Haider stops Czech barrage to help USA to Five Nations title

Team USA 17U Selects were called on to step up their collective game in the finale at the finale of the Five Nations Tournament at Ostrava, Czech Republic on Sunday (August 27, 2017) and answered the bell to clinch the tournament title.

After brushing aside its first three opponents: Switzerland, Slovakia and Germany by a combined score of 21-2, the American side had to battle the entire way in the final game which wasn’t clinched until Mitch Miller sank a last-minute empty netter to clinch a 5-3 win against the host Czech Republic.

For Miller, a 15-year-old defenseman from Sylvania, OH (Honeybaked 16U), the goal was his second of the tournament and finally allowed the Americans to celebrate its four-game sweep.

But the hero of this one was the busiest man on the ice – Ethan Haider, a 15-year-old goaltender from Maple Grove, MN (Maple Grove HS) who faced a barrage and turned aside 47 of 50 shots to help his mates collect the win against a high octane Czech attack.

Haider appeared in three of the four games but faced less than 20 in his previous wins against Switzerland (shared with Kyle Chauvette 15, from New Hampshire – New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs 16U) and Slovakia.

In all, Haider and Chauvette combined to stop 90 of 95 shots faced in the tournament.

Arthur Kaliyev, a 16-year-old from New York (Hamilton Bulldogs – OHL) opened the scoring for the Americans late in the opening period and the visitors never trailed in the contest.

However, after building a 3-1 lead with second goals from Josh Nodler, a 16-year-old forward from Oak Park, MI (Honeybaked 16U) and a shorthanded effort and Josh Groll, 16, from California (Anaheim Jr. Ducks 16U), the Americans saw it wiped out with a Czech goal late in the second and another 90 seconds into the final period.

Groll’s goal was his fourth of the tournament and it was Grant Sillianov, 16, from Edina, MN (Shattuck St. Mary’s) adding his fourth as well with just under five minutes to go, putting the Americans in front to stay. Sillianov was the lone American to score in all four matches.

USA Hockey has been well represented in this event by its U-17 team. The win Sunday lifted the American side to its third straight tournament title, all with four-game sweeps. Team USA is riding a 13-game winning streak at the event, having not lost since the 2014 event when it finished 3-1 and wrapped up the runners up position.

This event was the 10^th year of the Five Nations Tournament. Team USA has won the event six times and holds an overall tournament record of 35-5.