2018 U.S. UNDER-18 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM GAME NOTES 2018 IIHF UNDER-18 MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | CHELYABINSK & MAGNITOGORSK, RUSSIA SEMIFINAL MATCHUP • USA (3-0-0-2) VS. CZECH REPUBLIC (2-0-0-3) • TRAKTOR ICE RINK (CAPACITY: 7,500) • APRIL 28, 2018 TONIGHT'S GAME THINGS WORTH MENTIONING The U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team faces Czech Republic The U.S. has advanced to 16 straight semifinals and has a record this evening in the second of two semifinal matchups at the 2018 of 7-5-1-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in the semifinals ... The U.S. has won IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship here in Chelyabinsk, the last 13 matchups with the Czech Republic ... Jack Hughes Russia. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. local and 10:30 a.m. ET currently is tied for first in the tournament in points with 11 (4- and will be televised in the U.S. live on NHL Network. 7-11) through five games ... Oliver Wahlstrom is second in The winner of this game will advance to the Gold Medal Game the tournament in goal scoring with six through five games and tomorrow (April 29/7:30 p.m. local) and face the winner of the has scored in each U.S. game ... The underage (2001 birth year) Finland vs. Sweden matchup that is taking place immediately skaters (Cole Caufield, Jack Hughes, Alex Turcotte and Cam before this game. The losers will compete in the Bronze Medal York) have combined for 28 points through five games for Team game tomorrow (April 29/3:30 p.m. local). USA ... The U.S. is averaging 42.6 shots per game through five The Czech Republic finished the preliminary round is 1-0-0-3 games and is only allowing opponents to 23 shots per game ... (W-OTW-OTL-L) and finished in fourth place in Group B. They The U.S. owns the second-ranked power play and top-ranked opened the tournament by falling to Slovakia (5-2) and Russia penalty kill units in the tournament ... The U.S. has earned two (3-2) before earning its first win against France (9-2). They medals at the U18 Men's World Championship while on Russian closed out preliminary round play by falling to Finland 4-2 and soil. then traveled to Magnitogorsk for its quarterfinal showdown with Group A's top-seed, Canada. In that game, Petr Cajka scored the third-period winner and goalie Lukas Dostal made 33 saves TEAM USA SCHEDULE as the Czech Republic upset Canada, 2-1. DATE EVENT TIME (LOCAL) The Czech Republic is led offensively by Jakub Lauko, who has City Venue (Eastern) recorded six points (3-3-6) in five games. Dostal has appeared in four games for the Czech Republic, amassing a goals-against average of 3.14 and .900 save percentage. THURS., APRIL 19 CANADA L, 6-4 All-time, the U.S. is 12-1-1-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in 15 games Magnitogorsk Metallurg Ice Rink against the Czech Republic at this tournament and hasn't lost FRI., APRIL 20 SWITZERLAND W, 8-5 since the 2002 playoff round. The U.S. has outscored the Czech Magnitogorsk Metallurg Ice Rink Republic 69-25 in those 15 matchups. SUN., APRIL 22 SWEDEN L, 3-1 This will mark the third time the two countries have faced each Magnitogorsk Metallurg Ice Rink other in the semifinal (2004, 2006, 2018), with the U.S. previously TUES., APRIL 24 BELARUS W, 8-0 winning both of those matchups. Overall the U.S. is 7-1 (W-L) against the Czech Republic in the playoffs. The last time the two Magnitogorsk Metallurg Ice Rink teams met in the playoff round was 2016, where the U.S. shutout THURS., APRIL 26 RUSSIA (QUARTERFINAL) W, 5-1 the Czech Republic 8-0. Chelyabinsk Traktor Ice Arena The two teams last met a year ago in the preliminary round SAT., APRIL 28 CZECH REPUBLIC (SEMIFINAL) 7:30 P.M. where Max Gildon (Plano, Texas/University of New Hampshire) Chelyabinsk Traktor Ice Rink 10:30 A.M. recorded a hat trick and Dylan St. Cyr (Northville, Mich./ University of Notre Dame) made 24 saves to help the U.S. Men’s SUN., APRIL 29 BRONZE-MEDAL GAME 3:30 P.M. National Under-18 Team defeat the Czech Republic, 5-2. Chelyabinsk Traktor Ice Rink 6:30 A.M. SUN., APRIL 29 GOLD-MEDAL GAME 7:30 P.M. Chelyabinsk Traktor Ice Rink 10:30 A.M. TALKING POINTS All U.S. tournament games to be televised live on NHL Network SEMIFINAL HISTORY The U.S. will play in its 16th consecutive semifinal matchup in the TEAM USA IIHF U18 MWC HISTORY AT A GLANCE 20 year history of the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. The United States enters the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men's World The U.S. holds a record of 7-5-1-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in those Championship having medaled in 15 of the past 19 tournaments, previous 15 matchups. The U.S. has met Canada in the semifinals more than any other country, and has collected a record of 5-1 including a tournament record 14 consecutive medals. (W-L) in those six matchups. Overall, the U.S. holds 10 gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals. Seven of its 10 gold medals have come in SEMIFINAL FLASHBACK the last nine years (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017). The last time the U.S. and Czech Republic met in the semifinal All-time, Team USA is 93-7-3-26-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) in 130 was 2006 at Angelholms Ishall EV in Sweden . On April 20, tournament games. In gold-medal games the United States is 2006, Patrick Kane (2005 & 2006/Chicago Blackhawks) scored 8-2-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L). From 2009-2015, Team USA competed the overtime winner at 6:50 to send the U.S. to the Gold Medal in a tournament record seven consecutive gold-medal games, Game with a 4-3 victory against the Czech Republic. The U.S. winning six times and falling just once. went on to defeat Finland 3-1 in the Gold Medal Game and Kane lead the tournament in scoring with 12 points. This also marked MEDIA INFORMATION the first time the U.S. would earn back-to-back gold medals. All Team USA players or staff will be available for interviews in designated WAHLSTROM'S SCORING STREAK CONTINUES mixed-zone areas following games and non-game day practices. Media availability on day-of-game skates will be limited. Members of the media Following his sixth goal of the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Men's World are not allowed in the U.S. dressing room. Championship in the quarterfinal victory against Russia, forward Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass./USAH NTDP) has scored at MEDIA CONTACT: KRIS NOLT 717.823.1859 [email protected] least one goal in the first five games of the tournament. He has All media availability with U.S. team members must be arranged through also cracked the top five list for goals scored by U.S. skaters Kris Nolt, who is on-site with Team USA here in Russia. during this tournament. Wahlstrom scored four goals in last year's PHOTO REQUESTS: LAUREL YOUNG tournament, bringing his career total to ten. Wahlstrom is now 231.838.4518 [email protected] in sole possession of fourth all-time and needs two more goals Media interested in photos of Team USA throughout the tournament over the next two games to tie Jeremy Morin's (2007 & 2008/ are encouraged to visit ImagesOnIce.net for tournament photos. Any SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers) mark of 12 (with Brett Sterling other photography requests surrounding the 2018 U.S. Under-18 Men's (2002/Chicago Wolves). Phil Kessel (2004 & 2005/Pittsburgh National Team players and staff should be directed to Laurel Young. Penguins) holds the U.S. record with 16 goals in 12 games. ONLINE GUIDE TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/2018U18MENSWORLDS 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 SEMIFINAL MATCHUP VS. CZECH REPUBLIC • APRIL 28, 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 Year Medal Coach Result Opp. FRANCE U18 MWC Series vs. France: 0-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) Of Note: Meeting for the first time ever at the U18 MWC level 2017 Gold John Wroblewski W, 4-2 FIN APRIL 15, 2018: USA 15, FRA 0: Team USA defeated France 15-0 in an pre- 2016 Bronze Danton Cole W, 10-3 CAN tournament exhibition match on Sunday (April 15) at Traktor Ice Arena. 2015 Gold Don Granato OTW, 2-1 FIN Nineteen different skaters recorded at least one point in the first matchup 2014 Gold Danton Cole W, 5-2 CZE between the two countries 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 2009 Gold Ron Rolston W, 5-0 RUS CANADA U18 MWC vs.