New Jersey native Chris Birdsall made 20 saves to lead the U.S. Under-17 Select Team to a 5-0 victory over Switzerland on Thursday in the second game of preliminary-round action at the 2012 U-17 Five Nations Tournament in Chomutov, Czech Republic.
Following a scoreless first period, Austin Poganski, Robert Nardella and Shane Gersich scored to give the U.S. team a 3-0 lead. Gersich, of Holy Family Catholic High School in Minnesota, also notched two assists. Birdsall made 10 saves in the second period.
"We started getting pucks and bodies to the net in the second period," U.S. coach Barry Smith said. "Our team has been making changes and adjustments, and we've gone out and been successful so far."
The United States received third-period goals from Kyle Connor and Seamus Malone to close out the scoring.
Birdsall, who will play for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League in 2012-13, was named player of the game for the Americans. As a freshman last season, he helped lead Glen Rock (N.J.) High School to the State Public B semifinals, allowing four goals in four playoff games before his team lost to Tenafly in a shootout in the semifinal round. Birdsall had a 1:08:22 shutout streak during Glen Rock's postseason run.
The Five Nations Tournament includes teams from the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States. The 20 players on the U.S. roster represent 12 different states, with Minnesota leading the way with five players, while Michigan and Illinois each have three.
The U.S. will next meet the Czech Republic on Friday before closing out the tournament against Slovakia on Saturday.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.