Zach Sawhenko slides across for a shot from the United States' Christian Fischer. (Photo: Derek Leung/Hockey Canada Images)

Zach Sawchenko did his best to keep Team Pacific in the game, but the United States just ended up being too much in the gold medal game of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The United States peppered the Pacific goalie with 52 shots in a 4-0 win on Saturday afternoon in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

“Obviously it's a tad disappointing right now, but this group is so proud of what we've accomplished,” said Sawchenko, a rookie goalie with the Moose Jaw Warriors.  “It's the United States, a whole country, against two provinces, so I'm extremely proud of how we did.”

The attack from the United States came in waves and they were able to stifle the offensive attack from Team Pacific throughout the game.  Thanks to that, the Americans ended up with a 52-12 advantage in shots and kept the Pacific scoring chances to a minimum.

“They're a very good team and I'll give them full credit, they work hard and pressure the puck well,” said Sawchenko, who was riding a four-game winning streak into the gold medal game.

It was a busy night between the pipes for Sawchenko, but the 16-year-old goalie was happy with how he held up and that his teammates played a big part in the keeping the score tight despite the lopsided pressure.

“I just knew that I had to stop the next puck and I had to give my team a chance, and I felt I did that,” added Sawchenko on the mindset he needed during the game.  “I knew I had to make the first save and my d-men and back checkers would clear out the puck, so that made it a whole lot easier.”

The United States held a 2-0 lead after the first period.  Luke Kirwan opened the scoring and Christian Fischer gave them the two-goal lead just 40 seconds before the break.

Colin White scored 33 seconds into the second period, but despite the United States throwing 23 shots on Sawchenko in the frame, that would be the only goal they'd get.

Kirwan's second of the game midway through the third period all but sealed up the win for the United States.  Pacific tried to pressure late, but couldn't muster much with only three shots in the period.

“We knew that if we were going to win this thing we were going to have to give it our best period (in the third) of the tournament,” said Sawchenko.  “We fell a little bit short, but that's alright, I'm extremely proud of this.”

Sawchenko serves as the backup with the Warriors and hadn't played three games in a row all season, let alone the five he played during the tournament.  The young goalie started the second round robin game for Pacific and never gave up the net, winning four straight coming into the gold medal game.

“I haven't played five straight in about a year, so I feel like I'm in a groove right now, which is great and hopefully I can come back and put up some points for the Warriors,” said Sawchenko.

Going against the top players at his age group from around the world, Sawchenko felt he got stronger as the tournament went on.

“You get more comfortable and your game gets better and things start clicking, so I was really happy with how things turned out, just fell a little bit short, but that's alright though,” he said.

The silver medal is the fifth for Team Pacific in the last 11 tournaments.  Sawchenko will rejoin the Warriors next week.