Two local stars helped the United States capture the 2014 International Federation Ice Hockey Federation Men’s Under-18 World Championship on Sunday.
Jack Eichel of Chelmsford picked up an assist in a 5-2 gold-medal victory over the Czech Republic, while Johnathan MacLeod of Dracut played solid defense in Lappeenrenta, Finland.
Eichel, a center, is expected to be one of the first selections in the 2015 National Hockey League draft. He finished the tournament on a six-game scoring streak. During that stretch, the 6-foot-1, 191-pound Eichel scored five goals and five assists.
Eichel and MacLeod, members of the U.S. National Under-18 team, will be freshman at Boston University in the fall.
The U.S. dropped its opener to Switzerland, 4-2, and then ripped off six straight wins to win the gold medal.
During a 7-0 win over Denmark, Eichel had two goals and an assist. In a 6-2 win over Slovakia, MacLeod, a 6-foot-1, 198-pound defenseman, netted two power-play goals.
In Sunday’s gold-medal victory, Eichel helped the U.S. take a 1-0 lead just 33 seconds into the game. Eichel sent a pass to Sonny Milano, who put a shot on the Czech Republic goaltender.
Jack Dougherty scored on the rebound. The U.S. held a 41-17 shots advantage.
Eichel was named one of the United States’ three best players in the tournament, along with Louie Belpedio and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.
Eichel leads the U.S. National Under-18 team in scoring. In 52 games, he has 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points.
— BARRY SCANLON
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