• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Day 1 of the World Under-18 Championship dealt a major blow to defending champion Team USA, as the Americans fell to arch-rival Canada 6-4 in Magnitogorsk, Russia.
It was only a preliminary-round game, but it showed that some of the Americans' weaknesses can get magnified on a big stage. This is a very talented U.S. NTDP Under-18 team, and the pressure to repeat is tangible. Unfortunately, for all of its great individual talent, this group has had many nights when it simply didn't display the kind of will to win we have seen in past USA teams at this tournament. Despite the loss, however, one American managed to make this list of Thursday's top performances.
In other games, the host Russians crushed France 7-1, Finland dropped Slovakia 5-2, and Sweden beat Switzerland 3-1. All in all, it was a strong start to the tournament and provided additional fodder for the list below.
JONATAN BERGGREN -- Berggren supplied all the offense in Sweden's 3-1 win over Switzerland at the World Under-18's. His hat trick and seven shots on goal overwhelmed the Swiss. After scoring unassisted at 15:39 of the first period for a 1-0 lead, Berggren stretched the advantage to 2-0 with the eventual game-winner at 10:00 of the second. Less than two minutes later, he capped off his hat trick at 11:46. It was a huge statement for the Skelleftea junior star, who spent some time in the SHL this season. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
PAUL COTTER -- The Lincoln Stars won a 5-4 OT thriller on the road to eliminate Sioux Falls from the USHL playoffs, and Cotter was the hero. The game's No. 1 star assisted on a goal at 8:56 of the third period to pull the Stars into a 3-3 tie. He then delivered the winner with 34.8 seconds remaining in the overtime. Cotter, a Western Michigan recruit, has two goals and two assists in three playoff games. (Note: Seventh appearance on this list in 2017-18)
LIAM FOUDY -- One of the biggest risers in the Final Central Scouting ranking of draft prospects, Foudy showed his talent in Canada's 6-4 World Under-18 win over Team USA. The London Knights forward scored an unassisted goal at 6:11 of the second period for a 2-2 tie and has the primary assist on the game-winner that snapped a 4-4 deadlock at 11:07 of the third. In the calendar year 2018, he has been one of the hottest prospects. (Note: Seventh appearance on this list in 2017-18)
KIRILL MARCHENKO -- Marchenko led the way with a goal and two assists in Russia's 7-1 rout of France at the World Under-18. He had the primary assist on a goal at 8:09 of the first period for a 2-0 lead. He scored to go up 4-0 at 13:52 of the first, and had another primary assist on a short-handed goal that made it 7-0 at 7:31 of the third. It was a great start to the tournament for Marchenko, who had seven points in his eight MHL playoff games. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
OLIVER WAHLSTROM -- The World Under-18 Championship looks like Wahlstrom's coming-out party. With two goals on eight shots in Team USA's 6-4 loss to Canada, he flashed the incredible sniping ability that could push him up into the draft's top five. Both goals came on power plays. The first, at 4:14 of the second period, gave the Americans a 2-1 lead. The second, at 6:40 of the third, cut Canada's lead to 4-3. He now has 43 goals on the season. (Note: 11th appearance on this list in 2017-18)