NTDP Blog

U18 Championship Celebration

We apologize for the long overdue post recapping the 2010 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship gold medal won by the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team.

Above, you can watch the celebration from on the ice!

Below you can take a look at the initial thoughts from right after the game:

One Team… One Dream…

At the end of the 2010 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship, only one team stands at the top and it’s the one draped in the Stars and Stripes.

The U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team pushed back against the world and pushed hard. After its opening game loss to Sweden, the U.S. side rolled over its competition en route to its second consecutive gold medal. Team USA finished with a 5-0-0-1 record and outscored its opponents by a 33-7 margin.

Team USA defeated Sweden, 3-1, in an incredibly hard-fought game at a near-full Minsk Arena. The U.S. got on the board first, just 2:10 into the game when Luke Moffatt deflected Derek Forbort’s shot from the point behind Johan Gustafsson to make it 1-0.

After that, the U.S. had to face some adversity when Austin Watson was whistled for boarding and after some deliberation, was ejected by the officials. Team USA picked up its teammate when it killed off the five-minute major penalty. It wasn’t without controversy, though. Johan Larsson had appeared to tie the game when he slipped the puck behind Jack Campbell, but after video review, it showed that Larsson actually knocked the puck with his own stick to prevent it from crossing the goal line fully. The U.S. was able to take that 1-0 advantage into the locker room after 20 minutes.

In the second, Team USA carried the play. Justin Faulk made it 2-0 when he converted on Austin Czarnik’s nifty pass to the crease at the 7:31 mark. The U.S. continued to put relentless pressure on Gustafsson and it paid off on the power play. The U.S. took advantage of a breakdown in front of the Swedish net at 13:47, when Jason Zucker somehow got the puck out to Adam Clendening at the right point. Clendening then skated in tight and flicked a shot on net that was redirected by Rocco Grimaldi and just inside the left post to give Team USA the 3-0 lead.

Despite a goal from Ludvig Rensfeldt 6:54 into the final frame, the U.S. was able to shut the door on Sweden. As the final horn blew, a flurry of red, white and blue sticks and gloves flew into the air as the players celebrated the culmination of not just a three-week event, but in many cases two years of sacrifice and hard work.

A favorite saying at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program is “Champions Walk Together Forever.” Twenty-two young men now walk together forever. Bonded by something they all achieved not as individuals, but as a team.

Many will go on to successful hockey careers at various levels, but odds are that not a one of these players will ever forget that on April 23, 2010, they were able to call themselves the BEST in the WORLD.

Some notes to consider about this particular world championship:

The U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team has captured a medal in a record seven consecutive years and is now tied with Russia in the all-time medal count with eight.

Team USA’s five gold medals are more than any other country and all have come in the last eight years.

This U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team became the first U.S. National Team at any level to win the gold medal in a former Soviet Socialist State.

Jack Campbell and Jason Zucker became the first American men to win three gold medals at any IIHF World Championship. Many have two golds, but now only two men have three.

Jack Campbell was named the MVP of the tournament and won the directorate award for best goaltender. He posted a 0.83 goals-against average, .956 save percentage and three shutouts. Campbell went 274:12 between goals allowed between Switzerland’s first-period goal on April 14 and Sweden’s third-period goal tonight.

Adam Clendening (3-7—10), Nick Shore (3-7—10) and Rocco Grimaldi (2-8—10) tied for the U.S. lead with 10 points apiece.

Austin Czarnik led Team USA with five goals. Those goals came on just nine shots, which gave Czarnik an astounding 55.6 shooting percentage.

Grimaldi’s eight assists were tops on Team USA, while Clendening and Derek Forbort each posted a team-best plus-9 rating.

All that separates the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team from reaching the pinnacle of the Under-18 Hockey World is 60 minutes against a very talented Team Sweden.

For many of these players, tonight represents the culmination of two years of hard work and dedication at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. Over the course of two years, and for some players just the last few weeks, a bond has been formed. This is as close to a brotherhood as you’ll find in hockey right now.

You can ask any player that’s been part of this tournament just how much it meant to him to play here and battle with 22 of his very best friends. This is a unique advantage for the U.S. team. Perhaps that is why four U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Teams have reached the top already.

Regardless of whether or not they’ve been together for the last two years, this team is in for a serious battle against a formidable foe. When any team reaches the gold medal game, another level has to be found. Everyone brings their best for 60 minutes on both sides of the ice.

At the end of the day, Team USA and its players can only focus on the things they can control, which is mainly themselves. It will require 60 minutes of determination, perseverance, unity, sacrifice and attitude from the U.S. to come out on top. When it gets to this point, statistics are irrelevant. It comes down to who wants it more and what they’re willing to do to accomplish that goal.

Tonight at 7 p.m. (noon EDT), at a sold out Minsk Arena two teams will go in and only one will come out with the ultimate prize. Find out who it will be LIVE on FASTHockey.com!

USA vs. SWEDEN – GOLD MEDAL GAME – LIVE at 11:50 a.m. EDT on FASTHockey.com.

The U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team downed Finland, 5-0, in the semifinals to earn a berth in the gold-medal game for the second straight year. The U.S. has appeared in the final at the IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship in six out of the last seven years. Team USA will take on Sweden Friday at 7 p.m. (noon EDT) at Minsk Arena. The game will be carried live on FASTHockey.com, with coverage beginning at 11:50 a.m. EDT.

Against Finland, Jack Campbell earned his third consecutive shutout, making 14 saves. Nick Shore had three points (2-1) to lead the U.S. offensive attack.

Shore has quietly put together an outstanding tournament, registering nine points (3-6), which ties him with defenseman Adam Clendening (3-6) for the team lead. Additionally, Clendening has recorded a plus-9 rating, tops on Team USA and tied for the tournament best.

Team USA has to be thrilled with its current position, but will stare down a formidable foe in Team Sweden.

The game is sure to be an instant classic at this tournament. Sweden has not been in the gold-medal game since 1999, the first year of the tournament, where it lost to Finland. So expect a very hungry Swedish team.

The U.S. will close out the tournament against the team that perhaps gave them the wake-up call that itneeded in the tournament’s first contest. Sweden earned a 4-2 decision, after overcoming Team USA’s 2-0 advantage with three third-period goals.

Since that loss, there has been no looking back for the U.S. side. Jack Campbell has allowed just one goal since that game and his teammates have outscored the opposition, 28-2 in its last four contests.

The rematch is sure to be a dandy as the U.S. looks to repeat as U18 World Champion, while Sweden looks to taste gold for the first time. Don’t miss any of it on FASTHockey.com Friday!

We’ll be back later today with some more notes about the match-up.

To call today’s match-up between the U.S. and Finland a big game would be selling it short. It’s monumental. Finland has been the best team at the IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship, outside of the perfect Swedes. Don’t forget that you can catch the team in action on FASTHockey.com with coverage beginning at 8:20 a.m. EDT.

With a 3-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record, Finland earned the bye to todays game, so they’re well rested.

They needed to be well rested, especially because the top line of Teemu Pulkkinen (7 goals, 5 assists), Mikael Granlund (3 goals, 6 assists) and Joonas Donskoi (0 goals, 7 assists) has played big time minutes and has gotten big results, as you can note from the players’ stat lines.

Expect more of the same from that top line. If Team USA wants to be successful, they will have to try and contain that trio without losing site of the rest of what Finland has to offer. As always, though, the U.S. will have to focus on themselves more than anything.

Team USA rolled to a 6-0 victory over the Czech Republic in yesterday’s semifinal with Austin Czarnik leading the way with a hat trick. Jack Campbell picked up his second shutout of the tournament and lowered his goals-against average to 1.00, while raising his save percentage to .958. However, Campbell did receive stifling defense from his teammates, which only allowed 11 shots on the U.S. net.

The U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team has appeared in each of the last nine semifinal games at the IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship, which is an unprecedented feat. In those previous eight match-ups, Team USA has posted a 6-2 record. Not too shabby.

Whoever wins today will play either Russia or Sweden Friday at 7 p.m. (noon EDT) in the gold-medal game in brand new Minsk Arena, home to KHL club Dynamo Minsk. The loser will play for bronze at 3 p.m. (8 a.m. EDT).

Expect some of the most exciting hockey we’ve seen yet in what is sure to be a batlle for the ages!

SEMIFINAL MATCH-UP – USA vs. FINLAND – 8:30 a.m. EDT – LIVE on FASTHockey.com

Team USA has completed its move to the capital city of Minsk and will begin medal-round action Tuesday with a quarterfinal match-up against the Czech Republic at 3:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. EDT). The game will be carried live on FASTHockey.com.

When a team gets to this stage of the tournament, its three wins or no gold medal. It’s as simple as that. If your team hasn’t earned the bye, it means three wins are necessary for winning gold.

While Team USA would love to win all three games, it is important to focus on one thing and one thing only, the Czech Republic. The Czechs earned the third and final spot in Group B with a 2-0-1-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record. In its last game, it fell to eventual Group B winner, Finland 4-3, in a shootout.

A tough opponent, to be sure. The Finns finished undefeated, but had its hands full with the Czechs. Despite losing the game, one could assume that the Czech team has a bit of confidence knowing that they pushed their group champ to the brink.

The U.S. has not lost to the Czech Republic in medal-round play at this event, posting a 3-0 record all-time. Team USA met the Czechs in the quarterfinals last year and cruised to a 6-2 victory en route to the gold medal. Will history have a chance to repeat itself in Minsk?

If its going to, the U.S. will need to continue to call on its overall team depth. Seventeen of Team USA’s 20 skaters have notched at least one point. It’s top point-getter is defenseman Adam Clendening (2 goals, four assists), while Jason Zucker leads the team with four goals. Both of those two were part of last year’s gold-medal winning team and that experience has come in handy.

Since its first-game loss to Sweden the U.S. has looked like a team on a mission. In its last three games, Team USA has allowed just two goals, while scoring 17. Whether its Jack Campbell or Andy Iles between the pipes, Team USA has a bonafide stopper in net. Both have had success internationally and have come into the tournament focused.

With the balanced scoring attack, stellar goaltending and a dependable defensive corps, Team USA has the tools. In international hockey, however, the best team on paper doesn’t always win. It’s going to take focus, determination and desire to get to the next level.

Should Team USA get over this next hurdle, it will be a date with a very talented Team Finland at 3:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. EDT) Wednesday.

Don’t forget to join us on FASTHockey.com at 8:30 a.m. EDT for the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team against the Czech Republic LIVE from Minsk Palace!

USAHockey.com has the recap, box score and photos posted.

Well, we are less than an hour away from the drop of the puck between the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team and host Belarus in the final preliminary round game of the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship. The game can be caught live on FASTHockey.com, with coverage starting at 11:55 a.m. EDT.

Belarus has struggled in the tournament, with an 0-0-0-3 record. The home team went into last night’s game with a chance to stay eligible for the medal round against Switzerland. However a goal with 1:40 to play in he game dashed the hopes of Belarus as it fell 3-2. Now the hosts are locked into the relegation round with Latvia, Canada and either Slovakia or the Czech Republic.

Team USA, meanwhile will finish second in the Pool regardless of the result and is in the next round. The U.S.  will play either the Czechs or the Slovaks in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

Despite the fact that this game doesn’t mean much towards standings, it is still an important game for the U.S. Head Coach Kurt Kleinendorst has been telling his team about the importance of getting better every game. So far the U.S. has done that.

Team USA will look to continue that trend tonight. So far, Adam Clendening is he team point leader with four (1-3), while Jason Zucker paces the squad with three goals. Jarred Tinordi is tops for the U.S. in plus-minus with a plus-4 rating. Goaltender Jack Campbell will get the night off after posting a 2-0-0-1 record, 1.34 goals-against average and .952 save percentage in the first three games.

Netminder Andy Iles will get the start tonight between the pipes. He has been extremely solid all year long at the National Team Development Program, and after a long layoff, will be looking to improve his already sparkling international record. In four games against international teams earlier in the season, Iles has posted a 3-0-0-1 record, 1.62 goals-against average and .928 save percentage, including one shutout.

Tonight is also Team USA’s last in Bobruisk. Tomorrow the squad will head to Minsk for the start of the medal round. So we’ll find out if Team USA can leave its home for the last two weeks on a high note!

USA vs. BELARUS – LIVE on FASTHockey.com – noon EDT

The U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team enjoyed a well deserved day off yesterday after its 5-0 win over Canada Friday. Tonight Team USA will take on host Belarus, which already knows it will have to play in the relegation round.

Jason Zucker and Bryan Rust each scored twice for the U.S., while Austin Watson picked up the other tally. Jack Campbell continued his mastery in international competition with a 30-save shutout. Team USA sits 2-0-0-1 and are locked into second place in the Pool A.

Sweden took first place in the group and will get a bye into the semifinals in Minsk. Switzerland edged Belarus, 3-2, last night to assure itself a spot in the quarterfinals and shockingly sending Canada to play in the relegation round.

So with the off day, yesterday, Team USA was able to let loose a little bit and have some fun. The team came over to the arena to stretch out early in the day and get in a light work out. Later on, the players were able to grab souvenirs for themselves and their families. Once the team left, the souvenir stands may have been next to empty!

The team closed out the night with its second bowling series of the trip. While the games were all in good fun, the team in Lane 4 put on its second strait dominating performance. The team of Brandon Saad, Stephen Johns, Austin Czarnik, Austin Watson, Bryan Rust and Jason Zucker won all four games this past week. However, it was Czarnik who shocked the bowling world yesterday. After posting a disappointing 67 in game 1, the forward from Washington, Mich., pulled it together and rolled a 182 in the second tilt, beating everyone else by a country mile.

The team really enjoyed the bonding experience and some time to relax and have fun. This is a long tournament and the team is far from home, so a little levity is always a good thing. There was a lot of laughter and smiling faces.

However, tonight, its back to business against the host country. Belarus narrowly lost to Switzerland last night and will certainly want to give the home crowd something to cheer about against the heavily favored Americans. We’ll be back a little later with a complete preview of tonight’s contest as well as a look ahead.

Don’t forget! You can watch the U.S.-Belarus game live on FASTHockey.com at noon EDT. Also, stick close to USAHockey.com for tournament updates!

Tonight’s match up was always going to be a big one. Anytime it’s a U.S.-Canada showdown, the stakes are high, even if pride is the only thing to be taken from the game. However, the contest that will take place at 7 p.m. (noon EDT), makes the rivalry secondary.

With a win, Team USA assures itself a spot in the cross-over and will still have a slim chance at winning the pool. Canada is in a similar situation. Whichever team loses may be in danger of having to play in the relegation round, which has not happened for either team since the early years of the tournament.

So rivalry aside, this is a big big game. These two squads don’t often meet in the preliminary round. In fact, only two of the seven all-time meetings between the U.S. and Canada have come in the first four games of the tournament. However, this game will have more of a playoff-like feel. Mainly because its basically a must-win for both teams.

The U.S. has yet to lose a game in regulation to Canada in this tournament and all but two all-time contests have been decided by one goal. So expect a hotly contested, close game.

It will be filled with the normal passion and energy you see when it involves the Stars and Stripes and the Maple Leaf. Additionally, the game will be played, perhaps, with a bit of desperation. It’s going to come down to who wants it more, as is so often the case in this series.

At the end of the day, this game means so much more than just personal pride or bragging rights. It’s going to be about who is willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get to the next level and survive.

TODAY – USA vs. CANADA – IIHF WORLD MEN’s U18 CHAMPIONSHIP – NOON EDT – LIVE ON FASTHOCKEY.COM.

After Team USA’s 5-1 win over Switzerland yesterday, there may have been more sighs of relief in the locker room than exuberant yells like there normally might have been.

That’s the thing about losing the first game at a tournament, it makes the job a bit tougher than you had planned on it being. However, overcoming adversity in this tournament is imperative to winning the championship. There are always going to be bumps along the way, but how a team handles them can be the difference.

There is certainly more confidence in the U.S. locker room now that the squad has its first win. Switzerland was a tougher opponent than the 5-1 score indicated. In fact, the Swiss struck first in the game when Gregory Hofmann wired a wrister into the top-right corner.

Despite giving up the first lead of the game, Team USA bounced right back with Austin Czarnik’s goal 27 seconds later. From the second period on, the U.S. squad looked like its old self. Czarnik scored the go-ahead goal early in the second and Bill Arnold made it 3-1 with a beautiful backhander with just 18 seconds to go in the middle frame. Adam Clendening and Jason Zucker shut the door with a goal each in the third period.

Team USA enjoyed an off day today, but has set its focus on the next opponent. In what will be its most crucial game to date, Team USA will face off with its old rival, Canada. The winner assures itself a spot in at least the quarterfinals.

The United States has had some level of success at the IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship against Canada with a 5-2 all-time record against the neighbors to the north. The two squads have not met in a preliminary-round game since 2007. The most recent game between the U.S. and Canada came just last year in the semifinals.

In that contest, Team USA earned a 2-1, come-from-behind victory to punch its ticket to the gold-medal game. The game was played in front of a raucous sell-out crowd at the Urban Plains center. Three players from Team Canada and five from the U.S. squad took part in that game.

Team USA will have to look to those five tournament veterans for some leadership in a game that will have a “playoff-like” atmosphere. Additionally, Jason Zucker and Jack Campbell saw Canada twice at the IIHF World Junior Championship back in January, which could prove valuable at the U18 Worlds.

At the end of the day, this is a rivalry. It could be a game of ball hockey in the middle of a parking lot and these two squads would want to beat each other. Add on top that each team is in a position to help themselves make it to the next round and you’ve got a powder keg!

It’s going to be intense and its going to be exciting. Luckily for all of you at home, you will be able to watch it all LIVE on FASTHockey.com! Coverage begins at 11:50 a.m. EDT. The puck will drop at noon, stateside, so don’t miss a second!

Check back tomorrow for more updates and, as always, check out USAHockey.com for all of your IIHF World Under-18 Championship notes, photos and recaps.

FRIDAY – April 16 – 7 p.m. (noon EDT) – USA vs. CANADA LIVE on FASTHockey.com!