WIN OVER SLOVAKS WRAPS UP SEMIFINAL SPOT FOR U.S.

PORT ALBERNI, BC – One night after a nail-biting win over Quebec, the United States made sure there would no such excitement on Thursday afternoon at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The 2008 silver medalists booked a spot in Saturday’s semifinals as Emerson Etem scored a pair of goals and set up another in a 6-1 win over Slovakia at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.

The Americans also got a pair of goals from Nick Shore and singles from Michael Mersch and Matthew Nieto in wrapping up a final four spot for the third straight World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and seventh time in the last eight.

Matej Bene scored the lone goal for the Slovakians, converting on a shorthanded breakaway early in the first period. The European side, which was outshot 48-13 overall, is winless in three preliminary round games and is in danger of going 0-4 in the prelims for the second year in a row.

The 3-0 Americans will face 3-0 West on Friday night at Oceanside Place in Parksville (7 p.m. PST) in a battle for first place in Group B. Slovakia wraps up its preliminary round schedule with an afternoon contest at the Alberni Valley Multiplex against Finland (2 p.m. PST).