HELSINKI, Finland – The U.S. National Junior Team outshot Russia 13-6 in the third period and Alex Nedeljkovic (Parma, Ohio/Niagara) made 31 saves, but the U.S. National Junior Team fell, 2-1, here tonight in a semifinal matchup at the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.
Team USA will face Sweden in the bronze medal game at 9 a.m. ET tomorrow (Jan. 5) with the contest broadcast live on NHL Network.
“We battled to the end,” said Ron Wilson, head coach of the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team. “We hit a couple of posts that kept us from extending our lead and I think if one goes in that changes the outcome of the game. Fortunately, the tournament isn’t over and there’s still a medal at stake. Our team will be ready to make our country proud.”
For complete recap, including stat leaders, post-game comments, highlights and more, click here.
NOTES: Christian Dvorak, who scored Team USA’s only goal, was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Russia outshot the U.S., 33-27 … The U.S. is 4-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship … Auston Matthews has seven goals in this year’s World Juniors, the most of any player in the tournament. Matthews’ seven goals is one short of tying the U.S. single-tournament record of eight held by Jeremy Roenick (1989) … Team USA has scored 26 goals in its first six games of the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship and allowed just seven goals … For more information on the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team, including a full roster, click here … Use the hashtag #USAWJC on Twitter to join the conversation about the U.S. National Junior Team … All U.S. games will be broadcast live on NHL Network. For more information about the tournament, please click here. All U.S. games will be broadcast live on NHL Network.
