2011 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
Rangers’ prospects Chris Kreider and Ryan Bourque lead USA to the bronze medal
New York, January 6, 2011 – Rangers’ prospects Chris Kreider and Ryan Bourque helped lead Team USA to the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship in Buffalo, NY.
Kreider notched two goals, including one on the power play, in a 4-2 win over Sweden yesterday in the bronze medal game. Bourque, who served as an Alternate Captain for Team USA, recorded an assist on the game-winning goal with 8:20 remaining in regulation. Rangers’ prospect Jesper Fasth also tallied a goal for fourth place Sweden in the contest.
Kreider, the Rangers’ first round choice (19th overall) in 2009, registered four goals and two assists for six points in six tournament contests. He led Team USA and tied for fifth among all tournament skaters in goals, and tied for first on the team and 15th overall in points. He also tied for the tournament lead with three power play goals, and second on USA with 20 shots. The Boxford, Massachusetts native led Team USA and ranked third in last year’s tournament with six goals, including a hat trick (three goals) against Latvia in the first round on December 29, 2009, en route to capturing the Gold Medal at the 2010 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship.
Bourque, the Rangers’ third round choice (80th overall) in 2009, tallied three assists and 20 shots on goal in six games. He tied for fourth on the team in assists and second with 20 shots. The Boxford, Massachusetts native registered three assists and a plus-three rating en route to capturing the Gold Medal with Team USA at the 2010 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship.
Fasth, the Rangers’ sixth round choice (157th overall) in 2010, recorded four goals and two assists for six points, along with a plus-four rating in six games while making his debut in the elite tournament. He tied for the team lead and fifth in the tournament in goals, and tied for first on Sweden and 15th overall in points. He also tied for second on Sweden with a plus-four rating. The Nassjo, Sweden native recorded two goals, including the game-winner and a power play tally, to help lead Sweden to a 6-3 victory over the Czech Republic in a preliminary round match-up on December 30.
Rangers’ prospect Roman Horak also participated in the tournament as a member of the seventh place Czech Republic. The Rangers’ fifth round choice (127th overall) in 2009, tallied one assist and 15 shots on goal in five contests. His 15 shots ranked third on the team. The Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic native registered one goal and one assist in six games with Czech Republic at the 2010 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship.
