2018 U.S. UNDER-18 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM GAME NOTES 2018 IIHF UNDER-18 MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | CHELYABINSK & MAGNITOGORSK, RUSSIA QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP • USA (2-0-0-2) VS. RUSSIA (2-1-0-1) • TRAKTOR ICE RINK (CAPACITY: 7,500) • APRIL 26, 2018 TONIGHT'S GAME THINGS WORTH MENTIONING The U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team faces Russia this The U.S. has only lost one quarterfinal matchup in the 20 year evening the one of four quarterfinal matchups at the 2018 IIHF history of the tournament ... The U.S. has won five of the last Under-18 Men's World Championship here in Chelyabinsk, seven matchups with Russia ... Jack Hughes currently ranks Russia. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. local and 10:30 a.m. ET second in the tournament in points with nine (3-6-9) through four and will be televised in the U.S. live on NHL Network. games ... Oliver Wahlstrom is tied for second in the tournament The winner of this game will advance to the semifinals and in goal scoring with five through the preliminary round ... The face the winner of the Canada vs. Czech Republic matchup underage (2001 birth year) skaters (Cole Caufield, Jack Hughes, that is taking place at the same time at Metallurg Ice Rink in Alex Turcotte and Cam York) have combined for 25 points through Magnitogorsk, Russia. five games for Team USA ... The U.S. is averaging 43 shots per Russia finished the preliminary round is 2-1-0-1 (W-OTW- game through two games and is only allowing opponents to 24.5 OTL-L), good enough for second place in Group B. and right shots per game ... The U.S. owns the second-ranked power play below the U.S. for the third spot in Group A. Russia is coming and top-ranked penalty kill units in the tournament ... The U.S. off a 6-5 shootout victory against Slovakia on Tuesday (April 24). has earned two medals at the U18 Men's World Championship Its other two victories came against France (7-1) and the Czech while on Russian soil ... The last playoff matchup came in 2013 in Republic (3-2). Russia's lone loss came against Finland (5-4) on Sochi, Russia, when the U.S. defeated Russia 4-3 in overtime in Sunday (April 22), who finished atop Group A with a perfect 4-0- the semifinal before moving on to earn a silver medal. 0-0 record. Russia has a +7 goal differential in the tournament, which matches Team USA's. TEAM USA SCHEDULE Russia is led offensively by Kiril Marchenko, who recorded DATE EVENT TIME (LOCAL) six points (3-3-6) in the four preliminary round matchups. City Venue (Eastern) He is currently tied for eighth in the tournament scoring race. Goaltender Amir Miftakhov has appeared in all four games for Russia, amassing a goals-against average of 3.39 and .863 save THURS., APRIL 19 CANADA L, 6-4 percentage. He's also allowed the most power play goals (6) of Magnitogorsk Metallurg Ice Rink any goaltender in the tournament. FRI., APRIL 20 SWITZERLAND W, 8-5 All-time, the U.S. is 6-1-0-10 (W-OTW-OTL-L) although the Magnitogorsk Metallurg Ice Rink U.S. has won five of the last seven matchups and the goal SUN., APRIL 22 SWEDEN L, 3-1 scored are even at 58 each. Magnitogorsk Metallurg Ice Rink Although the two countries have never met in the quarterfinals, TUES., APRIL 24 BELARUS W, 8-0 they have met seven times in the playoff round, including five medal games, which the U.S. has won one of. The last playoff Magnitogorsk Metallurg Ice Rink matchup came in 2013 in Sochi, Russia, when the U.S. defeated THURS., APRIL 26 RUSSIA (QUARTERFINAL) 7:30 P.M. Russia 4-3 in overtime in the semifinal before moving on to earn Chelyabinsk Traktor Ice Arena 10:30 A.M. a silver medal. SAT., APRIL 28 SEMIFINALS TBD The two teams last met a year ago in the preliminary round TBD where Ryan Poehling (Lakeville, Minn./St. Could State University) Chelyabinsk Traktor Ice Rink scored twice and Sean Dhooghe (Aurora, Ill./University of SUN., APRIL 29 BRONZE-MEDAL GAME 3:30 P.M. Wisconsin) added three assists to help the U.S. Under-18 Men's Chelyabinsk Traktor Ice Rink 6:30 A.M. National Team to a 5-4 victory against Russia. SUN., APRIL 29 GOLD-MEDAL GAME 7:30 P.M. 10:30 A.M. TALKING POINTS Chelyabinsk Traktor Ice Rink All U.S. tournament games to be televised live on NHL Network QUARTERFINAL HISTORY The U.S. will play in its 11th quarterfinal matchup in the 20 TEAM USA IIHF U18 MWC HISTORY AT A GLANCE year history of the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. The United States enters the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men's World In the previous 10 quarterfinal matchups the U.S. has only lost Championship having medaled in 15 of the past 19 tournaments, once. The loss came back in 2001 when the U.S. made its first appearance in the quarterfinals. The U.S. lost to the Czech including a tournament record 14 consecutive medals. Republic 5-4 in overtime. Since that point, the U.S. has won nine Overall, the U.S. holds 10 gold medals, three silver medals and straight quarterfinal matchups, including three against the Czech two bronze medals. Seven of its 10 gold medals have come in Republic, more than any other country. the last nine years (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017). All-time, Team USA is 90-7-3-24-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) in 125 WAHLSTROM CLOSING IN ON U.S. RECORD tournament games. In gold-medal games the United States is Following his fifth goal of the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men's World 8-2-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L). From 2009-2015, Team USA competed Championship in the victory against Belarus, forward Oliver in a tournament record seven consecutive gold-medal games, Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass./USAH NTDP) has cracked the top winning six times and falling just once. five list for goals scored by U.S. skaters. Wahlstrom scored four goals in last year's tournament, bringing his career total to nine. MEDIA INFORMATION Wahlstrom is now tied for fourth all-time with Brett Sterling (2002/Chicago Wolves). Phil Kessel (2004 & 2005/Pittsburgh All Team USA players or staff will be available for interviews in designated mixed-zone areas following games and non-game day practices. Media Penguins) holds the U.S. record with 16 goals in 12 games. availability on day-of-game skates will be limited. Members of the media TOURNAMENT LEADERBOARD are not allowed in the U.S. dressing room. At the end of the preliminary round, several U.S. players were MEDIA CONTACT: KRIS NOLT 717.823.1859 [email protected] atop the leaderboard in various categories. Jack Hughes All media availability with U.S. team members must be arranged through (Orlando, Fla./USAH NTDP) finished with nine points (3-6-9), Kris Nolt, who is on-site with Team USA here in Russia. good enough for second behind Slovakia's Maxim Cajkovic, PHOTO REQUESTS: LAUREL YOUNG who recorded 11 points (4-7-11). Oliver Wahlstrom currently 231.838.4518 [email protected] sits tied for sixth in points with six (5-1-6) and tied for second Media interested in photos of Team USA throughout the tournament in goal scoring with five. Jonathan Gruden (Rochester, Mich./ are encouraged to visit ImagesOnIce.net for tournament photos. Any USAH NTDP) currently sits second in faceoff percentage with other photography requests surrounding the 2018 U.S. Under-18 Men's 70.59% on 17 attempts. Underager Cam York (Anaheim Hills, National Team players and staff should be directed to Laurel Young. Calif./USAH NTDP) is tied with Sweden's Adam Boqvist for first ONLINE GUIDE TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/2018U18MENSWORLDS in defensemen scoring with six points (0-6-6). Team USA information, including bios, team schedule, news and team history are available at the official website of USA Hockey's national teams. @USAHOCKEY • TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/2018U18MENSWORLDS • USAHOCKEY.COM • #U18MENSWORLDS 1 2018 U.S. UNDER-18 MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME NOTES QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP VS. RUSSIA • APRIL 26, 2018 2018 IIHF UNDER-18 MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP U.S. DETAILS 2018 U.S. UNDER-18 MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM OPPONENT BREAKDOWN KEY TEAM USA U18 MWC STATISTICS EXHIBITION GAME ALL-TIME MEDALS AT U18 MWC FRANCE Year Medal Coach Result Opp. 2017 Gold John Wroblewski W, 4-2 FIN U18 MWC vs. France: W, 15-0 Recap: Team USA defeated France 15-0 in an pre-tournament exhibition 2016 Bronze Danton Cole W, 10-3 CAN match on Sunday (April 15) at Traktor Ice Arena. Nineteen different skaters 2015 Gold Don Granato OTW, 2-1 FIN recorded at least one point in the first matchup between the two countries 2014 Gold Danton Cole W, 5-2 CZE at the Under-18 level. 2013 Silver Don Granato L, 2-3 CAN 2012 Gold Danton Cole W, 7-0 SWE 2011 Gold Ron Rolston OTW, 4-3 SWE PRELIMINARY ROUND GAMES 2010 Gold Kurt Kleinendorst W, 3-1 SWE CANADA 2009 Gold Ron Rolston W, 5-0 RUS 2008 Bronze John Hynes W, 6-3 SWE U18 MWC vs. Canada: L, 4-6 2007 Silver Ron Rolston L, 5-6 RUS Recap: Forward Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) recorded three points and Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) scored twice for the U.S.