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Defenseman William Wrenn of Anchorage ripped home a power-play goal, helping Team USA to a surprisingly lopsided 5-0 gold medal victory over Russia on Sunday in the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Under-18 Championship in Fargo, N.D.
The victory before a record crowd of 4,923 at the Urban Plains Center was the first world title for an American team won on U.S. soil since the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. "Tonight was a culmination of two years of hard work for many of our players," Ron Rolston, the Team USA coach, said in a press release. "They sacrificed for each other and they became a family. There is no better way to end the season." After Cam Fowler of Farmington Hills, Mich., scored 2:09 into the game, Matthew Nieto of Long Beach, Calif., put the Americans up 2-0 less than eight minutes later. Then Wrenn struck. Just 1:55 into the second period, he one-timed Drew Shore's pass from the middle slot into the lower left corner of the net to give the Americans a commanding lead. Jack Campbell of Port Huron, Mich., played goal for the U.S. instead of teammate Adam Murray of Anchorage. Campbell, who compiled a 0.75 goals-against average and .967 save percentage during the tournament, earned his second shutout. Team USA outshot Russia 43-17. In a wild game earlier in the tournament, Russia beat the U.S. 6-5. The Americans advanced with a 2-1 semifinal win over Canada. Russia advanced with a 4-0 win over Finland. Both Wrenn and Murray have committed to play college hockey at Denver of the WCHA next season.