BRNO, Czech Republic - Kyle Osterberg (Lakeville, Minn.) tallied the game-winning goal in the third period, as the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team edged Canada, 2-1, here tonight at Kajot Arena in the semifinals at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Under-18 Championship.

Seth Jones (Plano, Texas) also collected two assists in the victory, which sends the U.S. to the gold-medal game Sunday (April 22) against Sweden at 10 a.m. EDT at Kajot Arena.

Team USA will look to capture its fourth straight gold medal after garnering three straight world titles from 2009-11.

"We worked extremely hard tonight against a talented Canadian team," said Danton Cole, head coach of the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team. "It will be a tough battle against Sweden, but we'll go out there and play our style and skate hard until the final whistle."

J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) opened scoring at 10:36 of the first period, when his shot from the right side of the net snuck past Canadian goaltender Matt Murray. Matthew Lane (Rochester, N.Y.) and Jones collected assists on the play. Canada evened the score, 1-1, off a redirected shot at 15:23 and the score remained tied heading into the first intermission.

The U.S. outshot its opponent, 10-5, in the second stanza, but was unable to net the go-ahead goal. Brady Skjei (Lakeville, Minn.) and Frankie Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) each rang pucks off the crossbar in the frame, but the score remained knotted, 1-1, after two periods of action.

Osterberg netted a wrap-around goal after a shot by Jones went wide of the net at 6:26 of the final frame that held as the game winner for Team USA. Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn.) turned aside all 10 Canadian shots in the third and 21 total in the win for the U.S., while Murray turned aside 23 shots for Canada in the loss.

NOTES: Matthew Lane was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... Team USA outshot Canada, 27-22 ... 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 ... The U.S. Mens 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
USA 1-0-1--2
CAN 1-0-0--1

First Period – Scoring: 1, USA, Compher (Lane, Jones), 10:36; 2, CAN, Smith (Severson), 15:23. Penalties: CAN, Shinkaruk (boarding), 3:29; USA, Skjei (delay-of-game), 18:50.

Second Period – Scoring: None. Penalties: CAN, Winther (hooking), 5:12; CAN, Pelech (delay-of-game), 15:36; CAN, Girard (tripping), 18:00.

Third Period – Scoring: 3, USA, Osterberg (Jones), 6:26. Penalties: USA, Hartman (interference), 13:23; USA, Trouba (slashing), 20:00; CAN, Winther (roughing), 20:00.

Shots by Period
USA 8-10-9--27
CAN 7-5-10--22

Goaltenders (Shots/Saves)
USA, Olson, 60:00, 22/21
CAN, Murray, 59:19, 27/25

Power Play
USA 0-4; CAN 0-2

Penalties
USA 3-6; CAN 5-10