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U.S. National Team

U.S. Blanks Czech Republic at U18 World Championship

April 19, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


LAPPEENRANTA, Finland. - Alex Nedeljkovic(Parma, Ohio) turned aside 24 shots as the U.S. Men'sNational Under-18 Team blanked the Czech Republic, 3-0, here today at Lappeenranta Arena. With the win, Team USA's record improves to 1-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's Under-18 World Championship.

Auston Matthews(Scottsdale, Ariz.) put Team USA on the board at 8:17 of the first frame. Skating four-on-four, Matthews fired a shot that deflected off a defender's stick and over Czech goalie Vitek Vanecek.Brandon Fortunato(North Hills, N.Y.) andJack Dougherty(Cottage Grove, Minn.) collected assists on the play. Nedeljkovic was tested early, but stopped all 10 shots he saw in the period.

The U.S. lead doubled 58 seconds into the second stanza whenSonny Milano(Massapequa, N.Y.) pounced on a rebound to the right of the crease.Jack Eichel(North Chelmsford, Mass.) created the opportunity, skating around the net and firing a shot that caromed to Milano's stick.Alex Tuch(Baldwinsville, N.Y.) was credited with a secondaryassist.Kyle Connor(Shelby Township, Mich.) extended the U.S.lead to three goalswith a wrist shot from the high slot.Joe Wegwerth(Brewster, N.Y.) andJack Glover(Golden Valley, Minn.) assisted.

Nedeljkovic made five of his 24 total saves in the final frame to preserve the shutout victory.

The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team is back in action tomorrow (April 20) versus Denmark. The game is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EDT at Lappeenranta Arena. All U.S. tournament gameswill be streamed live onFASTHockeyfree of charge.

2014 IIHF Men's U18 World Championship Schedule - United States

April 17-27, 2014 - Lappeenranta, Finland

Date Opponent Time (Local/EDT)/Result Live Webcast

Tues., April 14 Germany* W, 9-1 --

Thurs., April 17 Switzerland L, 2-4 --

Sat., April 19 Czech Republic W, 3-0 --

Sun., April 20 Denmark 6:30 p.m. / 11:30 a.m. FASTHockey.com

Tues., April 22 Finland 6:30 p.m. / 11:30 a.m. FASTHockey.com

Thurs., April 24 Quarterfinals TBD TBD

Sat., April 26 Semifinals TBD TBD

Sun., April 27 Bronze-Medal 3:00 p.m. / 8:00 a.m. TBD

Gold-Medal 7:00 p.m. / 12:00 p.m. TBD

*pre-tournament game

NOTES: For a complete U.S. roster, click here ... Team USA outshot the Czech Republic, 35-24 ... Alex Nedeljkovic was named Team USA's best player ... Kyle Connorhas now scored in each of Team USA's first two games of the U18 World Championship. The forward also scored one goal in the pre-tournament game against Germany last week ... The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team is led byDanton Cole, serving as head coach at his second IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship. Cole is currently in his fourth season as one of two head coaches at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... The U.S. squad seeks its eighth gold medal in the event after capturing the tournament title in four of the last five years. Team USA had won four-consecutive gold medals before having its streak snapped last year in Sochi, Russia. The silver medal in 2013 marked 10-straight top-three finishes for the U.S. ... Twenty players on the U.S. roster come from USA Hockey's NTDP.Kyle Connor(Shelby Township, Mich.) skated this season for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League.Alex Nedeljkovicplayed for the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers ... The roster for the U.S. features 15 players recently listed on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of draft-eligible players. Among those players in the top twenty are forwards Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y./12th), Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y./16th) and Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich./17th). Goaltenders Alex Nedeljkovic (Parma, Ohio) and Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) were ranked fourth and seventh respectively ... Team USA's roster includes 20 players born in 1996 and two from the 1997 birth year. ForwardAuston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.), born Sept. 17, 1997, is Team USA's youngest player, while Nedeljkovic, born Jan. 7, 1996, is the oldest ... Eleven different states are represented on the roster. New York leads the way with five skaters, while Minnesota boasts four ... The U.S. enters the tournament having captured a record 10-consecutive medals, including back-to-back golds in 2005-06 and four-straight gold medals from 2009-12; three silver medals (2004, 2007, 2013); and one bronze medal (2008). Team USA's seven gold medals are the most of any country in IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship history. The event began in 1999. Team USA earned its first gold medal in 2002 ... The U.S. will play in Group B alongside the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland. Group A consists of Canada, Germany, Russia, Slovakia and Sweden ... Follow@USAHockeyScoreson Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with the#U18Worldstag ... For additional coverage, visit the NTDPFacebookpage and follow@USANTDPon Twitter ... The U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams train withThe Hockey IntelliGym, a software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visitUSAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

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