WARROAD, Minn. -- The Warroad High School boys' team
squeaked out a 2-1 victory over the U.S. Olympic women's hockey
team Wednesday.
Allen McBride's goal with 3:52 remaining -- a backhander past
Team USA goalie Chanda Gunn -- proved to be the game-winner.
"They were nice to put a team up against us that was spirited
and you could tell by the reactions that it meant as much to those
kids as it does to us," Team USA coach Ben Smith said. "Hockey is
hockey. I think the people liked it. It seemed like a nice crowd
and just a wonderful evening."
About 1,500 people turned out for the exhibition game, which was
non-checking.
Kirk Olimb gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead at 13:58 of the first
period when he put a shot from the high slot past Gunn.
Natalie Darwitz scored Team USA's lone goal, at 4:26 of the
second period. Darwitz's shot appeared to hit the crossbar, but
officials -- after 3 more minutes of play -- conferred and ruled that
the shot had gone into the net.
That tied the game and set up McBride's game-winner. Warroad
goalie Tyler Potts then stopped a couple of Darwitz shots in the
final 25 seconds.
Warroad held a 24-23 edge in shots.