Team USA wins bronze at Men’s Worlds with victory over Canada

By @MichaelCaples –

It may represent third place, but at least it comes from beating a main rival.

With a 4-1 victory over Canada today, the members of Team USA are coming home from Denmark with bronze medals from the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship.

“I said all tournament, even when the games didn’t go our way, that our effort was there and I’m proud our group was rewarded here tonight,” said head coach Jeff Blashill. “Medals are important for our country and for USA Hockey. We have volunteers, coaches and staff all throughout the country that have played a role in helping our players and staff get to this level and this bronze medal is for them. It wasn’t the medal we had hoped for, but we’ve pushed USA Hockey further and it’s only a matter of time before we win gold.”

Bronze-medal game highlights:

The win gives the U.S. its third bronze medal (2013, 2015 and 2018) and fourth top-four finish in six Men’s World Championships – the country’s best stretch since winning three medals in five tournaments between 1939-1950.

The Americans finish with a 6-2-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record at the tournament.

Cam Atkinson, Patrick Kane and Keith Kinkaid were named Team USA’s top three players of the tournament.

Here is a look at how the Americans fared in Denmark:

Alex DeBrincat – Farmington Hills – Chicago Blackhawks
10 games, 1 goal, 8 assists, 9 points, +3 rating

Nick Jensen – St. Paul, Minn. – Detroit Red Wings
10 games, 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, even plus/minus

Dylan Larkin – Waterford – Detroit Red Wings
10 games, 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points, 8 penalty minutes, +6 rating

Alec Martinez – Rochester – Los Angeles Kings
10 games, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, 4 penalty minutes, +2 rating

Quinn Hughes – Orlando, Fla. – University of Michigan
10 games, 2 assists, 2 points, 2 penalty minutes, +4 rating

Jordan Oesterle – Bloomfield Heights – Chicago Blackhawks
4 games, 1 assist, 1 point, +3 rating