournament
Feb. 6-Feb. 10 • Rantasalmi, Leppävirta, Pieksämäki & Varkaus, Finland
 

Venue Locations: Rantasalmi Arena (Rantasalmi, Finland), Leppävirta Arena (Leppävirta, Finland), Pieksämäki Arena (Pieksämäki, Finland), Varkaus Arena (Varkaus, Finland).