Phantoms’ Connor earns gold medal
Kyle Connor (18) of the Youngstown Phantoms was instrumental in Team USA winning gold at the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championship in Lappeenranta, Finland. Connor, the Phantoms leading scorer this season, recorded seven goals in seven games.
Youngstown’s leading scorer has 7 points in 7 games for Team USA
Staff report
Youngstown
Kyle Connor, the Youngstown Phantoms’ leading scorer this past season, was a key contributor in Team USA’s gold-medal performance at the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championship in Lappeenranta, Finland.
Sunday, Team USA defeated the Czech Republic 5-2 to win the tournament. Connor recorded an assist to extend his point streak to all seven games of the tournament.
“I think a lot of it has been getting to know the guys and getting a feel for who I’ve been playing with,” said Connor after scoring four goals in the event. “The hockey stuff, that’s just me going out there and playing the way I know how to play.”
For much of the tournament, Connor skated on a line with Auston Matthews and Shane Gersich.
“They’re both really good players, so that helped a lot,” Connor said. “It makes it real easy on me, and everyone else has been a great teammate as well. They have made me feel welcome.”
This was the fifth time in the last six years that Team USA has won the gold medal at the U18 World Championship.
Connor was one of two players on the roster who had not been on the U18 National Team Development Program. The other was goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who spent the season with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.
“I’ve played against most of them, the ones from Michigan at least,” Connor said of his teammates.
Connor said his USHL experience with the Phantoms paid off.
“It’s actually really similar, going against the best guys in the world,” Connor said. “Both levels are really high and it makes it tough to compete.
“I would have to say the bigger ice sheet has been the most noticeable,” said Connor, referring to the international rink which is 15 feet wider. “There’s more time and space out there, which actually makes it helpful.”
Connor tied for fifth in points. Jack Eichel and Sonny Milano led Team USA with 10 points each.