2003 IIHF World Junior Championship

USA storms past Sweden.

New Glasgow stadium was packed to the rafters for Monday night’s game between Team USA and Team Sweden, and once the opening game ‘niceties’ were out of the way, it was very clear that these two teams simply do not like one another. Feelings aside, it came down to skill and muscle, and Monday night the Americans had enough of both to down Team Sweden 6-2 in a penalty filled affair.

It didn’t take long for the USA to establish superiority as they took the game to the Swedes right from the opening draw, and just over 3 minutes into the game, Montreal Canadiens’ first round pick Chris Higgins opened the scoring with the first of 4 unanswered USA goals.

The American attack continued with a powerplay goal on an untouched shot from the point by James Wisnieski. The Swedish penalty was just one of 8 called against them in the first, including 2 misconducts and one for unsportsman like conduct. Before the period ended, the US added two more goals which included a goal and an assist for Dustin Brown who was highly effective the entire game. In the team Sweden goal Michal Zajkowski was forced to make several acrobatic stops to keep the game from becoming an embarrassment.

Brown’s roll continued for the US in the second when he lifted a rebound over a sprawling Zajkowski on the power play. In the USA goal, Bob Goepfert, who would play the first half of the game, was not nearly as busy, but he had to make two huge saves on a Swedish shorthanded rush, and a fantastic leg save on Mattias beck.
The crowd erupted when Sweden finally got on the board late in the second when Joakim Lindstrom broke in full speed, faked a pass and then fired high glove side on Goepfert’s replacement, James Howard.

The third period was by far the grittiest. Team Sweden’s frustration with both the US attack and some questionable calls was apparent. But it was only after the USA’s Dwight Helminen, who had been impressive all evening, scored from the deep slot that Sweden seemed to finally get into the game physically with Fredrik Eriksson in particular playing much more aggressively. It all paid off when during a goalmouth scramble, a diving Andreas Falk lifted the puck home for Sweden’s second of the night.
James Howard was more than solid in the US net, and only great goaltending from Sweden’s Zajowski kept the US from adding anything more to their tally.

The win decisive victory leaves the US looking very strong for their 2003 IIHF World U20 Championship debut Thursday December 26th against arch rival Russia, while Team Sweden looks as though they may have to adjust quickly to playing the smaller surface and the physical game if they have hopes of success.

by Gary Caven

Box Score		USA	4	1	1	6	0
Compte		SWE	0	1	1	2	0

Scoring/Buts : 3:33, USA Chris Higgins (Zach Parise, Mark Stuart) 7:02, USA James Wisniewski (Patrick O'Sullivan, Ryan Whitney) 8:19, USA Dwight Helminen (Dustin Brown, Ryan Shannon) 17:49, USA Dustin Brown (unassisted) Penalties/Pénalités : 1:06 2 min USA 11. PARISE, Zach (TRIPPING) 1:06 2 min SWE 20. ERIKSSON, Fredrik (ROUGHING) 3:58 2 min USA 27. TALLACKSON Barry (HIGH STICKING) 5:25 10 min SWE 7. LEETMA, Jonas (ILLEGAL EQUIPTMENT) 6:34 2 min SWE 2. AGU, Johan (HOOKING) 9:06 2 min USA 5. GREENE, Matt (ROUGHING) 10:40 2 min SWE 28. JAMTIN, Andreas (CROSS CHECKING) 10:40 10 min SWE 28. JAMTIN, Andreas (UNSPORTSMANLIKE/GAME MISCONDUCT) 19:27 2 min SWE 4. LINDSTROM, Joakim (HOOKING) 20:00 2 min SWE 6. ENSTROM Tobias (ROUGHING) 20:00 10 min USA 12. O'SULLIVAN Patrick (UNSPORTSMANLIKE)

Scoring/Buts : 1:02, USA Dustin Brown (Greg Moore, Dwight Helminen) 16:22, SWE Joakin Lindstrom (Alexander Steen, Robert Nilsson) Penalties/Pénalités : 5:51 2 min USA 11. PARISE, Zach (TRIPPING) 6:50 2 min USA 5. GREENE, Matt (ROUGHING) 9:41 2 min SWE BENCH, (TOO MANY PLAYERS) 18:59 2 minUSA 3. JONES, Matt (ROUGHING)

Scoring/Buts : 5:37, USA Dwight Helminen (Ryan Whitney) 6:47, SWE Andreas Falk (Mattias Beck, Adam Anderson) Penalties/Pénalités : 7:40 2 min SWE 21. SJOSTROM, Fredrik (ROUGHING) 7:40 2 min USA 4. GLEASON, Tim (SLASHING) 7:50 2 min USA 17. KESLER, Ryan (HOOKING) 17:02 2 min SWE 25. PERSSON, Andree (INTERFERENCE) 18:29 2 min SWE 16. HAGOS, Yared (TRIPPING) 19:05 2 min USA 21. NYSTROM, Eric (ROUGHING)