'09WJ: Americans Take Fifth

2009 IIHF World Junior Championships Ottawa, Canada
	IIHF Website
United States	Sweden	Russia
Rosters	Roster	Rosters
Statistics	Statistics	Statistics

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The United States both did not want to be in this position. Playing a game that didn't have medal implications. But they were Sunday, and the United States earned a 3-2 ovetrimte victory over the Czechs in a chippy affair.

Matt Rust

USA 3 -  Czech Republic 2: It wasn't the final victory that the Americans were looking for, but the United States did finish the tournament on a high note, beating the Czech Republic for the second time. This time it was a 3-2 overtime thriller. The Americans finished fifth in the tournament with the victory.

Eric Trangadi gave the United States a lead 8:36 into the game as he scored off of the rebound, tapping in Mitch Wahl's shot. That would be all the scoring in the first two periods for both teams.

Both the United States and Czech Republic struggled to find their offense as goaltenders Josh Unice (US) and Tomas Vosvrda (Czech Republic) turned away shot after shot in the first 40 minutes of play.

The Czechs finally found the net and the scoreboard when Zdenek Okal had some good fortune 2:33 into the final period. His shot from the goal line bounced into the air, over Unice's shoulder and into the net. The Europeans used that goal as momentum as they took over play. They were stopped on a 3-on-1 break but were not denied their first and only lead of the contest 10:59 in when Ondrej Roman, stationed in the slot, fired a shot into the top corner of the net while using an US defenseman as a screen.

The lead was shortlived as the Americans answered back to tie it at two. With the United States on a power play, Cade Fairchild blasted a shot from the point and into the back of the net with 6:58 left in the contest.

It would take the extra session to determine the winner and Philadelphia draft pick James Van Riemsdyk came up big, scoring a highlight reel goal 2:49 into overtime to give the United States the 3-2 victory. Van Riemsdyk would skate around a fallen Czech defender before putting the puck between his legs and then into the upper corner of the net.

Panthers prospect Matt Rust finished with one shot on net.

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World Junior Championship Statistics - Matt Rust
Game	Goals	Assists	Points	Shots	+/-	PIM
vs Germany	1	0	1	3	+1	4
vs Czech Republic	1	0	1	2	+1	4
vs Kazakhstan	1	1	2	1	+2	0
vs Canada	0	0	0	0	0	2
vs Slovakia	0	0	0	4	-2	0
vs Czech Republic	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total	Goals	Assists	Points	Shots	+/-	PIM
6	3	1	4	11	+2	10

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