IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

vanRiemsdyk Finishes as Team USA's Top Point Getter

JANUARY 5, 2008 -- PARDUBICE, Czech Republic – The U.S. National Junior Team finished fourth in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship after a 4-2 loss to Russia today in the bronze medal game of the event.

"It was disappointing to finish the way we did after such a good start in this tournament," said U.S. Head Coach John Hynes. "We lacked the intensity we needed today."

Russia jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the opening period. Alexei Cherepanov put home a backhanded shot in front at 3:59 for the game's opening goal. With Russia on the power play, a shot from the center point by Evgeni Kurbatov deflected off the skate of U.S. defenseman Chris Summers (Milan, Mich./University of Michigan) and past netminder Jeremy Smith (Brownstown, Mich./Plymouth) at 11:04. A cross-crease feed by Cherepanov found Nikita Filatov at 16:57 for the final tally of the period.

Filatov put home a rebound on the power play past U.S. netminder Joe Palmer (Yorkville, N.Y./The Ohio State University) 1:30 into the second stanza to increase Russia's lead to 4-0. Team USA got on the board at 10:47 when Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif./University of Denver) maneuvered in front after a feed from Kyle Okposo (St. Paul, Minn.) and beat Sergei Bobrovsky high to the glove side. Russia had a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn./U.S. National Under-18 Team) had a terrific chance from between the circles for Team USA five minutes into the period, but Bobrovsky was up to the challenge. Schroeder, however, did score at 13:39 from the high slot through traffic with the United States on a five-on-three power play. Bobby Sanguinetti (Lumberton, N.J./Brampton) drew the lone assist on the play. Team USA continued to put pressure on down the stretch, but could get no closer.

Smith had five saves in the first period for Team USA, while Palmer played the final two periods and had 16 stops. Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves for Russia.

NOTES: The United States finished fourth in the World Junior Championship, with four wins and two losses in its six games ... Team USA's Player of the Game was Bobby Sanguinetti (Lumberton, N.J./Brampton) ... James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./University of New Hampshire), Chris Summers (Milan, Mich./University of Michigan) and Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn./Boston University) were named Team USA's best three players of the tournament ... The United States has played for either the gold or bronze medal in the World Junior Championship for a U.S.-record six straight years ... James vanRiemsdyk finished as Team USA's leading point getter with 5-6--11. He scored a goal in five of Team USA's six games ... Colin Wilson was Team USA's top goal scorer with six, including a natural hat trick in the preliminary round against Finland ... Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn./U.S. National Under-18 Team) had seven assists to pace Team USA ... Brian Strait (Waltham, Mass./Boston University) served as Team USA's captain, while Chris Summers, Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn./University of Wisconsin) and Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo./University of Denver) were alternate captains ... The 2009 World Junior Championship will be played in Ottawa, Ontario. The United States will host the event in 2011 at a site-to-be-determined.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

RUS 3 1 0 4

USA 0 1 1 2

First Period - Scoring: 1, RUS Cherepanov (Filatov, Mamin), 3:59; 2, RUS Kurbatov (Tikhonov), 11:04 (pp); 3, RUS Filatov (Cherepanov), 16:57. Penalties: RUS, Kalimulin (hooking), 5:48; USA, Rust (2-slashing), 8:09; USA, Flynn (checking from behind), 10:43; USA, Flynn (misconduct), 10:43; RUS, Gordeyev (tripping), 12:44; RUS, Kalimulin (tripping), 14:42; RUS, Sayustov (delaying the game), 17:18; USA, Montgomery (hooking), 19:58.

Second Period - Scoring: 4, RUS Filatov (Mamin, Cherepanov), 1:30 (pp); 5, USA Rakhshani (Okposo), 10:47. Penalties: USA, Schroeder (holding), 12:26; USA, Ruegsegger (tripping), 16:34.

Third Period - Scoring: 6, USA Schroeder (Sanguinetti), 13:39 (pp). Penalties: RUS, Bench (too many players), 12:30; RUS, Tikhonov (hooking), 13:11; USA, Fairchild (tripping), 16:07; USA, Wilson (hooking), 18:38.

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JANUARY 4, 2008 -- PARDUBICE, Czech Republic – The U.S. National Junior Team will play for the bronze medal in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship tomorrow (Jan. 5) against Russia after a 4-1 loss to Canada tonight in the semifinals of the tournament.

"Canada played a great game," said U.S. Head Coach John Hynes. "Our guys will re-focus and be ready to play tomorrow. We have a chance to win back-to-back medals in this tournament for the first time in the history of our country."

It was a scoreless and evenly-played first period. U.S. netminder Jeremy Smith (Brownstown, Mich./Plymouth) made 10 saves in the stanza, including a solid stop on Colton Gillies' backhanded chance at the side of the net seven minutes in.

Canada took the lead at 2:46 of the second period when Shawn Matthias scored from just outside the crease after an end-wall feed from Matthew Halischuk. Then at 10:00, Karl Alzner fired one home from the top of the left circle on the power play. Team USA had a 13-to-6 shots on goal advantage in the period with Max Pacioretty's (New Canaan, Conn./University of Michigan) rebound chance in front 11 minutes into the stanza among them. Team USA's penalty-killing unit foiled :41 of a two-man Canada advantage late in the period to keep the game within reach after 40 minutes.

With goals by Gillies and Brad Marchand at 7:04 and 7:24, Canada took control of the game. James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./University of New Hampshire) banged one in from the right of Canada netminder Steve Mason at 13:26 to account for the lone U.S. goal of the contest. Mike Carman (Apple Valley, Minn./University of Minnesota) gained an assist on the play.

Smith had 20 saves for Team USA, while Mason made 33 stops for Canada.

Tomorrow's bronze medal game between the U.S. and Russia will begin at 10:00 a.m. EST at the CEZ Arena in Pardubice.

NOTES: Team USA's line of Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif./University of Denver), Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo./University of Denver) and Kyle Okposo (St. Paul, Minn.) took the opening faceoff and dominated in the Canada end for the entire shift ... Team USA has a chance to win a medal in the World Junior Championship for the second straight year. Never has the U.S. won back-to-back medals in World Junior Championship play ... The U.S. faced Russia in the preliminary round and earned a 3-2 victory ...The United States is playing for a medal in the World Junior Championship for a U.S.-record sixth straight year ... Ryan Flynn (Lino Lakes, Minn./University of Minnesota) was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... Tomorrow's bronze medal game will be audiocast live on usahockey.com with Jack Swanson and Jeff Sauer calling the action. In addition, the game will be televised live by the NHL Network in the United States ... Brian Strait (Waltham, Mass./Boston University) is Team USA's captain, while Chris Summers (Milan, Mich./University of Michigan), Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn./University of Wisconsin) and Tyler Ruegsegger are alternate captains.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

CAN 0 2 2 4 USA 0 0 1 1

First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: CAN, Tavares (kneeing), 3:47.

Second Period - Scoring: 1, CAN Matthias (Halischuk), 2:46; 2, CAN Alzner (Turris, Marchand), 10:00 (pp). Penalties: CAN, Simmonds (interference), 5:49; USA, Bench (too many players), 9:34; USA, Pacioretty (roughing), 11:14; CAN, Godfrey (roughing), 11:14; USA, Rust (interference), 14:12; USA, Geoffrion (high-sticking), 15:31; CAN, Gillies (hooking), 18:09.

Third Period - Scoring: 3, CAN Gillies (Sutter), 7:04; 4, CAN Marchand (Giroux), 7:24; USA vanRiemsdyk (Carman), 13:26. Penalties: USA, Cole (delay of game), :23; USA, Bench (too many players), 3:53; CAN, Schenn (hooking), 18:33; CAN, Pyett (tripping), 19:21.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2008 -- COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2008 U.S. National Junior Team will face Canada tomorrow (Jan. 4) in the semifinals of the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. Opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. EST at the CEZ Arena in Pardubice, Czech Republic.

The game can be seen live in the United States on NHL Network, as can the first semifinal game between Russia and Sweden, which begins at 10 a.m. EST. In addition, the NHL Network in the U.S. will carry both the bronze and gold-medal games on Saturday (Jan. 5), with opening faceoff set for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.

Team USA has advanced to the semifinals of the World Junior Championship for the sixth straight year.

A live audiocast of all Team USA games can be found at usahockey.com with Jack Swanson and Jeff Sauer calling the action.

NOTES: James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./University of New Hampshire), the number two overall pick in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft, leads the tournament with 10 points (four goals, six assists) ... Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn./Boston University) has six goals to lead the tournament, while Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn./U.S. National Under-18 Team) tops the tournament in assists with seven.

Sled Hockey Camp Begins Today In Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2008 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team will conduct a three-day training camp beginning today in Colorado Springs.

Under Head Coach Ray Maluta, Team USA will practice tonight from 9 - 10:30 p.m. (MST); Friday (Jan. 4) from 8-10 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.; and Saturday (Jan. 5) from 10 a.m. - noon and 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

All practices will take place at the Colorado Springs World Arena complex.

Team USA's next competition will take place on Jan. 23-27 in Asahikawa, Japan, and will feature teams from the U.S., Canada, Japan and Norway.

Lou Vairo To Coach World All-Star Team In Russia

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Lou Vairo, USA Hockey's Director of Special Projects and the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Coach, will be the head coach of a World All-Star Team that will play outdoor games in Russia on Jan. 18 and 20, against GazpromExport.

GazpromExport, a team comprised of Russian hockey legends, plays a regular-season schedule, in addition to numerous national and international tournaments.

The Jan. 18 game will be staged at Palace Square in St. Petersburg, with faceoff set for 11 a.m. EST. On Jan. 20, the teams will compete at Moscow's famous Red Square beginning at 9 a.m.

Vairo's World Team will include Jim Bedard, Bobby Farrelly, Slava Fetisov, Vladimir Malakhov, Jeff Norton, Mark Fusco, Scott Young, Jurki Lumme, Calle Johansson, Alex Mogilny, Igor Larionov, Greg Adams, Doug Brown, Jari Kurri, Esa Tikkanen, Cliff Ronning, Thomas Sandstrom, and Mats Naslund.

"I'm honored to be asked to coach this team," said Vairo, who has coached numerous U.S. teams in international competition in his 40-plus year career. "It will be a lot of fun to work with the players and be part of a really unique event."

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Saturday, December 29, 2007  -- LIBEREC, Czech Republic – The U.S. National Junior Team fired 49 shots on goal in helping it to a 3-2 win over Russia in its third preliminary-round game at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship here tonight.

"Our guys played with deep belief in themselves," said U.S. Head Coach John Hynes. "Our commitment to team play was evident and I thought as the game wore on, we showed good survival skills when we needed to. We definitely took another step forward."

Team USA forced five straight Russia penalties to start the game and eventually capitalized on a five-on-three power play at 11:31 when Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo./University of Denver) put home the rebound of a shot from the center point by Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn./U.S. National Under-18 Team). Kyle Okposo (St. Paul, Minn.) also drew an assist on the play. The United States, which outshot Russia 18-7 in the period, had several other golden opportunities in the stanza, but was held at bay by Russian netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.

The only goal of the second period came at 8:36 when Alexei Cherepanov put the puck past a helpless Jeremy Smith (Brownstown, Mich./Plymouth) off the rebound of Nikita Filatov's initial shot from near the bottom of the left circle. Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif./University of Denver) nearly put the United States back in the lead with under eight minutes to go in the period, but his shot from the low slot rang off the post. Two minutes later, Mike Carman (Apple Valley, Minn./University of Minnesota), who was foiled at least twice in the first period, had a good chance from point blank range but was stopped by Bobrovsky.

Team USA recorded a pair of goals in the first half of the third period to open up a two-goal lead. James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./University of New Hampshire) recorded the first on the power play at 3:01 when he sent an innocent-looking shot toward the net that Bobrovsky got a piece of, but then had deflect off his pad and into the net. Then at 7:44 Carman grabbed a loose puck at the side of the net, came out in front, and found the back of the net. Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn./University of Wisconsin) and Chris Summers (Milan, Mich./University of Michigan) also gained assists on the play. Russia made it interesting when Viktor Tikhonov beat Smith at 14:36, but Team USA played strong down the stretch and gained the victory.

Smith made 28 saves to pick up the win, while Bobrovskky had 46 stops in a losing effort.

Team USA will finish preliminary-round play Monday (Dec. 31) against Finland at 12 p.m. EST in Liberec. Regardless of the outcome, Team USA has earned a bye into the semifinals of the tournament and will play a yet to-be-determined opponent on Friday (Jan. 4).

NOTES: Defenseman Chris Summers was named Team USA's Player of the Game ...Team USA did not allow Russia a shot on goal through the first 14 minutes of the game ... All Team USA games in the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship are audiocast live on usahockey.com with Jack Swanson and Jeff Sauer calling the action. In addition, all games of the medal round will be televised live by the NHL Network in the United States ... Brian Strait (Waltham, Mass./Boston University) is Team USA's captain, while Chris Summers (Milan, Mich./University of Michigan), Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn./University of Wisconsin) and Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo./University of Denver) are alternate captains.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 1- 0 - 2 -- 3

RUS 0- 1 - 1 -- 2

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA Ruegsegger (Schroeder, Okposo), 11:31(5x3 pp). Penalties: RUS, Dadonov (hooking), 2:50; RUS, Sayustov (hooking), 3:05; RUS, Bobrovsky (delay of game), 5:01; USA, Carman (slashing), 8:22; RUS, Filatov (roughing), 8:22; RUS, Kalimulin (hooking), 9:58; RUS, Doronin (hooking), 10:27; USA, Cole (roughing), 18:54.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, RUS Cherepanov (Filatov, Anisimov); 8:36. Penalties: USA, Pacioretty (tripping), 3:34; RUS, Kurbatov (interference), 11:25; USA, Carman (hooking), 16:52.

Third Period - Scoring: 3, USA vanRiemsdyk (Rahkshani), 3:01 (pp); 4, USA Carman (Geoffrion, Summers), 7:44; 5, RUS Tikhonov (Korolev, Sayustov), 14:36. Penalties: RUS, Filatov (hooking), 1:55; USA, Carman (tripping), 4:11; Tikhonov (holding), 8:27; USA, vanRiemsdyk (high--sticking), 8:36; RUS, Milekhin (hooking), 11:29; USA, Carman (hooking), 14:53; RUS, Tikhonov (slashing), 16:19; RUS, Filatov (roughing), 20:00.

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Friday, December 28, 2007 -- LIBEREC, Czech Republic – The U.S. National Junior Team used four power-play goals on the way to a convincing 4-2 victory over Switzerland in the preliminary round of the of the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship here tonight.

"We played with good conviction and did it for 60 minutes," said U.S. Head Coach John Hynes. "We took another step forward and that's a positive sign."

The United States had control of the play for the majority of the opening period but was able to get just one puck past Swiss netminder Robert Mayer. The goal came at 5:08 on the power play when Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn./Boston University) found the back of the net after receiving a nice cross-ice feed from Jordan Schroeder (Prior Lake, Minn./U.S. National Under-18 Team). James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./University of New Hampshire) also drew an assist on the play.

The teams traded second-period goals, despite Team USA outshooting Switzerland by an 18-4 count. The U.S. advanced its lead to 2-0 when Bobby Sanguinetti (Lumberton, N.J./Brampton) scored from the slot after a slick feed from below the goalline off the stick of vanRiemsdyk. Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif./University of Denver) also gained an assist on the play. Just 1:20 later, however, Switzerland got back in the game when Dino Wieser's pass from the corner found Andrei Bykov alone in front and he backhanded the puck past Jeremy Smith (Brownstown, Mich./Plymouth).

The United States scored a pair of five-on-three power-play goals in the first 10 minutes of the third period to take command of the game. vanRiemsdyk beat Mayer on the short side at 2:27 with Sanguinetti and Schroeder major contributors on a three-way passing play. Then at 9:30 Wilson converted Kyle Okposo's (St. Paul, Minn.) pass from the side of the net out in front with Schroeder also in on the scoring. Amaud Jacquemet of Switzerland scored a power-play goal at 15:45 for the final goal of the contest.

Smith picked up the victory in goal with 16 saves, while Mayer made 47 stops in a losing effort.

Team USA will battle Russia tomorrow (Dec. 29) at 2 p.m. EST in Liberec.

NOTES: Colin Wilson, who scored two power-play goals and recorded seven shots on goal, was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... James vanRiemsdyk (1-2--3) and Jordan Schroeder (0-3--3) each had three points in tonight's game. vanRiemsdyk, with 2-3--5, is the leading point getter in the tournament to date ... All Team USA games in the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship are audiocast live on usahockey.com with Jack Swanson and Jeff Sauer calling the action. In addition, all games of the medal round will be televised live by the NHL Network in the United States ... Brian Strait (Waltham, Mass./Boston University) is Team USA's captain, while Chris Summers (Milan, Mich./University of Michigan), Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn./University of Wisconsin) and Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo./University of Denver) are alternate captains.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 1 - 1 2 4 SUI 0 - 1 1 2

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA Wilson (Schroeder, vanRiemsdyk), 5:08 (pp). Penalties: SUI, Wieser (hooking), 3:12; USA, Carman (hooking), 9:27; USA, Summers (tripping), 13:55; SUI, Bykov (hooking), 20:00.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, USA Sanguinetti (vanRiemsdyk, Rakhshani), 2:57 (pp); 3, SUI Bykov (Wiesner), 4:17. Penalties: SUI, Josi (tripping), 1:40; USA, Rakhshani (interference), 6:00; SUI, Froidevaux (tripping), 9:37; USA, Rust (interference), 12:22; SUI, Schlagenhauf (hooking), 15:04.

Third Period - 4, USA vanRiemsdyk (Sanguinetti, Schroeder), 2:27 (5x3 pp); 5, USA Wilson (Okposo, Schroeder), 9:30 (5x3 pp); 6, SUI Jacquemet (Weber, Froidevaux), 15:45 (pp). Penalties: SUI, Weber (cross-checking), :29; SUI, Maurer (boarding), 2:10; SUI, Josi (tripping), 3:02; SUI, Jacquemet (tripping), 7:33; SUI, Weber (boarding), 9:01; USA, Ruegsegger (interference), 9:51; SUI, Sbisa (holding), 10:40; USA, Flynn (hooking), 14:14; USA, Geoffrion (charging), 18:12.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total USA 19 18 14 51 SUI 9 4 5 18

Power Play: USA 4-11; SUI 1-6 Penalties: USA 7-14; SUI 11-22 Officials: Referees - Daniel Konc (Slovakia), Marc Muylaert (Canada); Linesmen - Jaromir Blaha (Czech Republic), Jeff Jobson (Canada) Attendance: 1,222

Team USA 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship Schedule Dec. 26-Jan. 5• Liberec & Pardubice, Czech Republic

Date Opponent Venue Time (Local/EST)

Dec. 18 Western Michigan University (Ex.) Lawson Ice Arena W, 4-2

Dec. 22 Czech Republic (Ex.) Ceska Trebova L, 2-5

Dec. 26 Kazakhstan Tipsport Arena W, 5-1

Dec. 28 Switzerland Tipsport Arena W, 4-2

Dec. 29 Russia Tipsport Arena 8:00 p.m./2:00 p.m.

Dec. 31 Finland Tipsport Arena 6:00 p.m./12:00 p.m.

Jan. 2 Quarterfinals CEZ Arena TBD

Jan. 4 Semifinals CEZ Arena TBD

Jan. 5 Gold/Bronze Medal Games CEZ Arena TBD

Venue Locations: Lawson Ice Arena (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Ceska Trebova (Ceska Trebova, Czech Republic), Tipsport Arena (Liberec, Czech Republic), CEZ Arena (Pardubice, Czech Republic).

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