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U.S. Takes Bronze at 2018 World Juniors in Buffalo, New York

By USA Hockey, 01/05/18, 4:30PM EST

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U.S. tops Czech Republic, 9-3, to earn third-straight World Junior Championship medal for first time

BUFFALO, N.Y. -  Trent Frederic (St. Louis, Mo./University of Wisconsin) netted four goals and Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn./Portland Winterhawks) added two goals and an assist as the U.S. National Junior Team topped the Czech Republic, 9-3, to win the bronze medal tonight at the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship here at KeyBank Center.

"I'm so proud of the effort our team showed here tonight to earn a medal on home ice," said Bob Motzko, head coach of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team. "It's not the medal we hoped for, but we're a proud group to have helped the United States win a third-straight medal at the World Juniors for the first time in U.S. history."

With the bronze, the U.S. National Junior Team (4-1-0-2/W-OTW-OTL-L) has claimed a medal in three-straight World Junior Championships for the first time in U.S. history after earning gold in 2017 and bronze in 2016. In total, it is the 11th medal in U.S. history, including four gold medals (2017, 2013, 2010, 2004); one silver medal (1997) and six bronze medals (2018, 2016, 2011, 2007, 1992, 1986).

The U.S. opened the game with a strong start by controlling play and not allowing a single shot from the Czech Republic in the first 12:20 of play. In the final seconds of the frame, Frederic intercepted a Czech pass at the blue line and skated the length of the ice before tucking a shot beneath the pad of Czech goaltender Josef Korenar to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead entering the first intermission.

In the middle stanza, the U.S. struck six times to push its lead to 7-0. Just nine seconds into the frame, Ryan Poehling (Lakeville, Minn./St. Cloud State University) doubled the U.S. lead when Joey Anderson (Roseville, Minn./University of Minnesota) wrapped around the net and found Poehling alone in front of the crease for a 2-0 lead. 

Anderson then converted at the 4:18 mark when a shot attempt by Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./Boston University) went off Anderson’s skate and under Korenar’s pad. 

Nearly two minutes later, Frederic tallied his second of the night when he was able to backhand a pass from Quinn Hughes (Orland, Fla./University of Michigan) at the right of goal. 

At the 7:23 mark in the period, Bellows lit the lamp when he converted a penalty shot opportunity for his first goal of the game. 

Frederic completed his hat trick with 7:05 left in the frame with a wrist shot from the left hash mark. Bellows then closed the period scoring with his second of the night in the final minute of the period to give Team USA a 7-0 lead entering the final 20 minutes.

In the final period, Frederic tallied his fourth of the game and Martin Kaut, Radovan Pavlik and Daniel Kurovsky scored for the Czech Republic before Patrick Harper (New Caanan, Conn./Boston University) closed out the scoring with a goal in the last three minutes to account for the 9-3 final. 

NOTES: Trent Frederic was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Kieffer Bellows finished the tournament with nine goals, setting a new U.S. record for most goals in a single World Junior Championship … The U.S. outshot the Czech Republic, 39-35. For the complete game statistics, click here … Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the ninth consecutive year ... Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn.) is serving as head coach for the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team and joined behind the bench by assistant coaches Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass.), Grant Potulny (Grand Forks, N.D.), Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Steve Miller (Littleton, Colo.) ... USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams ... All U.S. games will be broadcast live on NHL Network.

Game Highlights

Postgame Comments

Bob Motzko


Photo Gallery

2018 World Juniors

U.S. Roster

Official Event Site


U.S. Schedule

Date Opponent Location Result U.S. Player of Game
Wed., Dec. 20 Belarus
Pre-Tournament Game
Northwest Arena
Jamestown, N.Y.
W, 14-0 NA
Fri., Dec. 22 Sweden
Pre-Tournament Game
Erie Insurance Arena
Erie, Pa.
W, 3-1 NA
Tues., Dec. 26 Denmark
Preliminary Round
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
W, 9-0 Casey Mittelstadt
Thurs., Dec. 28 Slovakia
Preliminary Round
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
L, 2-3 Brady Tkachuk
Fri., Dec. 29 Canada
Preliminary Round
New Era Field*
Orchard Park, N.Y.
W (SO) 4-3 Casey Mittelstadt
Sun., Dec. 31 Finland
Preliminary Round
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
W, 5-4 Joey Anderson
Tues., Jan. 2 Russia
Quarterfinals
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
W, 4-2 Kieffer Bellows
Thurs., Jan. 4 Sweden
Semifinals
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
L, 2-4 Josh Norris
Fri., Jan. 5 Czech Republic
Bronze-Medal Game
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
W, 9-3 Trent Frederic

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