ZNOJMO, Czech Republic - Despite outshooting Sweden, 32-17, the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team fell, 3-2, here tonight to Sweden in a pre-tournament game preceding the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Under-18 Championship, which runs from April 12-22, in Breclav, Brno and Znojmo, Czech Republic.

Ryan Hartman (West Dundee, Ill.) gave Team USA a 1-0 lead at 10:11 of the first period when he converted on a breakaway. Daniel O'Regan (Needham, Mass.) earned an assist by deflecting the puck in the neutral zone to send Hartman in free. Sweden responded with a pair of goals just over two minutes apart at 12:01 and 14:02 to take a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission. 

On the power play, Nicolas Kerdiles (Irvine, Calif.) knocked in a rebound off a point shot from Brady Skjei (Lakeville, Minn.) at 2:18 of the second period to tie the game. Hartman also collected an assist on the play. However, the U.S. was whistled for a slashing call at 15:52 resulted in the penalty shot that Sweden capitalized on. 

Team USA outshot Sweden 10-3 in the third period but was unable find the equalizing goal. Team USA goaltenders Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Jared Rutledge(Chicago, Ill.) combined to make 14 saves in the exhibition tilt.

The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team opens tournament play on Thursday (April 12) against Finland at 2 p.m. EDT at Kajot Arena. The game will be streamed live on FASTHockey.com.

NOTES: The U.S. enters the tournament having captured a record eight consecutive medals, including back-to-back gold medals in 2005-06, three straight gold medals from 2009-11, two silver medals (2004, 2007) and one bronze medal (2008). Team USA’s six gold medals are the most of any country in IIHF Men's World Under-18 Championship history (event began in 1999). Team USA earned its first gold medal in 2002 … The U.S. is in Group A with Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Finland. Group B consists of Germany, Latvia, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #U18MWC ... For additional coverage, visit USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Facebook page ... The U.S. Men's National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams train with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

SWE 2 1 0 3
USA 1 1 0 2

First Period – Scoring: 1, USA, Hartman (O'Regan), 10:11; 2, SWE, Karlsson (Djoos), 12:01 (pp); 3, SWE, Collberg (Arnesson, Anderson), 14:02. Penalties: USA, Shore (slashing), 4:52; USA, Skjei (tripping), 11:45; SWE, Kalin (roughing), 15:02; SWE, Petersson (interference), 19:21; USA, Hartman (high sticking), 19:57.

Second Period – Scoring: 4, USA, Kerdiles (Skjei, Hartman), 2:18 (pp); 5, SWE, Collberg, 15:52 (penalty shot). Penalties: SWE, Forsberg (charging), 0:38; USA, Osterberg (hooking), 8:52; SWE, Bystrom (Interference), 11:11; SWE, Haag (roughing), 13:04; USA, Barber (roughing), 13:04; USA, Grzelyck (slashing), 15:52; USA, Osterberg (slashing), 19:51.

Third Period – Scoring: None. Penalties: USA, Lane (hooking), 2:26; SWE, Dansk (delay of game), 6:47; USA, O'Regan (slashing), 11:14; SWE, De La Rosa (4-roughing), 19:57); USA, Kerdiles (4-roughing), 19:57.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
SWE 7 7 3 17
USA 12 10 10 32
         
Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
SWE 12/11 10/9 10/10 32/30
USA, Olson 5/3 6/6 -- 11/9
USA, Rutledge -- 3/2 3/3 6/5

Power Play: SWE 1-7; USA 1-7
Penalties: SWE 7-16; USA 10-22

Team USA 2012 IIHF Men's World Under-18 Championship Schedule
April 12-22 • Breclav/Brno/Znojmo, Czech Republic