skip navigation

U.S. Records Broken in Bronze Medal Performance at 2018 Men's Worlds

By USAHockey.com, 05/22/18, 9:15AM EDT

Share

Relentless effort continues to push USA Hockey further

On Sunday (May 20), the U.S. Men's National Team capped the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship with a bronze medal after beating Canada, 4-1, in the bronze medal game. The victory gave the United States (6-2-0-2/W-OTW-OTL-L) its third bronze medal (2013, 2015, 2018) and fourth top-four finish in the last six IIHF Men’s World Championships, a feat the country has not accomplished since medaling in three of the five tournaments it competed in from 1939-1950. En route to its bronze medal win, the U.S. saw a number of both player and team records broken. 

“We came here to win a gold and we weren’t able to accomplish that but I thought our guys did a real good job to regroup and understand the importance of this medal and this game,” said Jeff Blashill, head coach of the 2018 U.S. Men’s National Team. “I thought our guys played extremely hard and extremely selfless and did the things it takes to win. We’re real proud of that and we want to keep pushing this group forward. At some point we’ll win a gold in this tournament. I don’t know when, but it’s going to happen soon and I think this team helped push the group forward.” 

The tournament began with a thriller as the United States edged Canada, 5-4, in a come-from-behind overtime shootout win on May 4. Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.) scored both goals in the shootout, Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) added two goals in regulation and Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) made 40 saves. Kinkaid's 40 save performance, which earned him U.S. Player of the Game honors, was the most by a U.S. netminder in tournament play since May 6, 2011.

Kinkaid and Team USA carried its strong tournament-opener with back-to-back shutout wins over Denmark and Germany by 4-0 and 3-0 scores, marking the first time a U.S. Men’s National Team was able to register consecutive shutouts since 2010.

The U.S. followed its shutout wins with victories over Latvia (3-2, OT), Korea (13-1) and Norway (9-3), giving Team USA six-straight wins to open an IIHF Men’s World Championship for the first time in tournament history. With a 6-2 setback against Finland, the U.S. closed the preliminary round with a 4-2-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record and a second-place finish in Group B entering the playoff stage.

In the quarterfinals, the U.S. topped the Czech Republic, 3-2, before falling to Sweden in the semifinals by a 6-0 count. In the bronze medal game, Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) scored twice and Kinkaid made 24 saves to lead the United States past Canada, 4-1. 

As a team, the United States led the tournament in goals scored (46), power-play goals scored (16) and shots on net (342) while ranking second in power play efficiency (34%). Additionally, U.S. captain Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) set U.S. single tournament records in both points (20) and assists (12) as he finished the tournament as the leading point getter and tied for the tournament lead in assists. In addition, Kane led the U.S. in goals with eight, which finished tied for second most among all skaters. Charlie McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.) led all tournament defensemen in scoring with nine points (3-6) while Kinkaid ranked first among goaltenders in minutes played (524:18) while being one of four netminders to register two shutouts.

Other Notable Accolades

ATKINSON, KANE, KINKAID NAMED TOP 3 U.S. PLAYERS
After its semifinal loss, the IIHF announced Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.), Cam Atkinson (Riverside, Conn.) and Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) were named the top 3 U.S. players of the tournament. In 10 games, Kane registered a U.S. single tournament record 20 points and 12 assists while earning Player of the Game honors three times. Atkinson, who scored both shootout goals in the 5-4 win over Canada on May 4 as well as the overtime winner versus Latvia on May 10, ranked second on Team USA in both points (11) and goals (7). Kinkaid, Team USA's starting netminder in nine of its 10 games, finished with a 7-2 record that included a 40 save performance against Canada as well as back-to-back shutouts (4-0 vs. Denmark, 3-0 vs. Germany).

FOUR U.S. PLAYER RECORDS BROKEN
Three players on the U.S. Men's National Team broke four U.S. tournament records at the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship. Captain Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) set U.S. set U.S. single tournament records in both points (20) and assists (12). Alternate captain Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) finished the tournament with six assists, giving him a U.S. career record of 22 assists in IIHF Men's World Championship play. Additionally, Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) won seven of the nine games he played, tying Ed Maki (1939) and Connor Hellebuyck (2015) for the U.S. single tournament record for most wins by a goaltender at seven.

U.S. TEAM RECORDS BROKEN
In addition to the player records broken, the United States has tied or set three team records, all of which came in Team USA's 13-1 win over Korea on May 11.
    With 29 shots on goal in the first period, the U.S. established a new team record for most shots in a single period, besting the old record of 22 set on April 22, 1996, in the second period against Austria (W, 5-1). The first period also saw two U.S.power-play goals and one for Korea, marking the third time that has ever happened in a U.S. game. It previously occurred in the third period on April 27, 2009, versus Austria (W, 6-1) and again in the second period on May 15, 2010, against Kazakhstan (W,10-0). Additionally, Team USA's five power-play goals against Korea tied the 1986 U.S. Men's National Team that registered five on the man-advantage against Poland on April 13, 1986.

GAUDREAU, KANE, LARKIN CLIMB ALL-TIME U.S. POINT TOTAL LIST
U.S. forwards Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.), Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) inched closer to the all-time U.S. record for most points in tournament history, which is held by Mark Johnson, 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team gold medalist, who tallied 33 (15-18) in 61 games. With 30 career points each in tournament play, Gaudreau (9-21) and Kane (11-19) are now tied with Craig Smith for third all-time while Larkin (7-22) shares sixth place with 2004 U.S. Hockey Hall ofFame inductee Paul Coppo at 29 points apiece. 

THIRD BRONZE IN SIX YEARS
The win gave the United States its third bronze medal (2013, 2015, 2018) in six years, a feat the country has not accomplished since medaling in three of the five tournaments it competed in from 1939-1950. The U.S. also finished in the top four in tournament play for the fourth time in six years, its best stretch since medaling in six of the eight tournaments it competed in from 1931- 1950. During that stretch, the U.S. claimed one gold medal (1933), four silver medals (1931, 1934, 1939, 1950) and one bronze (1949). The U.S. did not compete in 1948, 1937 or 1935 tournaments and finished fifth place in 1947 and seventh place in 1938.

U.S. Homepage

U.S. Roster

Sights & Sounds

Tournament Website


U.S. Schedule

Date Opponent Round Result Location
Tues., May 1 Denmark Exhibition W, 3-2 KVIK Hockey Arena
Herning, Denmark
Fri., May 4 Canada Preliminary W, 5-4 (SO) Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sat., May 5 Denmark Preliminary W, 4-0 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Mon., May 7 Germany Preliminary W, 3-0 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Thurs., May 10 Latvia Preliminary W, 3-2 (OT) Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Fri., May 11 Korea Preliminary W, 13-1 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sun., May 13 Norway Preliminary W, 9-3 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Tues., May 15 Finland Preliminary L, 2-6 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Thurs., May 17 Czech Republic Quarterfinals W, 3-2 Jyske Bank Boxen
Herning, Denmark
Sat., May 19 Sweden Semifinals L, 0-6 Royal Arena
Copenhagen, Denmark
Sun., May 20 Canada Bronze-Medal Game W, 4-1 Royal Arena
Copenhagen, Denmark

2018 Men's Worlds News

Popular Team USA Articles