Former Lewiston resident Clendening gets assist for U.S.

It wasn't exactly the finish he wanted, but former Lewiston and Wheatfield resident Adam Clendening finished off the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in style.

Clendening had an assist on the game's winning goal to help the U.S. National Junior Team defeat Switzerland, 2-1.

Kevin Gravel collected a pass from Clendening, who plays at Boston University, and fired a slap shot at 16:15 that proved to be the game-winning goal.

Jack Campbell made 21 saves, including 16 in the final two periods, as Team USA finished the tournament in seventh place with a 3-0-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall record.

"You always want to win your last game of any tournament and we did just that," said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "I'm proud of our guys for giving their all to the end."

Clendening was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He had been ranked 45th overall among draft eligible prospects by Central Scouting and 45th overall by nhl.com.