Hamilton took a 2-0 lead on Texas with a 3-1 win. Two more assists for Brock Trotter.
At the Worlds, we appear to be a pretty good team when survival is on the line instead of, you know, medals. A 4-0 win over France (and Sacred Heart’s Eddy Ferhi, 27 saves) should more or less secure the United States’ return to next year’s tournament. (To be at risk of relegation, the U.S. would have to lose by at least seven on Tuesday to Italy.) Said Italians beat Kazakhstan; Mike Souza assisted on the tying goal, then scored the winning goal under three minutes later.
Much remains to be decided in the round where they’re playing for, you know, medals. Sweden beat Canada, which will assure the Swedes of a top-two finish in their pool with at least a point Tuesday against Switzerland. Russia beat up on Denmark to secure a top-two finish in the other pool; it’ll earn the top spot with a point against Finland on Tuesday or a lost Finnish point anywhere else. Latvia beat Norway to keep fate in its own hands; an assist for Herberts Vasiljevs. And Belarus took down Germany in overtime, which will make it tougher for the hosts to advance.
And RIP, Ronnie James Dio.