Going into the IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship, Team USA captain Luke Kunin didn’t even consider that the tournament would be his last one as part of the USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.

“I’m not thinking about it [taking the jersey off],” he said. “My whole focus has been on the tournament and winning gold.”

The Chesterfield, Missouri, native and his teammates accomplished that goal on Sunday, when they beat Finland in overtime to claim Team USA’s ninth U18 world title. The victory closed out a roller coaster 11 days in Switzerland, as the U.S. came back to win six straight games after dropping the opener against Russia.

“Everyone had to be on board to win this event,” he said. “When everyone is playing together, I think we are unbeatable. It’s a long tournament. We needed to take it day-by-day and not get distracted. We focused on that one goal.”

The opening loss could have been a back breaker. The U.S. players had been preparing for that game since losing to Russia in February at the U18 Five Nations Tournament.

“I think about it everyday,” Kunin had said. “Obviously, that was the only international team we lost to in two years. It’s driving us.”

Despite the 3-1 loss to open the world championship, Team USA came back to beat Slovakia 10-0 and never looked back.

Kunin, a 5-foot-11, 188-pound forward, finished the season with 27 goals and 42 points in 61 games. He said he leaves the NTDP as a much better player than when he arrived.

“It’s been huge for my development,” he said. “On the ice, it has made me stronger. It is teaching me the game more and making me a better player all around. Working out with Darryl [Nelson, the strength & conditioning coach] in the weight room, we definitely get stronger. That helps, and we are not getting pushed around as much”

“Off the ice, you learn to be a better person in the community. Living with my billets is making me more responsible. The NTDP helps make you a better person both on and off the ice.”

As team captain, Kunin was particularly focused this season on making sure the team continued to develop chemistry both on and off the ice.

“We practice every day and are working with your lines,” he said. “You are with each other pretty much 24/7. We love it and love hanging out.”

Kunin, who is accelerating in high school by taking three online classes, plans to continue his hockey career at the University of Wisconsin next year. He is familiar with the Kohl Center after scoring a goal to help lift the U18s to a 4-1 victory over the Badgers on Dec. 12.

“The first time I visited, it felt like the right spot,” he said. “The facilities are first class, and the coaching staff is great. Madison is a great place. I could see myself going to school there.”

Growing up in the St. Louis area, Kunin has witnessed that city’s transformation into a youth hockey hotbed. It’s something he greatly appreciates and is thankful for the opportunity.

“The NHL players such as Al MacInnis, Keith Tkachuk and Jamie Rivers who played there, they are really making the development better and always working with the kids,” he said. “It’s grown tremendously. We hope it keeps going.”

That is why Kunin makes point to talk to the players back home every chance he can about his experiences in the sport.

“When I go back home at Christmas time, I will bring my bag and go skate with them,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun seeing those guys. I think they have a lot of respect for me, [NTDP teammates Matt] Tkachuk and [Luke] Opilka — they see how hard we are always working and what it takes to get to the next level.

“I tell them to work every day and come to the rink with the mindset that you have to be 100 percent in, and if you are not, than someone else always is.”

Maybe that is why the one unique feature Kunin will miss when he leaves the program; he knows he will never play again with a tight-knit bunch of guys.

“Just being with this group of guys [is the biggest thing I will remember],” he said. “I don’t think any team we will play for moving forward will be as close as this group of guys. They are my brothers. That is probably the one thing I will take away is being with them every day.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

Favorite Player
Patrick Kane

Favorite Sport (Outside Hockey)
Lacrosse

Favorite Movie
Blades of Glory

Favorite TV Show
Hawaii Five-0

Favorite Actor
Will Ferrell

Favorite Music
Zac Brown Band

Favorite Book
Turbulence by Annette Herfkens

Favorite Home-Cooked Meal
Lasagna