The United States Olympic Committee announced today that forward Casey Mittelstadt (Eden Prairie, Minn./University of Minnesota) has been named a Best of January finalist for the Team USA Awards, which recognize the outstanding achievements of Team USA athletes from last month. Fans are invited to vote for their favorite athletes and teams at TeamUSA.org/Awards through midnight Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Mittelstadt became the 10th U.S. player to lead an IIHF World Junior Championship in scoring when he finished the 2018 event with a tournament-best 11 points (4-7) while ranking second in assists and ninth in goals. Named Best Forward by the Directorate, Mittelstadt is just the second-ever U.S. player to earn the award after Zach Parise in 2004. Recognized as Tournament MVP by the media, Mittelstadt joins Parise (2004) and goaltender John Gibson (2013) as the only U.S. players to earn the honor and becomes the first NCAA player to earn the award since Parise. Mittelstadt was also named one of the Top 3 U.S. Players, as chosen by the coaches, and tabbed to the Tournament Media All-Star Team.
Mittelstadt and Team USA closed the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship on home ice in Buffalo, New York, with a bronze medal, topping the Czech Republic, 9-3. The victory gave the United States three-straight medals at the World Junior Championship for the first time in U.S. history and its sixth medal in the last nine tournaments (gold: 2010, 2013, 2017; bronze: 2011, 2016, 2018).
The tournament began on Dec. 26 with Team USA’s 11th straight tournament-opening victory when it beat Denmark, 9-0. After a 3-2 setback to Slovakia on Dec. 28, the U.S. met Canada a day later at New Era Field in the first-ever outdoor game in IIHF world championship play, where it wore Bills-themed jerseys and skated to a 4-3 shootout win before a record crowd of 44,592. On Dec. 31, the U.S. closed preliminary round play with a 5-4 victory over Finland to finish second in Group A play.
After topping Russia, 4-2, in the quarterfinals, the U.S. met Sweden in the semifinals where it fell, 4-2. In the bronze medal game, Trent Frederic (St. Louis, Mo./University of Wisconsin) scored four goals to lead the United States past the Czech Republic, 9-3.
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 |