SB Nation College Hockey - Team USA Goes for Gold at World Junior A ChallengeCollege Hockey's Home on the Blogospherehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49993/wchb-fav.png2013-11-08T22:55:54-08:00http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/rss/stream/48355652013-11-08T22:55:54-08:002013-11-08T22:55:54-08:00Schmaltz's Big Performance Leads US to Final
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<p>NIck Schmaltz and Connor Hurley were outstanding in a 7-4 US win over the Swiss.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-draft">NHL Draft</a>-eligible American Nick Schmaltz(North Dakota) continued his outstanding World Junior A Challenge by netting two goals and three assists to help lead the US team to a 7-4 semifinal victory over Switzerland on Friday evening. Teammate <span>Connor Hurley</span>(Notre Dame) had two goals and two assists of his own in the winning effort.</p>
<p>The Swiss proved a little more formidable to the US team than many expected by briefly taking a 2-1 lead in the early second period. But after that, Schmaltz and Hurley completely took over the game. Schmaltz would tie the game with a power play two minutes later, and add two more assists before the second frame ended. He would add another goal and an assist with the man advantage in the third period.</p>
<p>Schmaltz's five-point night tied a record for most points scored in a World Junior A Challenge game, and his tournament-leading 11 points is tied for the best ever output at a World Junior A Challenge.</p>
<p>The US will now advance to the tournament final where they will play Russia for the gold medal. The championship game will take place Sunday morning at 12pm Atlantic Standard Time.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/usa-hockey/2013/11/8/5083608/world-junior-a-challenge-schmaltz-hurley-lead-americans-to-the-finalChris Dilks2013-11-06T18:44:57-08:002013-11-06T18:44:57-08:00US Survives a Scare From Hosts at WJAC
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<img alt="Team USA's Connor Hurley" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1qqZkgOPvHiXnnsTh45xeh6ZcRk=/0x73:1100x806/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22640389/hurley_sui.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Team USA's Connor Hurley | Tom Sorensen</figcaption>
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<p>The hosts pushed the Americans, but a pair of third period goals lifted the US to their second win in the tournament. </p> <p>The US World Junior A Challenge team faced a stiff challenge on Wednesday night when they faced off against tournament hosts Canada East in front of a capacity crowd at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.</p>
<p>Though the Americans controlled play for much of the game, they found themselves in a tie game late in the third period after Canada East's Morgan Messenger tied the game at 2 at 9:10 of the third period. The Americans would rally, however, getting a goal less than a minute later from Shane Eiserman(New Hampshire) to retake the lead, and an insurance goal from Seamus Malone(Wisconsin) with less than a minute to play to seal the 4-2 victory.</p>
<p>Karson Kuhlman(Minnesota-Duluth) continued a strong tournament by getting the scoring started for the Americans for the second straight game. Kuhlman scored a power play at 14:34 of the first period, and added another goal at 1:20 of the second period.</p>
<p>Chris Birdsall(Boston College) got the win in net for the US, stopping 24 of 26 shots faced.</p>
<p>The Americans finish the tournament's preliminary round with a perfect 2-0-0 record, and earn an automatic pass to the semifinal round. They'll play their semifinal match-up on Friday, November 7th at either 3pm or 7pm.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/usa-hockey/2013/11/6/5075464/world-junior-a-challenge-us-survives-scare-against-canada-east-wins-4Chris Dilks2013-11-05T19:46:26-08:002013-11-05T19:46:26-08:00US Cruises Past Russia to Open WJAC
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<img alt="Notre Dame recruit Connor Hurley" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z8mg1pTJcgLQ0mEN36Wyrzpq91U=/0x73:1100x806/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22567731/hurley_sui.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Notre Dame recruit Connor Hurley | Tom Sorenson</figcaption>
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<p>Team USA dominated the Russians 8-3 to win their first game of the tournament.</p> <p>Team USA got off to a sensational start at the World Junior A Challenge, being held in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The Americans opened their gold medal defense with an easy 8-3 victory over Russia.</p>
<p>Karson Kuhlman(Minnesota-Duluth) got the scoring started early for the US, tallying his first goal of the tournament just 1:01 into the first period. That was the lone goal of the period. In the second period, the US would blow things wide open, scoring five times in the period to take a commanding 6-1 lead, en route to the 8-3 victory.</p>
<p>Leading the way for the US were Nick Schmaltz(North Dakota) and Zeb Knutson(Minnesota State), who had two goals each. Other players to put up multi-point games were Kuhlman, <span>Connor Hurley</span>(Notre Dame), Kyle Connor(Michigan), and Jordan Gross(Notre Dame).</p>
<p>The US is back in action tomorrow when they face Canada East at 7pm EST in their final game before the knockout round begins.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/junior-hockey/2013/11/5/5071574/world-junior-a-challenge-americans-cruise-past-russians-in-openingChris Dilks2013-10-17T14:19:36-07:002013-10-17T14:19:36-07:00USA announces World Junior A Challenge roster
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<img alt="Muskegon forward Connor Hurley is one of 22 players selected for Team USA's World Junior A Challenge squad" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yd9MYZcaAwNontc6nia9XYIR7_8=/0x73:1100x806/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21324485/hurley_sui.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Muskegon forward Connor Hurley is one of 22 players selected for Team USA's World Junior A Challenge squad | Tom Sorenson</figcaption>
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<p>The full 22 man roster for the November 4-10 tournament in Yarmouth, Novia Scotia features 13 forwards, seven defenseman and two goaltenders</p> <p>Seventeen 2014 draft-eligible players highlight the 22 man Team USA roster for the World Junior A Challenge announced Thursday (October 17, 2013).</p>
<p>The World Junior A Challenge features the best players in Junior A hockey from Canada (split into two teams), Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland and the United States, who are the defending gold medalists. This year's tournament runs from November 4-10 in Yarmouth, Novia Scotia. It's the second year in a row that the southwestern Nova Scotia community will host the World Junior A Challenge.</p>
<p>Each of the 22 US players selected currently play in the USHL. That includes three players drafted in the 2013 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-draft">NHL Draft</a> - Muskegon Lumberjacks forward <span>Connor Hurley</span> (38th overall by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a>), Waterloo Black Hakws goalie Cal Peterson (fifth round by Buffalo) and Fargo Force defenseman <span>Teemu Kivihalme</span> (140th overall by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a>).</p>
<p>Additionally, all 22 players have made a verbal college commitment. Notre Dame leads the way with four (Hurley, Peterson, defenseman Jordan Gross and forward Andrew Oglevie).</p>
<p>The full <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usahockey.com/page/show/998846-2013%20roster">Team USA roster can be found here</a>.</p>
<p>Prior to the tournament, Team USA faces Canada West November 2nd in an exhibition game. Tournament play begins against Russia on November 5th at 8:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (AST).</p>
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https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2013/10/17/4849884/usa-hockey-announces-world-junior-a-challenge-rosterNathan Wells