Wolverines at the 2022 World Championship: Johnson Wins Silver Medal at Worlds; Bordeleau Scores in Bronze Game
5/13/2022 8:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey, Features
Seven current and former University of Michigan ice hockey players will compete at the 2022 IIHF World Championships, scheduled May 13-29 in Finland. This is the most Wolverines ever invited to a single World Championship, with the previous record being four (2019, 2017, 2006, 2004). Rising sophomore Luke Hughes, Nick Blankenburg, Thomas Bordeleau and Strauss Mann are representing the United States, and Kent Johnson is representing Canada. Jon Merrill was added to the US roster following the end of the Minnesota Wild season, and Brian Lebler is representing Austria. Follow the Wolverines' progress via updates on this page.
USA, Canada Schedules
Times EDT; All USA games on NHL Network; All Canada games on TSN
Friday, May 13 -- USA vs. Latvia (W, 4-1) | Game Center
Friday, May 13 -- Canada vs. Germany (W, 5-3) | Game Center
Sunday, May 15 -- Canada vs. Italy (W, 6-1) | Game Center
Sunday, May 15 -- USA vs. Austria (W, 3-2 OT) | Game Center
Monday, May 16 - Canada vs. Slovakia (W, 5-1) | Game Center
Monday, May 16 - USA vs. Finland (L, 4-1) | Game Center
Thursday, May 19 - USA vs. Great Britain (W, 3-0) | Game Center
Thursday, May 19 - Canada vs. Kazakhstan (W, 6-3) | Game Center
Saturday, May 21 - USA vs. Sweden (W, 3-2 OT) | Game Center
Saturday, May 21 - Canada vs. Switzerland (L, 6-3) | Game Center
Monday, May 23 - USA vs. Czechia (L, 1-0) | Game Center
Monday, May 23 - Canada vs. Denmark (L, 3-2) | Game Center
Tuesday, May 24 - USA vs. Norway (W, 4-2) | Game Center
Tuesday, May 24 - Canada vs. France (W, 7-0) | Game Center
Thursday, May 26 - Canada vs. Sweden - Quarterfinals (W, 4-3 OT) | Game Center
Thursday, May 26 - USA vs. Switzerland - Quarterfinals (W, 3-0) | Game Center
Saturday, May 28 - USA vs. Finland - Semifinals (L, 4-3) | Game Center
Saturday, May 28 - Canada vs. Czechia - Semifinals (W 6-1) | Game Center
Sunday, May 29 - USA vs. Czechia - Bronze Medal Game (L, 4-8) | Game Center
Sunday, May 29 - Canada vs. Finland - Gold Medal Game (L 4-3 OT) | Game Center
• Four Wolverines Selected for Team USA World Championship Roster
• Johnson Named to Hockey Canada World Championship Roster
Sunday, May 29: Johnson Wins Silver Medal; Bordeleau Scores in Bronze Medal Game
Kent Johnson and Canada took the silver medal after falling to the host nation 4-3 in overtime. Canada had a 1-0 lead entering what would be a wild third period. A phantom penalty was called on Canada's Cole Sillenger for a high stick, giving Finland a 5x3 advantage. Silenger uses white tape on his blade, the high stick was the blacked-tape stick of Finland. Finland capitalized with back-to-back power-play goals to take a 2-1 lead. On the second goal, goaltender Chris Driedger was injured forcing third-string goalie Matt Tomkins in net with 15 minutes remaining. Canada scored two empty-net goals in the final three minutes to force overtime. A tripping penalty on Canada in overtime opened the door for Finland to net the power-play game winner. Johnson played limited minutes, 5:41, and had one shot on goal.
Thomas Bordeleau scored in the third period of the bronze medal game but the US came up short, falling 8-4 to Czechia. USA took a 3-1 lead after the first period but Czechia switched goaltenders and its lines and for the final two periods and outscored the USA 7-1. Bordeleau played limited minutes, 5:23, finishing a +1 and had two shots on goal. Luke Hughes skated with Seth Jones on the top pairing, putting in 24:05 of ice time. Strauss Mann dressed but did not play.
Saturday, May 28: Johnson's Two Points Advances Canada to Gold Medal Game; USA to Play for Bronze
Kent Johnson had a two-point game to help Canada advance to the gold medal game with a 6-1 win over Czechia. He had the primary assist on the go-ahead goal, a power-play tally in the second period. Less than two minutes later, he scored on the backhand to make it 3-1. He had two shots and finished a +1 in 10:05 on the ice. He now has four goals and three assists for the tournament.
The United States fell 4-3 to host nation Finland in the semifinals. The USA will play for the bronze medal Sunday (May 29) at 8:20 a.m. Luke Hughes was moved into the top pairing with Seth Jones and played 22:28 and took two shots. Thomas Bordeleau sat the first period and played limited minutes in the second and third, 6:09 total, and won three faceoffs. Strauss Mann dressed as the backup.
Kent Johnson (IIHF photo)
Thursday, May 26: Hughes Tallies Fourth Point as USA and Canada Advance
Luke Hughes had an assist, his third, and tallied his fourth point of the tournament in USA's 3-0 win quarterfinal win over Switzerland. He took one shot and played 14:16. Thomas Bordeleau and Strauss Mann both dressed but did not play. USA will place host nation Finland in the semifinals on Saturday (May 28).
Canada rallied from a three-goal deficit to defeat Sweden 4-3 in the quarterfinals. They will face Czechia in the semifinal on Saturday. Kent Johnson had two shots in the game and had 8:38 of ice time.
Tuesday, May 24: Hughes Nets Assist in US Win Over Norway
Luke Hughes had an assist in USA's 4-2 win over Norway to complete the preliminary round. He finished as a +2 with four shots and played more minutes than any other player on the team at 22:25. He and Ben Meyers had a great passing play to give USA a 3-1 lead in the second period. Strauss Mann came in on relief for Jeremy Swayman and played the final two periods. He made 12 saves and allowed two goals. Thomas Bordeleau did not dress. Team USA finished fourth in Group B to qualify for the eight-team quarterfinals.
Canada cruised to a 7-1 win over France in its final game. Kent Johnson had two shots and played 14:35. Canada finished third in Group A to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Monday, May 23: Johnson Attempts "The Michigan"; Canada, USA Fall
USA lost a 1-0 game to Czechia on Monday. Down to just five defenseman and maxed out on roster spots, it will be an uphill battle for the Americans. Nick Blankenburg and Jon Merrill are two defenseman lost as both suffered tournament-ending injuries. Luke Hughes will get major minutes and did so today, taking 24 shifts and playing 18:02. Thomas Bordeleau was not dressed for the game, and Strauss Mann was the backup goaltender.
Kent Johnson attempted The Michigan in third period as Canada lost 2-1 to Denmark. Johnson played 16:17.
Luke Hughes (IIHF photo)
Saturday, May 21: Johnson Scores Third Goal of the Tournament; USA Beats Sweden in OT
Kent Johnson scored a beautiful goal against Switzerland, the game's first goal. He broke the puck out after a defensive zone face off win, fed Matt Barzal on the boards to get around his defender, took the puck back and banked it off of netminder's knee from behind the red line extended. It's his third goal and fifth point of the tournament. Johnson played 17:03, finished a +2 and took two shots. Canada went on to lose the game 6-3, it's first loss of the tournament. They are in second place in Group A with 12 points, three behind the first-place Swiss.
USA earned a big 3-2 overtime win over Sweden on Saturday and now has 10 points through five games to sit in third place in the Group B standings. With five defenseman dressed, Luke Hughes played the most minutes he's played this tournament, 19:48. He finished a +1. Thomas Bordeleau won four face offs and had a chance to to end thins with a rip in the overtime session. He skated in 13:26. Nick Blankenburg, Jon Merrill did not dress and Strauss Mann was dressed as the backup.
Thursday, May 19: Johnson Records Two Assists in Canada's Win
Kent Johnson had two assists in Canada's 6-3 win over Kazakhstan. The game was delayed after a small fire at Helsinki Ice Hall prior to the Germany/Denmark game. Johnson had four shots in the game and played 13:24. He now has two goals and two assists in his four games.
The US posted a 3-0 shutout over Great Britain on Thursday as play resumed for the Americans. Jon Merrill played in his first game, slotted in on the first pair with Seth Jones, but left the game in the first period with an upper body injury and did not return. Luke Hughes played 18:26 while Nick Blankenburg took one shot in his 16:28. Thomas Bordeleau took five shots and won 66.67 percent of his face offs in 13:38 of ice time. After starting the first three games, Strauss Mann dressed as the backup.
Kent Johnson (IIHF photo)
Monday, May 16:Â Hughes Named Player of the Game; Canada Wins Third Straight
Canada topped Slovakia 5-1 on Monday (May 16). Kent Johnson was held off the score sheet for the first time this tournament. He had two shots on goal and played 16:34.
The US suffered its first loss of the tournament with a 4-1 defeat to the host nation Finland. The USA took nine penalties leading to more than 14 minutes of penalty kill time. A bright spot on the day was Luke Hughes being named the US Player of the Game. Hughes had the primary assist on the American's goal. He played 17:57 and had two shots. Thomas Bordeleau won 66.67 percent of his face offs and played 11:55. Nick Blakenburg had one shot in his 15:46 and drew a penalty in the second period. Strauss Mann made 21 saves in his third straight start.
Sunday, May 15: Hughes Scores Overtime Game-Winner; Johnson Nets Second of the Tournament
Luke Hughes was the hero for the United States, scoring on a breakaway in overtime for a 3-2 win over Austria -- complete with a bald eagle celebration by the Hobey Baker finalist. Down 1-0, Hughes nearly put USA on the board midway through the second when he had a chance but was hooked, setting up a power play. He finished with two shots in his 18:42 of ice time. Nick Blankenburg finished a +1 in his 13:16, while Thomas Bordeleau won five faceoffs in his 13:32. Strauss Mann made 14 saves in his second straight start and win.
Another familiar face on the ice was No. 7 Brian Lebler for Austria. Lebler was a four-year letterman for Michigan from 2007-10. A 2014 Olympian, Lebler is playing in his third World Championship.
Jon Merrill and two of his Minnesota Wild teammates are on their way to Finland to join Team USA. This will be Merrill's fifth World Championship. Merrill played three seasons with Michigan from 2011-13.
Kent Johnson scored his second goal in second game as Canada cruised to a 6-1 win over Italy. Johnson had terrific chemistry with his new linemate Matthew Barzal, who joined the team yesterday. Johnson's goal came in the second period, making it 4-1 Canada. He also drew a penalty in that period for a Canada power-play opportunity. Johnson finished with two shots in his 15:52 of ice time.
Luke Hughes (IIHF photo)
Friday, May 13: Canada Takes Down Germany, USA Defeats Latvia to Start Championship
Canada skated to a 5-3 win over Germany in its opening game. Kent Johnson netted the game-winning goal, a power-play tally in the second period. Johnson has now scored a goal at the World Juniors, Olympics and World Championship in a five-month time frame. Johnson drew a penalty in the third period, took three shots on goal and skated in 14:08.
The United States opened up the World Championships with a 4-1 win over Latvia. Strauss Mann got the start and made 13 saves in the victory, nine of which came in the first period. Nick Blankenburg and Luke Hughes were a defensive pair. Hughes, the youngest player on the team at 18, was not out of place. He took 22 shifts and played 16:11. Blankenburg took 18 shifts and played 14:39. Hughes and Thomas Bordeleau played on one of USA's power-play units together. Bordeleau also drew the team's second penalty which was converted by Seth Jones to make it 2-0 USA at 10:18 of the first. Bordeleau was a key factor on the penalty kill as well. After winning a defensive zone draw back, he swept in a Jones pass for a short-handed goal at 11:36.
Strauss Mann (IIHF photo)
