U20 World Junior Championships Game Day: Day Eleven 1-5-13

Bronze Medal Match
Canada 5 vs. Russia 6 (OT)
Tournament totals: 7 GP, 5-3-8, +4, 4 PIM

Nikita Nesterov, Russia, 0-1-1, -1, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Tournament totals: 7 GP, 0-4-4, +1, 2 PIM

Artem Sergeev, Russia, 0-1-1, +2, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 7GP, 0-2-2, +3, 0 PIM

Andrey Vasilevskiy, DNP
Tournament totals: 4 GP, 3-0-1, 1 SO, 1.81 GAA, .950 sv%

Lightning prospect Artem Sergeev had a secondary assist on Valeri Nichuskin's overtime game winning goal to lift Russia to a 6-5 win the Bronze Medal Match of the U20 World Junior Championships in front of the home crowd in Ufa. Fellow Lightning prospect defenseman Nikita Nesterov also chipped in a power play helper in the winning effort. Nikita Kucherov, who is among the tournament leaders in scoring, failed to find the scoresheet against the Canadians. Goaltender Andrey Vasilevskiy, who had both of Russia's previous starts, did not dress for the game. For the Russians, although failing to win Gold on home ice is disappointing, having only lost to the Swedes in a shootout in the Semifinals and then to defeat the Canadians in the Bronze Medal Match is certainly reason to hold their heads high. Sergeev and Kucherov will return to their respective clubs in the QMJHL while Nesterov will likely return to Chelyabinsk of the KHL and Ufa of the KHL will make a determination now on where to assign Vasilevskiy.

Team USA defeated Sweden in the Gold Medal Match of the U20 WJC's 3-1.

At the conclusion of the game, the tournament released its awards. By vote of the coaches, Vasilevskiy and Nesterov were named two of Russia's top three players in the tournament.