Austin Watson scored twice to help USA Blue come from behind in the third period and earn a 4-3 win against USA White in the first of two intrasquad scrimmages at the 2011 Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y.
The contest featured 44 players auditioning for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2011, through Jan. 5, 2012, in Calgary and Edmonton, Alta.
"I thought there was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement on the ice," U.S. National Junior Team Dean Blais told usahockey.com. "There was a lot of speed out there and the guys were making plays. I thought they competed hard."
Jason Zucker got White on the board with a power-play goal at 11:21 when he received a cross-ice pass from Justin Faulk at the top of the right circle and beat Blue goaltender Jack Campbell, Dallas’ top pick in the 2010 Entry Draft, to the glove side.
The Blue team applied heavy pressure at the end of the first period, but goaltender Andy Iles held strong in the net for White. However, Blue scored two goals near the midway point of the second frame, from Nick Shore on the power play and Watson, Nashville’s top pick in 2010, to take a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission.
Chase Balisy scored back-to-back goals for USA White in the third period to help his squad reclaim the lead. Kenny Agostino assisted on both tallies.
But T.J. Tynan banged home a goal past White netminder John Gibson, a second-round pick by Anaheim in this year’s draft, and Watson scored his second of the night 45 seconds later to give USA Blue the lead.
Campbell, who went all the way, made 29 saves in the victory, while Gibson and Iles combined for 28 stops.
The evaluation camp will feature another intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday before switching to international games between the United States, Finland and Sweden Aug. 8-13.
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