PLYMOUTH, Mich. – The U.S. National Under-18 Team defeated Sweden, 5-1 in its opening game of the Under-18 Five Nations Tournament at USA Hockey Arena behind three-point nights from Bode Wilde (Birmingham, Mich.), Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) and Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.).
At 1:20 of the opening period Jonathan Gruden (Rochester, Mich.) tapped in a pass from Tyler Weiss (Raleigh, N.C.) to put the U18s up, 1-0 early. Jake Wise (Reading, Mass.) also picked an assist on the play.
Wilde ripped one from the point on the power play to give Team USA a 2-0 lead. Hughes and Wise recorded the assists on the play.
Filip Hallander put Sweden on the board at the 19:56 mark of the second period to head to the locker room down, 2-1.
Wahlstrom netted Team USA’s second power play goal from the point at 9:09 of the third period to put the U18s up, 3-1. Wilde and Hughes both picked up their second points of the night with the assists.
Hughes picked up his third point of the night tapping in a pass from Wahlstrom at 13:01 of the third period to give Team USA a 4-1 lead. Joel Farabee (Cicero, N.Y.) also added an assist on the goal.
Mattias Samuelsson (Voorhees, N.J.) added another power play goal at 17:48 of the third period to give Team USA a 5-1 win. Wilde and Wahlstrom both picked up their third point with the assists.
Drew DeRidder (Fenton, Mich.) tallied 22 saves in the win while Sweden’s Jesper Eliasson recorded 28 saves.
The U18s continue play tomorrow, Wednesday (Feb. 14) at 7 pm ET against the Czech Republic.
In the first game of the day, Finland defeated the Czech Republic, 3-2 in the opening game of the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament today at USA Hockey Arena.
