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USA wins U18 Championship; Hunwick, NHL update

By Jason Paul | April 20, 2009

Team USA won the gold medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship by crushing Russia 5-0 in the championship game, and several Wolverine recruits helped make it possible.  Forwards Kevin Lynch and Chris Brown assisted on Team USA’s second goal, and Brown later scored the fourth goal of the game.

Lynch finished the tournament with five goals and five assists in seven games, which tied him for second on the team in points.  He also tied for a team-best +9 rating.

Brown had four goals and three assists in seven games.  And forward A.J. Treais, who is also signed to join U-M this fall, had two goals.

There’s a few other U-M verbal commitments you can read about at The Blog That Yost Built wrap up.

HUNWICK UPDATE

Former Michigan captain Matt Hunwick is doing fine after an emergency splenectomy Saturday.

“He’s a first-year player who’s so respected by his teammates,” Boston coach Claude Julien said.  “He’s a very good person. He’s very considerate of everybody around him. I don’t think he’s ever rubbed anybody the wrong way with the way he competes in practices and games. He’s earned the respect of his teammates. He’s a player that’s very well-liked.

“It didn’t really surprise me that [Saturday] night, the players really wanted to win the hockey game and dedicate it to him. The goal was at least to give him a better ending to his day than the start of it.”

And it appears I jumped the gun a bit, too, in saying his season is over.  They are saying that Hunwick’s recovery time is estimated at one to two months, so there’s still a chance he could come back this season provided the Bruins continue to win.  Given the physical condition these athletes are in, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Matty on the short end of that estimate, though whether or not he’s still in game-shape to perform at the high-level intensity of playoff hockey is something the Bruins will have to determine.

CHASE FOR THE CUP

Mike Knuble had an assist as Philadephia clobbered Pittsburgh, 6-3.  The Penguins lead the series 2-1, and Game 4 is tomorrow night in Philly.

Andrew Ebbett scored a goal in Anaheim’s 3-2 win over San Jose.  The Ducks have the Sharks on the ropes with a 2-0 series lead, winning both games in San Jose.

The New Jersey Devils took a 2-1 series lead over Carolina with a 3-2 overtime win.  John Madden had no points and had a -1 rating for the Devils.  Dwight Helminen was again a healthy scratch for the Canes, and I suspect he will be for the duration of the playoffs unless some emergency situation comes up.

Tonight’s games are Boston at Montreal (7 p.m. – CBC, Bruins lead 2-0), Washington at New York (7 p.m. – Versus, Rangers lead 2-0), and Chicago at Calgary (9:30 p.m. – Versus, Blackhawks lead 2-0).

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