MUSKEGON – One of the purposes of training camp is to get a look at your team’s strengths and weaknesses heading into the season.

And there’s no better way to make those judgements than playing a really good team.

That’s why the Muskegon Lumberjacks are playing a home-and-away series this weekend against the elite Team USA Under-18 squad, which usually dominates USHL competition.

The Under-18s got the best of the Jacks on Friday morning, handing the home team a 5-1 defeat at Mercy Health Arena.

Muskegon, now 2-2 in the exhibition season, will play the Under-18s again tomorrow in Plymouth, Michigan, then will return home for a 5 p.m. Sunday game against the Chicago Steel in the exhibition season finale.

Muskegon’s Phil Tresca beats a Team USA player to the puck. Photo/Tonya Pardon

“The pace that they play at gets our guys to understand what the pace can be in our league,” said Lumberjacks Coach Mike Hamilton about the Under-18s.. “There’s a lot to learn every time we face them. That’s why every year we put them on our exhibition schedule twice. No other team is going to expose you like them.”

Taking the loss in goal was a talented rookie, Cameron Korpi, who is currently on course to be the backup to starting goalie Jan Skorpik this season.

Korpi did not play badly for facing a great team in only his second USHL start. He stopped 19 of 24 shots in the game, and kept things close until late in the third period, when Team USA added two goals to ice the win.

“I thought he did well today, and gave us a chance,” Hamilton said about Korki. “They got a couple late goals, but it was a 3-1 hockey game and we had opportunities, we just didn’t put the puck away.

“He’s a young guy, and is definitely a guy who’s going to be our future. Right now our plan is for him to be here and be our backup, but things can always change.”

The Lumberjacks were able to identify several areas where they still need work, including on the power play and penalty killing units.

The Jacks failed to score in four power play opportunities, while Team USA found the net on three of its four chances.

Hamilton was not surprised by that outcome, saying the Jacks have not had much time to work on special teams in practice yet.

“It would be a concern if we had actually worked at it, but we haven’t had time to work on the penalty or power play,” he said. “It’s a little frustrating that we haven’t had the time to get it done.”

Muskegon’s Joey Larson tries to fight off a defender. Photo/Tonya Pardon

Team USA grabbed a 2-0 lead after one period on goals by Frank Nazar and Cole Spieer. The visitors added a goal from Seamus Casey in the second period and led 3-0 headed into the third.

Muskegon’s Tom Sinclair finally got the Jacks on the board at 8:49 of the third period when he popped in a rebound from in front of the goal. Jacob Guevin and Jake Richard were credited with assists.

But Team USA put the win away down the stretch with goals from Jimmy Snuggerud (16:29) and Cutter Gauthier (17:46).

The Lumberjacks outshot the visitors 28-24, but were shut down by some great saves by Team USA goalie Dylan Silverstein, who played the first two periods.