U.S. Junior Select Team Bests Sweden 3-0 in World Junior A Challenge

By USA Hockey, 12/13/22, 10:00PM EST

Team USA takes on Canada East tomorrow

CORNWALL, Ontario – Jacob Fowler (Melbourne, Fla.) stopped 15 shots and Garrett Schifsky (Andover, Minn.) added two goals to lift the U.S. Junior Select Team to a 3-0 win over Sweden in its second preliminary round game of the 2022 World Junior A Challenge at the Cornwall Civic Complex.

“It was nice to bounce back from what we did the other night,” said Eric Rud (Inner Grove Heights, Minn.), head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team. “We got jumped by Canada West, whereas today we showed up with tournament intensity. We talked a lot about simplifying our game and had a whole bunch of guys that just played a better game. I think they’re settled in, and now the challenge becomes to repeat it and keep playing the right way.”

While the opening 20 minutes was scoreless, the U.S. nearly took the lead with just seconds remaining in the first period on a shot from Joe Palodichuk (Cottage Grove, Minn.) in the slot that was ultimately turned aside by Swedish netminder Noah Erliden.

Ethan Whitcomb (Muskegon, Mich.) broke the ice 3:44 into the second. Jake Richard (Jacksonville, Fla.) controlled the puck off the faceoff and sent it stick side towards the net. Whitcomb, waiting on the doorstep, tapped it in to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

GAME PHOTOS

ROBERT LEFEBVRE / HOCKEY CANADA IMAGES

Team USA doubled its lead less than two minutes later at the 5:35 mark. Quinn Finley (Suamico, Wis.) carried the puck down the left wing into the zone and sent it cross ice to Gavin Lindberg (Moorhead, Minn.), whose shot bounced off Erliden. Schifsky found the loose puck amid a scramble and slipped it into the net.

Schifsky added a third U.S. tally just 1:13 into the final frame while on the power play. Finley sent the puck across the ice to Schifsky from the top of the right face-off circle, who fired one into the top corner of the net.

Team USA continues preliminary round play tomorrow (Dec. 14) against Canada East. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed live.

NOTES: Eric Pohlkamp (Brainerd, Minn.) was added to the U.S. roster ahead of tonight’s game … Jacob Fowler was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA outshout Sweden 38-15 … Team USA was 1-4 on the power play, while Sweden was 0-5 … For Team USA’s roster and schedule, click here.