Team USA is the new U18 world champion! The U.S. National Team Development Program produced another emphatic victory tonight in Poprad, knocking off last year's gold medallists Finland, 4-2.

Sweden had the better of play, created more scoring chances, and had the puck more, but Russia scored the goals, taking the bronze with a 3-0 win over Sweden.

The Americans will be trying to win their seventh gold at the U18 in the last nine years after beating Sweden for the 13th time in 15 all-time meetings.

Toni Utunen’s one-time blast from the point gave Finland a 2-1 overtime win in the semi-final against Russia. They go to the final for the third straight year.

Josh Norris and Jacob Tortora scored 27 seconds apart late in the third period to break a 2-2 deadlock and give Team USA a 4-2 victory over Switzerland.

Slovak president Andrej Kiska was among the throng of 4,496 spectators who witnessed a thrilling quarter-finals game, won in overtime by Russia, 3-2.

With goals in the last minute of both the first and second periods, Sweden built up a 4-2 lead, then cruised to a 7-3 quarter-final win over Canada.

The Czechs mounted the greatest comeback in U18 history only to lose with 58.5 seconds left in overtime.

Finland defeated Canada 6-3 this afternoon in Poprad, giving it first place in Group A and a quarter-finals date with the fourth-place team from Group B.

Team USA claimed first place in Group B with a 5-1 win over Sweden in the last group stage game for both teams. Sweden will finish either third or fourth.

Badly outplayed in the first half by Belarus, the Russians came back with a strong second half to win 4-1, thanks to two goals from Ivan Chekhovich.

Defenceman Maxwell Gildon scored three times and Jacob Tortora also had two points, as the USA beat the Czech Republic 5-2 in a wide-open game.

Cody Glass and Jack Studnicka both arrived in Poprad yesterday from Canada, and both scored twice today in their team's 7-3 win over Switzerland.

David Gustafsson's goal at 7:30 of the third broke a 2-2 tie and propelled Sweden to victory over the Czech Republic.

Stylianos Mattheos snapped a hard wrist shot over the shoulder of Jakub Kostelny at 2:38 of overtime to give Canada a 4-3 win over Slovakia.

The United States jumped out to a 4-1 lead but had to hang on for a 5-4 win in Spisska Nova Ves this afternoon.

Andrei Svechnikov scored twice in the third to help rally Russia past Sweden on opening night of the U18 championships in Slovakia.

Canada scored the first goal of this year's U18 on a penalty shot, controlled the second and third periods, and skated to an impressive win over Latvia.