FÜSSEN, Germany - Hobie Hedquist of Heron Lake was the starting goaltender for the U.S. Under-17 men's select hockey team Tuesday as it opened the Five Nations tournament with a 9-3 win over Slovakia.

The Americans got off to a fast start, leading 2-0 just 3:24 into the contest.

Slovakia generated a pair of scoring chances midway through the first frame, but Hedquist made the saves to keep it a 2-0 game.

The U.S. would add a couple more goals to lead 4-0 at the first intermission.

In the middle stanza, Slovakia scored all of its goals in a 48-second span just past the midway point of the period to make it a 4-3 game.

However, the U.S. would score twice in the period’s closing minutes for a 6-3 lead through two periods of play and then added three more in the final frame.

Team USA will have Wednesday off before facing Switzerland at 8 a.m. Central Time Thursday.