Wednesday, April 23, 2014

U.S. U18 Team Earns Top Seed

Americans will face Slovakia at 6 a.m. ET on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

U.S. U18 Team Earns Top Seed
Michigan recruit Dylan Larkin was named the top U.S. player in the win vs. Finland.

Boston University recruit Jack Eichel scored with just 1:04 to play to lift the United States to a 4-3 victory against host Finland Tuesday and give Team USA the top seed in Group B of the 2014 Under-18 World Championship.

USA Hockey Release | FASTHockey | 19 commits on Team USA

The U.S. advances to the quarterfinals where it will face Slovakia on Thursday at 6 a.m. ET. That game – and all U.S. games in the tournament – will be available live and free of charge on FASTHockey.com.

Nineteen committed college players headed to 12 different schools fill the U.S. roster for the event. Future Michigan star Kyle Connor and future Boston College star Sonny Milano have each recorded a point in all four games for the U.S. Eichel’s game-winning goal gives him points in three straight games heading into the quarterfinals.

The U.S. won three straight games to close out group play after falling to Switzerland, 4-2, in the tournament opener. The Americans, who have medaled 10 straight times in the tournament, posted back-to-back shutouts of Czech Republic (3-0) and Denmark (7-0) prior to the win vs. the Finns.

If the U.S. advances past Slovakia the semifinals will be played Saturday, with the bronze and gold-medal games set for Sunday.