Trent Frederic (Wisconsin) netted four goals and Kieffer Bellows added two goals and an assist as the U.S. National Junior Team topped the Czech Republic 9-3 to win the bronze medal Friday night at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
Frederic was also named the U.S. player of the game.
Bellows finished the tournament with nine goals, setting a new U.S. record for most goals in a single World Junior Championship.
“I’m so proud of the effort our team showed here tonight to earn a medal on home ice,” said Team USA coach Bob Motzko (St. Cloud State) in a statement. “It’s not the medal we hoped for, but we’re a proud group to have helped the United States win a third-straight medal at the World Juniors for the first time in U.S. history.”
Ryan Poehling (St. Cloud State), Joey Anderson (Minnesota Duluth) and Patrick Harper (Boston University) also scored for the U.S., while Jake Oettinger (BU) earned the win in goal. Jeremy Swayman (Maine) played the final 3:19 between the pipes.
With the bronze, the U.S. National Junior Team has claimed a medal in three-straight World Junior Championships for the first time in U.S. history after earning gold in 2017 and bronze in 2016. In total, it is the 11th medal in U.S. history, including four gold medals (2017, 2013, 2010, 2004), one silver medal (1997) and six bronze medals (2018, 2016, 2011, 2007, 1992, 1986).
