Team USA captures gold at Under-18 World Championshp

By Michael Caples –

They’ve done it again.

Team USA captured the gold medal at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s Under-18 World Championship yesterday in Finland, besting the Czech Republic 5-2 in the title game.

The win gives the U.S. their 11th consecutive medal, which is a U18 World Championship tournament record. It is also the fifth time in the last six seasons that the Americans have captured the top spot at the prestigious tournament.

In the title game,  Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) scored twice and Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y.) recorded one goal and two assists to lead Team USA to the win. Plymouth Whalers goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 15 shots to pick up his fifth win over the tournament.

Shelby Township native Kyle Connor recorded an assist in the victory, which means that he officially recorded a point in all seven games of the tournament. The Michigan commit finished with four goals and three assists. Connor led all U.S. players with a +8 final rating.

Fellow Michigan commit Dylan Larkin finished the tournament with two goals and two assists over six games, along with a +3 rating.

Marysville native Dylan Pavelek, a Michigan State commit, was held scoreless in the tournament.

Fellow Spartans commit Ed Minney started one game for the U.S., stopping all eight shots he faced for a shutout win over Denmark.