Grimaldi, Gibson Star as US Bags Gold in World Junior Hockey
Fitzgerald Cecilio
Ufa, Russian Federation
Rocco Grimaldi scored two goals in the second period while goalie John Gibson made 26 saves as the United States defeated Sweden, 3-1, to capture the gold medal in the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship at Ufa Arena.
The victory marked the third gold medal for the United States at the WJC, following triumphs in 2004 and 2010, while Sweden earned its 10th silver medal after suffering their first loss in six games.
US head coach Phil Housley later credited the squad's outstanding teamwork and the leadership of its veterans for the victory.
"The players just bought into their team game plan, and hats go off to this leadership group," said Housley. "Seth Jones, Cole Bardreau, J.T. Miller, Jacob Trouba and captain Jake McCabe -- they did a tremendous job. You need leadership in these types of tournaments, and they provided it for us."
All 22 players on the US roster had at least one point, including goalie Gibson with two assists while 15 players scored at least one goal.
"We knew coming in that we had great depth along the forward lines, and it just turned out that 22 guys would help bring it home," Jones added.
"Guys fought hard all game … blocking shots and doing whatever it took to win. We played to our strengths. When you get right down to it, we did what we had to do to win," McCabe said after the victory.
The victory capped the Americans' outstanding play in the last four games, when they outscored Slovakia, Czech Republic, Canada and Sweden, 24-5.
The win was even sweeter for Grimaldi, who was demoted from the top line to fourth-line duty and never saw the ice against Slovakia but was chosen as player of the game for the Americans.
A Carolina Panthers prospect, Grimaldi was a late cut from the 2011 WJC team and was unable to participate in last year's tournament due to injury.
Sweden opened a 1-0 edge in the second period behind Filip Sandberg's second goal of the tournament but the Americans tied the game with Grimaldi's first goal, 7:42 into the second period.
Grimaldi then gave the US a 2-1 lead before Vince Trocheck sealed the deal with an empty-net goal in the dying seconds of the game.
- Truncated NHL Season Kicks Off with 13 Blockbuster Games
- Kings' Darryl Sutter to Use More Players in Shortened NHL Season
- Ducks Hire Former Player Scott Niedermayer as Assistant Coach
- Henrik Zetterberg to Become Red Wings Captain
- NHL and Players' Union Reach 'Tentative' Agreement on New Labor Deal
- Grimaldi, Gibson Star as US Bags Gold in World Junior Hockey
- NHL, Players' Union Discuss Expanding Playoffs to 20 Teams
- NHL and Players Union Resume Negotiations
- NHL Confirms Comprehensive Proposal to Players Union
- Coaches and Players Embarrassed as NHL Lockout Drags On
- Raleigh Businesses, Employees Feeling Impact of NHL Lockout
- Despite NHL Lockout, Minor League Hockey Suffers Drop in Attendance
- NHL Players Approve Authorization to Dissolve Union
- NHL Sets 'Point of No-Return' Mid-January
- NHL Launches Two Legal Maneuvers Regarding Lockout
- Sidney Crosby Feels Parties in NHL Talks Not Making Sense
- Canada's Junior Hockey Team Status Depends Largely on NHL Lockout
- Several NHL Players Still Optimistic About Negotiations
- NHL Rejects Latest Union Proposal, Season Now in Jeopardy
- Goalie Josh Harding to Continue Hockey Career Despite Multiple Sclerosis
- Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay Defends Bettman
- NHL Too Expensive for Canadians According to Survey
- Blackhawks Center Bolland Remorseful After Retweeting Post
- NHL Cancels Regular Season Games through Dec. 14, All-Star Game
- NHL Lockout: Canadian Beer Sales Down
- Canadian Adult Shops Industry Booming During NHL Lockout
- Scott Niedermayer Modest About Hockey Hall of Fame Honor
- Wings Defenseman Ian White Calls NHL Boss Gary Bettman 'Idiot'
- NHL Lockout Puts Leo Komarov's Dream on Hold
- New Hockey Hall of Famers Speak Their Minds about NHL Lockout
- NHL Coaches Stay Busy with Sport During Lockout
Copyright © 2012 AHN - All Rights Reserved
