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2004 World U18 Championship - U.S. Defeats Sweden, 6-2

April 10, 2004

U.S. National Under-18 Team Wins Second Straight At IIHF Under-18 World Championship

MINSK, Belarus -- The United States National Under-18 Team defeated Sweden, 6-2, here today in the second game for both teams at the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 World Championship at the Palace of Sport. Team USA special teams dominated the game as the U.S. charges scored four power-play goals and a shorthanded tally along with an even-strength score.

Brandon Scero (Canton, Mich.) opened the scoring for the U.S. with a 5-on-3 power-play marker. Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis.) controlled the puck behind the Swedish net, before feeding a centering pass to a cutting Scero who sent a low wrist shot past goaltender Magnus Akerlund.

Still on a power-play following the tally, and just :42 later, Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) roofed his own rebound past the sprawled Swedish netminder. Kolarik was named the game's "Best Player" for the U.S. squad.

Bryan Lerg (Livonia, Mich.) gave the U.S. a three-goal lead with a shorthanded score that eventually proved to be the game winner. Streaking up center ice, following a defensive zone face-off, Lerg received a tape-to-tape pass from Kevin Porter (Detroit, Mich.), split the Swedish defense and deked the goaltender before tucking the puck into the right side of the net.

The lone even-strength goal for the U.S. came just eight seconds into the middle session. Immediately after the period's initial faceoff, Kevin Swallow (Stanwood, Mich.) broke free on the left side with Jarod Palmer (Fridley, Minn.) charging down the middle on a two-on-one break. A saucer pass to the blade of Palmer's stick from Swallow led to an easy tap-in goal.

Team USA's fifth goal was the first of the tournament for defenseman Jason DeSantis (Warren, Mich.). Recognizing a two-on-one opportunity, DeSantis drove center ice as Lerg lugged the puck up the left side of the rink. Catching the Swedish defense napping, DeSantis promptly deposited a perfectly timed Lerg pass into the back of the net.

Jack Johnson (Lisle, Ill.) closed the scoring with a power-play slapshot off a feed from Kolarik and Lerg.

U.S. goaltender Cory Schneider (Marblehead, Mass.) picked up his second win of the 2004 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, stopping 19 of 21 shots.

The U.S. National Under-18 National Team next sees action on April 12 against the host nation Belarus. Belarus lost its opening game to Denmark, 4-1, and its second game of the event will be played later today against Canada.

Complete stats for the entire event can be found at www.iihf.com and www.usahockey.com.