Team USA falls to Russia in World Junior semifinals

By @MichaelCaples –

They will have one more game at the 2016 World Junior tournament, but it won’t be for gold.

Team USA came up short against Russia today, falling 2-1 in the semifinals of the prestigious Under-20 tournament.

It was the fifth straight loss against the Russians for American squads at the WJC.

The U.S. squad will now play Sweden in the consolation game, with a chance at bringing home the bronze medal. Team USA has won bronze four times – 1986, 1992, 2007 and 2011.

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 eight points in six 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 1.35 goals-against average and a 94.96 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 today’s loss.

They will have a chance for revenge against Sweden tomorrow, when the two squads face off in the third-place game.