photo: Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF
The United States scored two early goals and kept the pressure on for most of the 60 minutes, defeating Latvia by a 6-3 score to advance to the U18 semi-finals in Frisco on Friday. This means the hosts will be playing for a medal of some colour on Saturday, something they have done every year since 2004, excepting 2021.
For Latvia, their 8th-place finish matches what they achieved in 2023 and 2024. They have never beaten the U.S. at the U18 and are now 0-8 all time, but tonight's loss was their closest result ever in this rivalry.
"I think we played okay," said Cullen Potter, who scored two goals. "I think we have a lot better game to give, but ultimately we got the job done and can move onto the next round. We can't do any better than that."
"It was a close game," said Latvian captain Daniels Serkins. "The boys battled from the very first minute. We got those two power-play goals and got some energy. But a few lucky bounces, missed opportunities, and that's the game."
The Americans got off to just the start they wanted, opening the scoring at 5:37 when Potter, son of Jenny, found a loose puck in front. His shot to the far side beat Ivans Kufterins cleanly.
Less than three minutes later, they added to their tally. This time, it was courtesy of a nice pass by Cole McKinney to a streaking Richard Gallant, who had nothing more to do than re-direct the disc into the open back side.
The Latvians fought valiantly in the opening 20 minutes and didn’t give up many quality chances, but they had all kinds of difficulty penetrating the U.S. zone and maintaining possession in enemy territory.
The U.S. added to their lead early in the second thanks to another good combination play, this time during a 4-on-4. L.J. Mooney made the pass and Jack Murtagh had the polished finish to make it 3-0 at 7:23. But no sooner did the Americans look to be in total control than they ran into penalty trouble and surrendered not one but two power-play goals in quick succession.
Serkins skated out of the corner and beat Joey Slavick with a high shot from a bad angle. Then, 49 seconds later on another man advantage, Alberts Smits's massive point blast went all the way. Just like that we had a 3-2 game.
The Americans caught a big break, however, to double their lead once again. Asher Barnett cleared the puck into the Latvian end off the backboards, and as Kufterins covered the post and looked behind him the puck bounced awkwardly, hit him in the back, and dribbled in. A most (un)lucky bounce.
The hosts added to their tally midway through the third after some nice spadework behind the net by Mikey Berchild. He got it out front to Mooney, who tipped it over the goal line at 12:25. But credit to the Latvians. They had no quit in them. Three minutes later, their tenacity paid off. Roberts Polis hit the post on a one-on-two, making a nice move to get the shot away and missing a goal by a whisker. Moments later, a Herberts Laugalis shot was tipped in front by Karlis Flugins, making it a 5-3 game.
Potter closed out the scoring with an empty netter with 1:19 remaining.
The Latvians go home disappointed, but proud in their fight. "The preliminary round wasn't our best, and yesterday we had a players' only meeting to discuss how well we would have to play today," Serkins explained. "We have to win every battle, help each other in all areas of the game. We had nothing to lose and gave it our all."
And now the Americans prepare for Sweden, a trip to the gold-medal game on the line. "They're going to bring their A game for sure, so we have to bring ours, too," offered Potter. "We need to have the same determination as the last time and keep going, even if we're down."
For Latvia, their 8th-place finish matches what they achieved in 2023 and 2024. They have never beaten the U.S. at the U18 and are now 0-8 all time, but tonight's loss was their closest result ever in this rivalry.
"I think we played okay," said Cullen Potter, who scored two goals. "I think we have a lot better game to give, but ultimately we got the job done and can move onto the next round. We can't do any better than that."
"It was a close game," said Latvian captain Daniels Serkins. "The boys battled from the very first minute. We got those two power-play goals and got some energy. But a few lucky bounces, missed opportunities, and that's the game."
The Americans got off to just the start they wanted, opening the scoring at 5:37 when Potter, son of Jenny, found a loose puck in front. His shot to the far side beat Ivans Kufterins cleanly.
Less than three minutes later, they added to their tally. This time, it was courtesy of a nice pass by Cole McKinney to a streaking Richard Gallant, who had nothing more to do than re-direct the disc into the open back side.
The Latvians fought valiantly in the opening 20 minutes and didn’t give up many quality chances, but they had all kinds of difficulty penetrating the U.S. zone and maintaining possession in enemy territory.
The U.S. added to their lead early in the second thanks to another good combination play, this time during a 4-on-4. L.J. Mooney made the pass and Jack Murtagh had the polished finish to make it 3-0 at 7:23. But no sooner did the Americans look to be in total control than they ran into penalty trouble and surrendered not one but two power-play goals in quick succession.
Serkins skated out of the corner and beat Joey Slavick with a high shot from a bad angle. Then, 49 seconds later on another man advantage, Alberts Smits's massive point blast went all the way. Just like that we had a 3-2 game.
The Americans caught a big break, however, to double their lead once again. Asher Barnett cleared the puck into the Latvian end off the backboards, and as Kufterins covered the post and looked behind him the puck bounced awkwardly, hit him in the back, and dribbled in. A most (un)lucky bounce.
The hosts added to their tally midway through the third after some nice spadework behind the net by Mikey Berchild. He got it out front to Mooney, who tipped it over the goal line at 12:25. But credit to the Latvians. They had no quit in them. Three minutes later, their tenacity paid off. Roberts Polis hit the post on a one-on-two, making a nice move to get the shot away and missing a goal by a whisker. Moments later, a Herberts Laugalis shot was tipped in front by Karlis Flugins, making it a 5-3 game.
Potter closed out the scoring with an empty netter with 1:19 remaining.
The Latvians go home disappointed, but proud in their fight. "The preliminary round wasn't our best, and yesterday we had a players' only meeting to discuss how well we would have to play today," Serkins explained. "We have to win every battle, help each other in all areas of the game. We had nothing to lose and gave it our all."
And now the Americans prepare for Sweden, a trip to the gold-medal game on the line. "They're going to bring their A game for sure, so we have to bring ours, too," offered Potter. "We need to have the same determination as the last time and keep going, even if we're down."
United States v. Latvia - QF#4 - 2025 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship
OF