Latest:

MiHockey

Your Hockey – Our Hockey – MiHockey

Amateur Hockey Editor's picks For Coaches For Fans For Parents For Players Slideshow The Latest Youth Hockey 

Team USA claims bronze medal at World Juniors

MiHockey Staff
Photos by OHL Images and MiHockey
Photos by OHL Images and MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

The 2016 World Juniors tournament is officially complete for Team USA.

When they return stateside, they will do so with some new hardware.

The Americans routed Sweden in the third-place game today at the prestigious Under-20 international tournament, capturing bronze with a 8-3 win. The U.S. squad fell to Russia 2-1 in the semifinals yesterday.

Team USA concluded the tournament with a 5-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record. They have earned a medal in four of the last seven World Junior tournaments.

“After a tough loss less than 24 hours ago, to come back and finish with a win and the bronze medal is a terrific accomplishment,” said Ron Wilson, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team in a release from USA Hockey. “It was a total team effort and I couldn’t be more proud of our guys.”

The top three U.S. players in the tournament, as selected by the coaches, have plenty of Michigan ties. Team captain Zach Werenski, a University of Michigan defenseman and Grosse Pointe native, posted two goals and seven assists in seven games. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, a Parma, Ohio, native, played for Belle Tire and the Metro Jets before joining the Plymouth Whalers OHL franchise, and he held a 1.66 goals-against average and a 94.27 save percentage. USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program alum Auston Matthews rounded out the trio of top players, having posted seven goals and four assists for 11 points in six games.

Farmington Hills native Alex DeBrincat finished with one goal in four games played, while Traverse City native Brandon Halverson recorded one win in his one outing between the pipes – he finished with a 0.65 goals-against average and 97.3 save percentage.

Team USA started this year’s tournament with a bang, beating rival Canada 4-2 in their first preliminary-round contest on Dec. 26. They followed that win, however, with a 1-0 loss to Sweden. From there, it was wins over Switzerland (10-1), Denmark and the Czech Republic (7-0) before yesterday’s loss to Russia.