Team USA’s website posted its Friday notebook ahead of Saturday’s World Championship Semifinal against Sweden (9:15 AM EDT on the NHL Network), and the Americans face long odds in attempting to capture a gold medal:
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR
By reaching the tournament’s semifinal stage as one of the last four teams remaining, the U.S. has guaranteed a top-four finish in the 12-team tournament for the fourth time in six years. It marks Team USA’s best-ever stretch since it medaled in six of the eight tournaments it competed in from 1931-1950. During that stretch, the U.S. claimed one gold medal (1933), four silver medal (1931, 1934, 1939, 1950) and one bronze (1949). The U.S. did not compete in 1948, 1937 or 1935 tournaments and finished fifth place in 1947 and seventh place in 1938.2017: 5th Place, 6-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L)
2016: 4th Place, 4-1-1-4 (W-OTW-OTL-L)
2015: Bronze, 7-1-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L)
2014: 6th Place, 4-1-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L)
2013: Bronze, 6-1-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L)
Team USA’s website posted an off-day clip in which coach Jeff Blashill and forward Johnny Gaudreau spoke with the media:
