Exhibition stats
ANN ARBOR, MI -- Nazareth's men's hockey team had the rare opportunity to play against some of the best young hockey players in the country on Saturday evening as the Golden Flyers took on the USA Under-18 National Team at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in Michigan. The U.S. development team, comprised of several National Hockey League first-round draft picks, defeated the Golden Flyers 4-0 in the exhibition. Nazareth goalies Joe Gladnick and Jordan Demo combined to make 47 saves. The Golden Flyers enter Sunday's 3 p.m. contest at fifth-ranked Adrian with a 1-6-1 overall record. Saturday's contest against Team USA is not included in Nazareth's overall statistics and record.

With the victory, the development team, which also plays against Division I NCAA teams, international teams, and USHL teams, improved to 15-6-1 in their 2013-14 games. In the 15 years the development program has been in place, 228 players have been drafted by NHL teams. Former development players include the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane and the Detroit Red Wings' Jimmy Howard.

Following the game, Nazareth coach George Roll shared, "Saturday's game was a great experience for our guys to compete against the best prospects in the country. It was a unique opportunity, and we're all proud of the their effort."

Nazareth held the Under 18 team scoreless for the first 19:21 of the game. Sonny Milano broke the scoreless tie with a low, hard shot from just below the left faceoff dot. Milano received a no-look pass from Alex Tuch from behind the Golden Flyers' net to set up the goal.

Tuch was on the scoring end of the second goal 2:20 into the second period. Nazareth almost cleared the puck from its defensive zone, but it was trapped at the blue line near the left point by Jack Glover. Glover found Tuch in the high slot. Tuch used a toe-drag to get around a Golden Flyer defender before putting a slap shot over the Gladnick's right shoulder.

In the third period, Ryan Collins and Jack Eichel each added insurance goals to secure the outcome. Collins scored 2:27 into the third stanza after connecting on a long wrist shot from the right point. Ryan Hitchcock got it back to Collins from the outside the right faceoff dot to provide Collins with his shot opportunity. Eichel converted the game's lone power play opportunity for the U.S. with 4:37 to play in regulation. With the man-advantage opportunity, Eichel, Milano, and Brandon Fortunato passed the puck to each other before a one-timer was blasted past Demo.

Collin Olson made 13 saves for Team USA. Gladnick finished with 38 saves and three goals against in 48:38 of action, and Demo tallied eight saves in the final 11:22 of regulation.

Freshman Chris Murray, who leads Nazareth with four goals on the season, had a team-high three shots on goal for the Golden Flyers' offense. Sophomore Packy Jones and freshman Ben Blasko each had two shots on goal. Julius Tamasy, Jon-Paul Durso, Scott Dawson, Marco Spisso, and Jordan Ciccerello each recorded one shot on goal.

After playing Sunday's non-conference game at fifth-ranked Adrian, Nazareth travels to Cortland for another non-conference game on December 10th. The Golden Flyers host Geneseo in a non-conference game on December 15th at Frontier Field as part of the Frozen Frontier event.