USHL U.S. National Team

U.S. Edged by Switzerland in U18 Worlds Opener

Published on April 17, 2014 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


LAPPEENRANTA, Finland. - Jack Dougherty (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, Mich.) each scored one goal, but the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team was edged by Switzerland, 4-2, here today at Lappeenranta Arena. The game served as the first test for Team USA at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's Under-18 World Championship.

Dougherty gave the U.S. an earlylead at 5:13 of the opening frame with a power-play tally.Sonny Milano(Massapequa, N.Y.) glided through the slot and left a droppass for Dougherty. The defenseman took a step and launched a slapshot that found the back of the net.Brandon Fortunato(North Hills, N.Y.) also assisted on the play. Switzerland answered at 11:55 with a goal that spent a lengthy time under review. Team USA regained the lead with under five minutes to play in the period when Connor controlled a rebound and wristed a shot past Swiss goaltender Gauthier Descloux.Noah Hanifin(Norwood, Mass.) collected the lone helper.

After a scoreless second stanza, Switzerland knotted the game 46 seconds into the third period. With 3:30 remaining in the contest, the Swiss batted a rebound pastAlex Nedeljkovic(Parma, Ohio) to take the lead. Switzerland capped the comeback with an empty net goal 11 seconds before the final buzzer.

Nedeljkovic turned aside 16 shots in the loss for the U.S., while Descloux made 31 savesfor Switzerland.

Team USA will return to action against the Czech Republic on Saturday (April 19). Game time is set for 8 a.m. EDT at Lappeenranta Arena. All U.S. tournament gameswill be streamed live on FASTHockey free 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 3:00 p.m. / 8:00 a.m. FASTHockey.com

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 ... Kyle Connor was named Team USA's best player ... Team USA out shot Switzerland, 33-19 ... 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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