skip navigation

USA Defeats Sweden, 5-1; Finland Defeats Czech Republic, 3-2

By USAHockeyNTDP.com, 02/13/18, 6:00PM EST

Share

Team USA defeated Sweden behind three-point nights from Wilde, Hughes and Wahlstrom


Photo by Rena Laverty

Finland defeated the Czech Republic, 3-2 in the opening game of the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament today at USA Hockey Arena.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team defeated Sweden, 5-1 in its opening game of the Under-18 Five Nations Tournament at USA Hockey Arena behind three point nights from Bode Wilde (Birmingham, Mich.), Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) and Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.).

Scroll down for game recaps

STATS: FIN 3, CZE 2

STATS: USA 5, SWE 1


At 1:20 of the opening period Jonathan Gruden (Rochester, Mich.) tapped in a pass from Tyler Weiss (Raleigh, N.C.) to put the U18s up, 1-0 early. Jake Wise (Reading, Mass.) also picked an assist on the play.

Wilde ripped one from the point on the power play to give Team USA a 2-0 lead. Hughes and Wise recorded the assists on the play.

Filip Hallander put Sweden on the board at the 19:56 mark of the second period to head to the locker room down, 2-1.

Wahlstrom netted Team USA’s second power play goal from the point at 9:09 of the third period to put the U18s up, 3-1. Wilde and Hughes both picked up their second points of the night with the assists.

Hughes picked up his third point of the night tapping in a pass from Wahlstrom at 13:01 of the third period to give Team USA a 4-1 lead. Joel Farabee (Cicero, N.Y.) also added an assist on the goal. 

Mattias Samuelsson (Voorhees, N.J.) added another power play goal at 17:48 of the third period to give Team USA a 5-1 win. Wilde and Wahlstrom both picked up their third point with the assists.

Drew DeRidder (Fenton, Mich.) tallied 22 saves in the win while Sweden’s Jesper Eliasson recorded 28 saves.

The U18s continue play tomorrow, Wednesday (Feb. 14) at 7 pm ET against the Czech Republic. Tickets are still available at USAHockeyNTDP.com/5nationsu18tix

Highlights

Patrik Siikanen opened scoring for Finland at the 2:34 mark of the first period.

Michal Teply netted the Czech Republic’s first goal on a turn around shot from the slot at 6:33 of the second period to tie the game 1-1.

Kappo Kakko broke the tie at 9:14 of the second period collecting a cross-ice pass from Sampo Ranta.

Jesse Moilanen extended Finland’s lead, 3-1 at 14:01 of the second period. After a series of passes from Niklas Nordgren, Moilanen sent the puck in over the glove of the Czech Republic’s Lukáš Dostál.

The Czech Republic pulled within one at 5:45 of the third period but eventually fell short.  Adam Gajarsky netted the Czech Republic's second goal on the power play, on a shot from the point.

Dostál finished the game with 23 saves for the Czech Republic while Finland’s Justus Annunen finished the game with 22 saves.

Highlights


Tournament Standings and Stats


Tournament Schedule & Results

5 Nations News


2018 Under-18 Five Nations


NTDP Headlines


Feature Stories