Spartans Porter Martone and Ryker Lee ignited scoring for their nations, showcasing incredible skill and clutch moments on the World Juniors stage.
Three Michigan State Spartans are spending their New Year’s holiday in Minnesota, representing both Team USA and Team Canada at the World Juniors Hockey Championship.
While the rest of the Spartans were in Grand Rapids taking home hardware after winning the Great Lakes Invitational, Porter Martone (Canada), Ryker Lee (USA), and Shane Vansaghi (USA) were still battling to bring home hardware of their own.
Both teams entered game three with fresh legs after a day off following two intense opening contests.
Porter Martone (Team Canada)
Team Canada found itself in a pair of close contests to open tournament play, needing overtime to secure its second win. But with fresh legs heading into game three, the Canucks were ready to shine.
They wasted no time doing so.
Canada exploded onto the scene with three goals in the first period. Martone put a shot on net in the opening frame but wasn’t involved in the scoring—yet.
That changed in the second period.
After Team Canada swarmed the goal like a school of sharks circling their prey, the puck worked its way down low to Martone on the left side. With bodies collapsing and chaos in front, Martone wasted no time, firing a quick shot past the Denmark goaltender for his second goal of the tournament.
As the game wound down in the third period—Canada already firmly in control with an 8–1 lead—Martone struck again.
Standing nearly parallel to the goal line on the right side of the net, Martone received a pass from teammate Zayne Parekh and decided to test the goaltender from an angle that seemed almost impossible. He rifled a shot toward the smallest opening imaginable, slipping the puck through just enough daylight to find the back of the net for his second goal of the game and third of the tournament.
An unbelievable shot attempt followed by an even more unfathomable goal.
With that finish, Martone once again showed why he was selected as captain for a Canadian team hungry to reclaim its World Juniors title.
Martone also added an assist on Canada’s sixth goal of the night, rounding out a dominant performance.
He finished the game with two goals on four shots and recorded his first assist of the tournament. Martone tied two teammates for second on the team in shots on goal and finished second in goals, trailing only Gavin McKenna’s hat trick.
Ryker Lee and Shane Vansaghi (Team USA)
Team USA also returned to the ice after a day’s rest but found themselves in a far more heated battle. The Americans survived a wild 6–5 contest against Slovakia—a win that may not have happened without a Spartan making his mark.
Before getting to that moment, it’s worth noting the Spartan who once again didn’t see the ice.
Unfortunately, Shane Vansaghi was held out for the second straight game after skating just five minutes in the opener. While frustrating, Vansaghi continues to stay the course and understand his role. There’s little doubt he’ll get his opportunity to make an impact before the tournament is over.
Ryker Lee, on the other hand, broke through in a big way.
Slovakia came out firing, jumping ahead 2–0 in the first period. Team USA began clawing back in the second, pulling within one at 3–2—until that one-goal deficit disappeared off the stick of Michigan State’s own Ryker Lee.
Teammate LJ Mooney controlled the puck at the top of the circle and slid a pass left to Lee, who stood all alone. Channeling his inner Alex Ovechkin, Lee unloaded a wrister that appeared to go straight through the Slovakian goaltender—vanishing before contact and reappearing behind him in the net.
Lee dropped to one knee, delivering the notorious fist pump as the Americans tied the game 3–3 and seized momentum.
Team USA finished the job with a 6–5 win. Lee recorded three shots—two in the second period and one in the third—and logged over 15 minutes of ice time, his highest total of the tournament.
Lee is beginning to leave his fingerprint on this American squad and will need to be a staple down the stretch if the U.S. hopes to defend its World Juniors title and bring more hardware home.
Both Team Canada and Team USA will enjoy another day of rest Tuesday before returning to the ice on New Year’s Eve. Martone and Canada will face Finland at 8:30 PM EST, while Lee, Vansaghi, and Team USA will square off against Sweden at 6:00 PM EST.