Sports stats



USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Kyle Connor Helps Team USA Win Gold at U18 World Championship

April 28, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The United States defeated the Czech Republic by a score of 5-2 on Sunday afternoon to capture the Gold Medal at the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championship in Lappeenranta, Finland.

Phantoms forward, Kyle Connor, recorded an assist to extend his point streak to all seven games of the tournament. Overall, Connor found the back of the net four times and assisted on his teammates' goals, three times.

"I think a lot of it has been getting to know the guys and getting a feel for who I've been playing with," said Connor when asked what the keys to his success have been. "The hockey stuff, that's just me going out there and playing the way I know how to play."

Throughout the duration of the tournament, Connor skated on a line with Auston Matthews and Shane Gersich.

"They're both really good players, so that helped a lot," Connor said. "It makes it real easy on me, and everyone else has been a great teammate as well. They have made me feel welcome."

Coming into the tournament, Connor was just one of two players on the roster that had not been on the U18 National Team Development Program during the 2013-14 season. The other was goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who spent the season with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.

"Yeah, I've played against most of them, the ones from Michigan at least," Connor said when asked if he knew any of the other players on the team. "Larkin and Pavelek are two players in particular."

It was certainly a new experience for the future Michigan Wolverine, but it was also one that he was able to adjust to rather quickly.

"It's actually really similar, going against the best guys in the world," Connor said when asked about the differences of the tournament and the USHL. "Both levels are really high and it makes it tough to compete. I would have to say the bigger ice sheet has been the most noticeable. There's more time and space out there, which actually makes it helpful."

Connor finished tied for fifth in points scored for the entire tournament with four goals and three assists. From a team perspective he was tied with Auston Matthews for the second spot. Jack Eichel and Sonny Milano were tied for the number one spot on Team USA with 10 points each.

This was the fifth time in the last six years that Team USA has won the gold medal at the U18 World Championship.

Check out the Youngstown Phantoms Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from April 28, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Youngstown Phantoms Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central