FARGO, N.D. – Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) made 32 saves and Jerry D'Amigo's (Binghamton, N.Y.) goal at 13:06 of the third period proved to be the game-winner as the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team defeated Canada, 2-1, in the semifinal of the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship here tonight. The U.S. played before a sold-out crowd of 4,906 at the Urban Plains Center.

Team USA improved to 5-0-0-1 and will face Russia in the gold-medal game on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. CT.

In a scoreless first period in which Campbell stopped all 14 shots he saw, Canada took a 1-0 lead with just 1:22 left to play in the second stanza. With Canada on a 5-on-3 power play, Dylan Olsen ripped a slapshot from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat Campbell short side.

The third period went back and forth until Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) picked up D'Amigo's rebound and banged it home from the left side at 9:27 on the power play, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy. Just 3:39 later and with another man-advantage,Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich.) unleashed a slap shot from the center point that was redirected by D'Amigo past a diving Michael Zador to make it 2-1. Campbell shut the door on Canada, making seven saves in the final frame. As the final seconds ticked down, the crowd erupted as Team USA secured its spot in the gold-medal game for the fifth time in the last six years.

NOTES: Jack Campbell was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... Jerry D'Amigoleads Team USA with 13 points (4-9), while Jeremy Morin is second with 10 points (6-4). His six goals are also a team-high ... Campbell leads the tournament with a 0.99 goals-against average and .961 save percentage ... Tonight's crowd was the largest in the Urban Plains Center's history ... U.S. Head Coach Ron Rolston has taken his team to the gold-medal game in each of his three trips to the IIHF World Under-18 Championship ... All of Team USA's games, along with all games that are being played at the Urban Plains Center will be webcast live on FASTHockey.com on a pay-per-view basis ... The win guarantees that Team USA will earn its sixth consecutive medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship regardless of Sunday's outcome. The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team has earned a medal in each of the last five IIHF World Under-18 Championships, including the gold (2005, 2006), silver (2004, 2007) and the bronze (2008), which is unprecedented. Team USA also captured the gold at the 2002 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

CAN 0 1 0 -- 1
USA 0 0 2 -- 2

First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: USA, D'Amigo (illegal equipment-broken stick), 7:23; USA, Lynch (tripping), 13:39.

Second Period - Scoring: 1, CAN, Olsen (de Haan, Hishon), 18:38. Penalties: CAN, Doherty (slashing), 6:46; CAN, Connolly (high-sticking), 13:04; CAN, Holland (slashing), 16:17; USA, Brown (slashing), 16:17; USA, D'Amigo (interference),17:16 ; USA, Lynch (slashing), 17:50; USA, Bourque (interference), 19:43.

Third Period - Scoring: 2, USA, Morin (Fowler, D'Amigo), 9:27 (pp); 3, USA, D'Amigo (Fowler), 13:06 (pp. Penalties: CAN, Clifford (interference), 2:53; USA, Shore (hooking), 3:53; CAN, McFarland (slashing), 8:24; CAN, Froese (hooking), 10:21; CAN, Mitchell (slashing), 12:26; CAN Clifford (misconduct), 20:00.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
CAN 14 12 7 33
USA 5 18 21 44
         
Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
CAN, Zador, 59:47 5-5 18-18 21-19 44-42
USA, Campbell, 60:00 14-14 12-11 7-7 33-32

Power Play: CAN 1-6; USA 2-6
Penalties: CAN 8-24; USA 7-14
Officials: Referees - Owe Luthcke (NOR), Milan Minar (CZE); Linesmen - Andreas Kowert (GER), Sakari Suominen (FIN)
Attendance: 4906