• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
So much for this site's prediction that Russia would win the World Under-18 Championship on home soil. Team USA made relatively easy work of the Russians on Thursday and advanced to Saturday's semifinal round. You really have to credit USA Hockey for building a program that wins so consistently. By keeping these players together for the whole season, the NTDP enables them to be at their very best come tournament time. There is no substitute for team chemistry.
One of the more exciting things about Team USA is that is getting major contributions from younger players who aren't even eligible for this year's draft. It suggests that next year's NTDP team will be an absolute powerhouse. It also suggests that the 2019 draft will be epic, especially with a player like Jack Hughes in the mix.
All five of Thursday's top performances come from the World Under-18, which has been a great stage for many players who had less than stellar regular seasons. All five players listed below won't last long in the stands on draft day:
JONATAN BERGGREN -- The Swedish forward kept on rolling in his team's 6-1 quarterfinal rout of Slovakia at the World Under-18. Berggren finished with two goals and two assists in the victory. His first assist came on a power-play goal to make it 2-0 at 9:19 of the second period. That goal stood up as the game-winner. He followed that with another power-play assist at 14:38 of the second and a goal with two ticks left in the period to make it 4-1. He found the net again at 17:36 of the third to close the scoring. Berggren, who had a hat trick earlier in the tournament, has five goals and nine points in five games -- tying him for third in the World Under-18 scoring race. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
LUKAS DOSTAL -- Dostal made 33 saves in the Czechs' stunning 2-1 World Under-18 upset of Canada. He stopped all seven shots in the first period, all 12 in the second, and 14 of 15 in the third to propel the Czechs into the semifinals. He had a shutout going for 53:19. This was a big moment for Dostal, who struggled earlier in the tournament and is now 2-2. In his last two starts, he has turned aside 50 of 53 total shots. (Note: 21st appearance on this list in 2017-18 -- leads all goaltenders)
JOEL FARABEE -- Boston University's top recruit was a hero for the Americans at the World Under-18 tournament, scoring a short-handed goal that broke a 1-1 tie at 12:55 of the third period. That goal, the eventual-game winner, was the first of four unanswered scores by Team USA. Farabee, who had five shots in the game, has scored at least a point in all five of his tournament outings and has goals in four of them. He has been a major, consistent force in the Americans' bid for another gold medal. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
OLOF LINDBOM -- Sweden's goalie improved to 3-0-1 at the World Under-18's with 25 saves in the 6-1 quarterfinal win over Slovakia. Lindbom stopped all seven shots in the first period, eight of nine in the second, and all 10 in the third. Through four World Under-18 starts, he has stopped 119 of 126 shots for a .952 save percentage and 1.48 GAA. No World Under-18 goaltender has done more to help himself at the draft than Lindbom. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
OLIVIER RODRIGUE -- He suffered a hard-luck loss for Team Canada, but Rodrigue capped off a strong World Under-18 tournament with 29 saves in the 2-1 quarterfinal loss to the Czechs. Rodrigue handed 13 of 14 first-period shots, all 10 in the second, and six of seven in the third. His 2-1 record included a shutout and a .949 save percentage. It was an important showing for Rodrigue, who did not fare as well in the recent QMJHL playoffs. He will likely be the first North American goaltender drafted. (Note: 17th appearance on this list in 2017-18)