USA Hockey's 2007 National Junior Evaluation Camp competition kicked off here today at the Olympic Center, with the first of two intrasquad scrimmage games. The two teams, Team White and Team Blue, are comprised of 45 of the top U.S. players under the age of 20. Team White came away with the 7-6 victory after outscoring Team Blue, 4-0 in the third period.

Team White's Jonathon Blum (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) notched the game-winner on a penalty shot at the 11:37 mark of the third period. Just minutes later, Team Blue was awarded a penalty shot of its own. Team White goaltender Kent Patterson (Plymouth, Minn.) stopped Team Blue's Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) with just 1:57 to play in the game to seal the victory.

Team Blue's Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn.) opened the game's scoring with a slap shot from the point after a face-off win by Wilson at the 2:21 mark of the first period. Minutes later, James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) tied the game, 1-1, after he buried Jamie McBain's (Faribault, Minn.) centering pass to the crease.

Aaron Palushaj (Northville, Mich.) gave Team White the lead after beating Team Blue goalie Jeremy Smith (Brownstown, Mich.) on a penalty shot. However, Team Blue answered back with goals from Doug Rogers (Watertown, Mass.) and Wilson to take a 3-2 advantage.

The second period belonged to Team Blue as it scored three goals, two on penalty shots from Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Eric Tangradi (Philadelphia, Pa.). Team White's Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) added a goal on a penalty shot of his own for a 6-3 Team Blue lead heading into the third period.

In the final stanza, Team White was able to score four times, including the even-strength game-tying goal by T.J. Brennan (Willingboro, N.Y.). Team Blue goaltender Thomas McCollum (Sanborn, N.Y.) stopped three of the five penalty shots he faced in the period, but Team White held on for the 7-6 win.

The two U.S. squads will meet once more, Monday at 4:30 p.m. EDT, before taking on opponents from Sweden and Finland in a series of eight international scrimmages, Aug. 7-11.

NOTES: All penalties resulted in a penalty shot ? The teams played four-on-four for the first and second periods, and played five-on-five for the final frame ? Each period lasted 15 minutes ? Prior to the game, Thomas McCollum was sent to Team Blue as goaltender Josh Unice (Toledo, Ohio) was rested.

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