After scoring three first-period goals, the U.S. Under-17 Select Team held on for a 5-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Tuesday in its opening game of the 2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Michael Downing (Canton), Adam Erne (North Branford, Conn.), and Gabe Guertler (Plantation, Fla.) each had a goal and an assist for Team USA.

"We did a lot of good things on the ice to take the early lead," said Bob Corkum, head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team. "The kids came out fired up, and our goaltender played great."

The U.S. jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Erne scored just over one minute into the opening period off of an assist by Guertler. Less than two minutes later, Downing made the score 2-0 with a power-play goal. Later, Guertler scored to give Team USA a three-goal edge after one.

Connor Clifton (Matawan, N.J.) extended Team USA's lead to 4-0 with the game's lone second-period goal. Then, after the Czech Republic notched a power-play goal early in the third period, Ryan Siroky (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) connected on a power-play goal.

U.S. goalie Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) turned aside 34 shots in the win, while Czech Republic goaltender Pavel Jekel stopped 27 shots in a losing effort.

The U.S. team will face Germany today in a 7 p.m. game.