Team USA and Sweden will face off this afternoon (1:00 PM) in the gold-medal game of the IIHF World 18U Championship, a rematch of last year's title game won by the Swedes. BU recruits Cole Hutson and Tom Willander each played an important role in their teams' semifinal victories on Saturday.
●USA Hockey USA and Sweden Square Off in Gold Medal Game
2023 recruit Willander, ranked #16 on Central Scouting's International list, scored Sweden's first goal--answering a Team Canada tally by 2023 recruit Macklin Celebrini--and assisted on Sweden's fifth goal in a 7-2 victory. Both of his points came on power plays.
tw-align-centerTom Willander’s point shot sneaks through and Sweden has tied the game! #2023NHLDraft
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) April 29, 2023
🔗: https://t.co/KlTdhIVWzT
pic.twitter.com/JLfK80BpwX
Willander's game ended early when he took a major penalty for slashing at the end of the second period that also brought a game misconduct. With a 3-5-8 scoring line in six games, the 6'1" right-shot defenseman is third in points by defensemen in the tournament.
Celebrini leads Canada in scoring with a 4-8-12 line, which is sixth best among all skaters. The 16-year-old center was named Canada's top player in the tournament in a vote of coaches prior to the medal round. He'll play against Slovakia this morning (9:00 ET) in the Bronze-medal game before returning the Chicago Steel in the USHL playoffs.
tw-align-centerWho else? Macklin Celebrini hammers a shot on the powerplay to give Canada a 1-0 lead! #2024NHLDraft
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) April 29, 2023
🔗: https://t.co/YQIL2xaRI2
pic.twitter.com/dsbhOlJa0s
Hutson scored the game-winning goal and added an assist as Team USA dominated Slovakia, 7-1, to earn a berth in the gold-medal game. His goal in the opening frame was his first of the tournament and moved him past Cam York as the new record-holder for most points by a defenseman in a single NTDP season. With the assist in the second period, he now has 67 points.
His 11 points (1g-10a) leads all defensemen and his +13
rating ranks second within his position.
tw-align-center🇺🇸 @ColeHutson_22 putting in WORK in front of the net.#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/qV5OgvHOFl
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) April 29, 2023
tw-align-centerKing Cole 👑
— USA Hockey’s NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) April 29, 2023
Hutson takes the crown and now holds the record for most points scored by a defenseman in a single season 😎
Congrats, Hutty! pic.twitter.com/wbkSc4jPec
Looking ahead
2023 or 2024 recruit Michael LaStarza was the BCHL's second star of the week last week after after four goals in four games to lead Chilliwack past Nanaimo in a second-round playoff series. He added his sixth post-season goal in the Chiefs' 9-5 loss to Alberni Valley. He has nine points in 13 games.
Looking back
tw-align-centerJake Oettinger posted a .965 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA in the last three games of the series to backstop @DallasStars to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/NL8xOHgwBq
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) April 29, 2023
In the Stars' six playoff games this season, Jake Oettinger has a league-best .929 save percentage, along with a 2.01 GAA and one shutout.
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