U.S. National Junior Team Beats Russia, 4-1
12/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 31, 2003
HAMEENLINNA, Finland - The U.S. National Junior Team advanced to the semifinals of the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship after beating Russia, 4-1 on Wednesday (Dec. 31) in the U.S.'s final game of the preliminary round. Team USA finished with a 4-0-0 record, the top standing in Group A and a quarterfinal round bye.
Forward Zach Parise (North Dakota) had a pair of goals and an assist for Team USA, including the game winner as the U.S. squad finished 3-for-9 on the power play. Michigan goaltender Al Montoya stopped 17 shots in earning his fourth win of the tournament.
MSU sophomore forward David Booth (Washington, Mich.) and sophomore defenseman Corey Potter (Mason, Mich.) saw action for Team USA. Both players had one shot on goal in the game against Russia. Spartan freshman netminder Dominic Vicari (Clinton Township, Mich.) was Montoya's back-up.
Team USA faces the winner of the quarterfinal match-up between the second-place team in the B group and the third-place team in the A group in the IIFH World Junior Championship Semifinals in Helsinki on Jan. 3, at 8 a.m. EST. The quarterfinal game will be played on Friday, Jan. 1.
With a win in its semifinal contest, Team USA would advance to the Gold-Medal game on Monday, Jan. 5, at 12 noon. With a loss in the semifinals, Team USA moves on to the Bronze-Medal contest also on Monday, Jan. 5, at 8 a.m.
All of Team USA's games can be heard on USA Hockey's website, usahockey.com.
