(above) Rhett Rakhshani chats with Denver teammate Tyler Ruegsegger at center ice before the game opening faceoff against Canada in the semi-finalPhoto Credit: Melissa Wade
From: USCHO.com
The U.S. National Junior Team finished fourth in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship after a 4-2 loss to Russia today in the bronze medal game of the event. DU Sophmores Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ruegsegger closed out a fantastic individual tournament for the Denver duo, but the team's fourth place finish had to be a bitter pill to swallow, as the USA was 4-0-0 in the preliminary round.
“It was disappointing to finish the way we did after such a good start in this tournament,” said U.S. Head Coach John Hynes. “We lacked the intensity we needed today.”
Russia jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the opening period. Alexei Cherepanov put home a backhanded shot in front at 3:59 for the game’s opening goal. With Russia on the power play, a shot from the center point by Evgeni Kurbatov deflected off the skate of U.S. defenseman Chris Summers (Michigan) and past netminder Jeremy Smith (Plymouth (OHL)) at 11:04. A cross-crease feed by Cherepanov found Nikita Filatov at 16:57 for the final tally of the period.
Filatov put home a rebound on the power play past U.S. netminder Joe Palmer (Ohio State) 1:30 into the second stanza to increase Russia’s lead to 4-0. Team USA got on the board at 10:47 when Rhett Rakhshani (Denver) maneuvered in front after a feed from Kyle Okposo and beat Sergei Bobrovsky high to the glove side. Russia had a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Jordan Schroeder (U.S. National Under-18 Team) had a terrific chance from between the circles for Team USA five minutes into the period, but Bobrovsky was up to the challenge. Schroeder, however, did score at 13:39 from the high slot through traffic with the United States on a five-on-three power play. Bobby Sanguinetti (Brampton (OHL)) drew the lone assist on the play. Team USA continued to put pressure on down the stretch, but could get no closer.
Smith had five saves in the first period for Team USA, while Palmer played the final two periods and had 16 stops. Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves for Russia.
The U.S. National Junior Team finished fourth in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship after a 4-2 loss to Russia today in the bronze medal game of the event. DU Sophmores Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ruegsegger closed out a fantastic individual tournament for the Denver duo, but the team's fourth place finish had to be a bitter pill to swallow, as the USA was 4-0-0 in the preliminary round.
“It was disappointing to finish the way we did after such a good start in this tournament,” said U.S. Head Coach John Hynes. “We lacked the intensity we needed today.”
Russia jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the opening period. Alexei Cherepanov put home a backhanded shot in front at 3:59 for the game’s opening goal. With Russia on the power play, a shot from the center point by Evgeni Kurbatov deflected off the skate of U.S. defenseman Chris Summers (Michigan) and past netminder Jeremy Smith (Plymouth (OHL)) at 11:04. A cross-crease feed by Cherepanov found Nikita Filatov at 16:57 for the final tally of the period.
Filatov put home a rebound on the power play past U.S. netminder Joe Palmer (Ohio State) 1:30 into the second stanza to increase Russia’s lead to 4-0. Team USA got on the board at 10:47 when Rhett Rakhshani (Denver) maneuvered in front after a feed from Kyle Okposo and beat Sergei Bobrovsky high to the glove side. Russia had a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Jordan Schroeder (U.S. National Under-18 Team) had a terrific chance from between the circles for Team USA five minutes into the period, but Bobrovsky was up to the challenge. Schroeder, however, did score at 13:39 from the high slot through traffic with the United States on a five-on-three power play. Bobby Sanguinetti (Brampton (OHL)) drew the lone assist on the play. Team USA continued to put pressure on down the stretch, but could get no closer.
Smith had five saves in the first period for Team USA, while Palmer played the final two periods and had 16 stops. Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves for Russia.
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