GAME NOTES 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation USA (4-0-0-2) Vs
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U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM GAME NOTES 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation USA (4-0-0-2) vs. Sweden (5-0-0-1) World Junior Championship Bronze Medal Game Bronze Medal Game • Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 • 4 p.m. Local/9 a.m. ET • Hartwall Arena • Helsinki, Finland TODAY’S GAME IN GOAL TODAY Team USA is seeking its ninth medal in world junior cham- Alex Nedeljkovic is the likely starter in goal today. He ranks pionship play today as it faces Sweden in the bronze med- frst in goals against average (1.35) and save percentage al game of the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. The (.949) in the tournament. Yesterday (Jan. 5) he made 31 saves in a 2-1 semifnal loss to Russia. The U.S. single tournament teams meet for the second time in the tournament with Swe- record for goals against average is 1.33 and shared by Rick den earning a 1-0 decision on Dec. 28 in preliminary round DiPietro (2001) and Al Montoya (2004), while the mark for play. Team USA outshot Sweden, 46-23, in the contest, while save percentage of .955 is held by John Gibson (2013). Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves and Zach Werenski was named the U.S. Player of the Game. Today’s game will be STATISTICALLY SPEAKING televised live in the U.S. on NHL Network. Auston Matthews leads all players in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in goals (7) and is tied for fourth in points (11) ... Zach Werenski is second in points (8) among PREVIOUS BRONZE MEDALS all defensemen ... The U.S. has two shorthanded goals in the Team USA has won bronze in the world junior championship tournament, the most of any team ... Sonny Milano has tallied four times previously (1986, 1992, 2007, 2011). The U.S. last at least one point in fve of Team USA’s six games. played in the bronze medal game in 2011, where it earned a 4-2 victory over Sweden in Bufalo, New York. Chris Kreider THINGS TO KNOW scored twice for Team USA, while Nick Bjugstad tallied the Auston Matthews, Alex Nedeljkovic and Zach Werenski were named Team USA’s three best players of the tourna- game-winning goal. ment ... U.S. Head Coach Ron Wilson on Sweden, “We were happy with the way we played the last time we faced them. SERIES VS. SWEDEN With a medal at stake, I’m certain our players will rise to The U.S. is 13-1-0-15-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) all-time against the challenge and close this tournament with its best game Sweden in the world junior championship, including 3-0 in yet.” ... Matthew Tkachuk can join his father, 2011 U.S. medal games. The U.S. has defeated Sweden in two bronze Hockey Hall of Fame member, Keith Tkachuk, as a world junior championship bronze medalist. Keith was a member medal games (2007, 2011) and one gold medal game (2013). of the 1992 U.S. National Junior Team that earned bronze in Fussen/Kaufbeuren, Germany ... Eight players – Brock USA vs. Sweden Boeser, Alex DeBrincat, Chad Krys, Auston Matthews, Tale of the Tape Charlie McAvoy, Matthew Tkachuk, Zach Werenski and Colin White – are eligible to return for next year’s world junior Category USA Sweden championship in Montreal and Toronto. Record 4-0-0-2 5-0-0-1 PREVIOUS BRONZE MEDAL GAMES Goals For/Avg. 26/4.33 26/4.33 The U.S. National Junior Team is 2-0-2-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L) Goals Against/Avg. 7/1.17 7/1.17 all-time in bronze medal games in the world junior champion- Power Play .208 (5-24) .250 (7-28) ship (prior to 1996 medals determined by round-robin play). Penalty Killing .933 (14-15) .917 (22-24) Shots For Gm/Avg. 210/35.0 152/36.5 Year Result W OTW OTL L Opponent Shots Against Gm/Avg. 156/26.0 142/23.7 2000 3-4 OTL Canada Shorthanded Goals 2 0 2003 2-3 L Finland 2005 2-3 OTL Czech Republic Top Scorers Matthews (7-4-11) Nylander (4-5-9) 2006 2-4 L Finland Tkachuk (2-6-8) Dmytro (2-5-7) 2007 2-1 W Sweden Werenski (2-6-8) Kempe (3-3-6) 2008 2-4 L Russia White (3-4-7) Asplund (3-2-5) 2011 4-2 W Sweden TEAM USA SCHEDULE Exhibition Games Dec. 18 W, 4-0 Dec. 22 W, 3-2 UMASS Mullins Center FINLAND Isku Arena 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship Games* Dec. 26 Preliminary Round W, 4-2 Jan. 2 Quarterfnals W, 7-0 CANADA (home/white) Helsinki Ice Hall CZECH REPUBLIC (home/white) Helsinki Ice Hall Dec. 28 Preliminary Round L, 0-1 Jan. 4 Semifnals L, 1-2 SWEDEN (visitor/blue) Helsinki Ice Hall RUSSIA (visitor/white) Hartwall Arena Dec. 30 Preliminary Round W, 10-1 Jan. 5 Bronze Medal 4 P.M. Local/9 A.M. ET SWITZERLAND (home/white) Helsinki Ice Hall SWEDEN (visitor/blue) Hartwall Arena Dec. 31 Preliminary Round W, 4-1 DENMARK (visitor/white) Helsinki Ice Hall *All games broadcast live on NHL Network (DirectTV 215, Dish 157) worldjuniors.usahockey.com • #USAWJC • 2016 U.S. National Junior Team • @usahockey • @usahockeyscores Team USA Game Notes vs. Sweden • Jan. 5, 2016 • Page 2 SEMIFINALS U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM JAN. 4: RUSSIA 2, USA 1 BRONZE MEDAL-WINNING SQUADS Alex Nedeljkovic made 31 saves, but the U.S. National Ju- nior Team fell, 2-1, in the semifnals. Christian Dvorak, who 1986 -- Hamilton, Canada scored Team USA’s lone goal, was named the U.S. Player of The 1986 U.S. squad included Stanley Cup champion Tom the Game. Chorske, current Boston University head coach David Quinn, four-time U.S. National Team member Paul Ranheim, QUARTERFINALS and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame members Lane MacDonald JAN. 2: USA 7, CZECH REPUBLIC 0 (2005) and Mike Richter (2008). Additionally, Scott Paluch, Auston Matthews had a hat trick, Nick Schmaltz recorded who currently works for USA Hockey as a regional manager a goal and two assists, and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped all 28 for the American Development Model, was on the squad. shots he faced as the U.S. National Junior Team defeated the Czech Republic, 7-0, in the quarterfnals. In total, 13 diferent 1992 -- Fussen/Kaufbeuren, Germany players notched at least a point in the win. Schmaltz was The 1992 U.S. National Junior Team featured Hobey Baker named the U.S. Player of the Game. Award winner, Brian Holzinger, current Ohio State Universi- ty associate head coach, Mark Strobel and three-time Stan- PRELIMINARY ROUND GAME #4 ley Cup champion (2000, 2003, 2008) and 2014 U.S. Hock- DEC. 31: USA 4, DENMARK 1 ey Hall of Fame member, Brian Rafalski. Additionally, 2011 Anders Bjork, Auston Matthews, Sonny Milano and Colin U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member, Keith Tkachuk, whose White each scored and Brandon Halverson made 16 saves son, Matthew, is on the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team, was as the U.S. National Junior Team defeated Denmark, 4-1. among the players on the 1992 U.S. squad. Brandon Carlo was named the U.S. Player of the Game. 2007 -- Leksand/Mora, Sweden PRELIMINARY ROUND GAME #3 In 2007, several current NHL players, including two frst over- DEC. 30: USA 10, SWITZERLAND 1 all draft picks (Erik Johnson (2006), Patrick Kane (2007)), Eleven players contributed points as the U.S. National Junior were on the squad. In 2010, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson Team earned a 10-1 victory over Switzerland. Five players and Patrick Kane helped the U.S. to a silver medal at the had three or more points in the game, led by Auston Mat- 2010 Olympic Winter Games while Trevor Lewis was a thews with four (2-2--4) and Matthew Tkachuk (2-1--3), member of the 2015 U.S. Men’s National Team that earned a Christian Dvorak (1-2--3), Colin White (1-2--3) and Zach bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Werenski (1-2--3) each with three. Matthews was named the Additionally, Kane has claimed three Stanley Cups (2010, U.S. Player of the Game. 2013, 2015), one Conn Smythe Trophy (2015) and one Calder PRELIMINARY ROUND GAME #2 Trophy (2008). DEC. 28: SWEDEN 1, USA 0 Team USA outshot Sweden, 46-23, but fell 1-0. Zach Wer- 2011 -- Bufalo/Niagara, New York enski, who led all players in the game with six shots on goal, The 2011 U.S. squad included 12 players who are currently was named the U.S. Player of the Game. The loss was Team in the NHL. Of those 12 players, Justin Faulk has gone on USA’s frst against Sweden in the last 12 outings (10-1-0-0- to represent the United States in the Olympics (2014) while 1), which included three medal-game victories (gold: 2013, three others -- Charlie Coyle, Jeremy Morin and Brock bronze: 2011, 2007). Nelson -- skated for the U.S. in the 2015 IIHF Men’s World Championship, where they won bronze. PRELIMINARY ROUND GAME #1 DEC. 26: USA 4, CANADA 2 The four captains - Louie Belpedio, Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Colin White - each scored to lead the U.S. past rival Canada, 4-2. White was named U.S. Player of the Game. The win was the ninth consecutive in tourna- ment-opening games for Team USA. RON WILSON Head Coach Ron Wilson, who is leading Team USA for the eighth time in international competition, has now led a U.S.