May 13: Day 15

The U.S. Men's National Team returned to preliminary round action at the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World ChampionshipPatrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.), Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.) and Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) each tallied three points as the 2018 U.S. Men's National Team earned a 9-3 win over Norway in its sixth straight preliminary round win.

RECORD CHASERS
Entering today's game, Patrick Kane leads the tournament in assists (9) and is third in points (12). He is one assist shy of the U.S. record for most assists in a single tournament, which is shared by Max Pacioretty (2012) and Craig Smith (2013), and four points back of the U.S. record for most points in a single tournament, which Richard Roberge set in 1962 with 16. Additionally, Johnny Gaudreau's 19 career assists in tournament play is one shy of Craig Smith's U.S. record while he's five points away from Mark Johnson's U.S. record 33.

QUARTET AMONG TOURNAMENT'S LEADERS
Statistically, four U.S. players rank among the tournament's best. U.S. captain Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) leads all skaters in assists with nine while his 12 points is one back from the tournament-lead. Additionally, Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.) is one of five players with a tournament-best five goals scored while Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) ranks second among starting goaltenders with a .944 save percentage and is third with a 1.46 goals against average. Also, Charlie McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.), in one game played, ranks second among defensemen in scoring with five points (2-3). 

ROSTER SPOTLIGHT: AVON OLD FARM TIES
Forwards Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.) and Nick Bonino (Hartford, Conn.) are teammates once again after skating two seasons (2005-07) together at Avon Old Farms, a high school in Avon, Conn. Close friends, last July Bonino not only attended Atkinson's wedding but served as minister. 
    In 2007, with Bonino as team captain, Avon captured a New England Championship. Over their two seasons together, the duo combined for 237 points, with Atkinson tallying 115 points (54-61) in 55 games while Bonino added 122 points (50-72) in 52 outings. 
    Other notable NHL players to hail from Avon Old Farms include 2014 U.S. Olympian and two-time Stanley Cup champion netminder Jonathan Quick, who skated at Avon from 2002-05, and three-time U.S. Olympian (1988, 1998, 2002 - Silver), 1994 Stanley Cup champion and 2008 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Brian Leetch, who skated at Avon from 1984-86.