Lending a helping hand
Newtown’s Samoskevich assists on two goals in U.S. win
Newtown’s Mackie Samoskevich was one of six U.S. players credited with multi-point games as Team USA defeated Switzerland 7-1 Thursday to improve to 2-0-0-0 in 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship preliminary play at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.
Carter Mazur scored twice for the U.S., including the team’s first of five second period goals. The U.S. dominated play int he first period, highlighted by four shots on a powerplay, including a one-time shot from Samoskevich.
The U.S. powerplay continued to play with urgency on its second advantage of the period, as Mazur cashed in for Team USA. Luke Hughes kept a cleared puck in at the blue line, saving the U.S. attack, as Thomas Bordeleau and Samoskevich moved the puck to a streaking Mazur, who found space under Pasche’s glove.
“I’m happy about the way we stuck with our game plan,” U.S. National Junior Team coach Nate Leaman said in a release. “We took our game to the next level in the second period and came out with a good win.”
As a freshman this past season, Samoskevich helped Michigan to the Frozen Four, scoring 10 goals and 19 assists in 40 games. The Florida Panthers picked him 24th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Switzerland switched goalies in the third period to Noah Patenaude, and he was tested early. Samoskevich and his Michigan teammates took it from there. While on the powerplay, Hughes dished to Samoskevich who found Bordeleau waiting with his stick in the air, ready to hammer in a one-time shot for USA’s sixth goal of the night.