Michigan State University Athletics
Miller Shines In Team USA Debut
4/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
April 29, 2002
KARLSTAD, Sweden - Michigan State junior goaltender Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.) made 30 saves in his first start in international ice hockey play, leading the U.S. team to a 3-2 win against Latvia at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship today (April 29).
The 2001 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner and two-time first team All-American made 12 saves in both the first and third periods for the U.S, which was outshot by Latvia 32-21. The U.S. jumped out to a 3-0 first-period lead on a pair of goals by forward Joe Sacco of the Washington Capitals and a tally by former Buffalo Sabre and Dallas Star Derek Plante. Latvia scored single goals in the second and third periods, but couldn't draw even.
Team USA improved to 2-0-0 in pool play with today's victory. The Americans opened the tournament with a convincing 5-2 win against Italy Saturday.
Miller and the U.S. team complete pool play tomorrow against Canada. Faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST in Karlstad. The medal round begins May 7 in Gothenburg with the gold-medal game slated for May 11, also in Gothenburg.
Box Score
USA 3-0-0 -- 3LAT 0-1-1 -- 2
First Period -- Scoring: 1, USA, Sacco (Donato), :20. 2, USA, Plante (Park), 13:21. 3, USA,
Sacco (Donato, Konowalchuk), 18:10. Penalties: DeWolf, USA (holding), 3:57.
Second Period -- Scoring: 4, LAT, Nizivijs (Macijevskis), 11:41. Penalties: Fanduls, LAT
(boarding), 2:26; Reasoner, USA (tripping), 5:34; Fanduls, LAT (interference), 16:22;
Eaton, USA (roughing), 19:05.
Third Period -- Scoring: 5, LAT, Pantelejevs (Zoltoks), 3:52. Penalties: Ignatjevs, LAT,
(interference), 11:57; Ozolinsh, LAT (misconduct), 20:00.
Shots: USA 11-4-6--21. LAT 12-8-12--32.
Goaltenders: USA, Miller (32 shots, 30 saves); LAT, Naumovs (21 shots, 18 saves), removed
at 19:39 of third.
Referee: Jukka Pakaslahti. Linesmen: Marco Coenen, Riku Peltonen.
