USA White Defeats Finland 5-4
DU Players Continue To Impress
From: Rink Rat Blog
by Elliot Olshansky

(left) University of Minnesota's Kyle Okposo has been dominating the camp while being paired with DU linemates Tyler Ruegsegger & Rhett Rakhshani


In the second round of the National Junior Evaluation Camp, USA White featuring Rhett Rakhshani & Tyler Ruegsegger faced Finland. USA White was fresh off a shootout loss to Sweden, while Finland lost to the USA Blue yesterday.

The Finns led 4-2 early on in the third, but the Americans had three unanswered goals of their own, coming from behind for a 5-4 win. Once again Ruegsegger & Rakhshani continued to shine and adding one assist apiece.

The U.S. got started at 5:21 of the First Period on a goal by Minnesota's Kyle Okposo. Okposo was in the high slot when the rebound from a Rhett Rakhshani shot bounced out to him. A quick wrist shot found the mark high, beating Finnish goaltender Juha Metsola, who had already been tested several times on that flurry.

The Finns led 4-2 in the third minute of the third period on a short handed goal by Joonas Kemppainen. With the U.S. on a 4-on-3 power play, Kemppainen stole the puck at the blueline, beat Bob Sanguinetti and Cade Fairchild down the ice, went to his right and beat Patterson.

The Americans tied it at 10:30 on Kyle Okposo's second goal of the game. Okposo scored the game-tying tally, after taking a Tyler Ruegsegger pass, cutting up the slot and sliding the puck between the legs of the Finnish goaltender.
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The U.S. scored the game winner at 11:57 on a goal by Michigan recruit Aaron Palushaj. A shot by caromed off the boards behind the net and popped back in front to Palushaj, who took a whack at the puck and sent it upstairs to make it 5-4 U.S.
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Elliot Olshanky noted,
"No need to mess with greatness, as the Rakhsani-Ruegsegger-Okposo line is back in business and again provided the first goal of the game. They also had some other solid scoring chances in the first period I'd look for all three to make the team, and possibly stay together as a line. (To read complete article)

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