EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Maine Moose are national champions.

Facing off against the New Hampshire Avalanche in the 2A Division of the USA Hockey Youth Tier II 18U National Championships, Tanner McClure recorded the game-winning goal with 8:53 left in the game to seal a 3-2 victory.

After the game was scoreless at the end of the first frame, the Moose came out strong in the second period.

On a power play after the Avalanche's Colin Tracy was called for kneeing late in the first period, the Moose capitalized on the man advantage with a goal by defenseman Gavin Bates 42 seconds into the second frame.

The goal by Bates gave the Moose the first goal of the game and a 1-0 lead.

The Avalanche tied the game nine minutes into the second frame.

A pass from Tyler Chipman from the left circle to Armando Roberto IV set up the tying score as Roberto IV’s wrist shot sailed by the pads of Derek Fournier.

The Moose retook the lead 1:18 into the third period as Rancourt scored on the penalty kill to give the Moose a 2-1 lead.

The Avalanche responded once more to tie the game, but with 8:53 left in regulation, Tanner McClure registered the game-winning goal for Maine.

“Coming into the season, I knew that we were going to be extremely good. We have a good group of kids and they played together for many, many years. We all know each other and I knew we had something special after we won our first game,” Wheeler said.

With the goalie pulled with one-minute remaining, the Moose had a chance for an empty netter, but the shot sailed high.

With just seconds left in the game and the Avalanche with a man advantage, New Hampshire had an excellent opportunity to force overtime, but Fournier came away with huge saves to preserve a Moose victory.

“Especially when they pulled their goalie, there was a mad scramble going on, but luckily we had the all-star goalie in net for us, Derek Fournier, to make that Grade A save at the last couple seconds,” Wheeler said.

Coach Ross said he believes winning a national championship makes all the work put in throughout the season and offseason worth it.

“We get great kids on this team,” Ross said. “We got great depth on this team. We had a real successful season. We went undefeated in the main league to win the [state championship] and then they leave for high school and they come back together and these kids were motivated. It just makes all the work worthwhile for them.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc