U.S. goalie Jack Campbell holds many U18 records that will be tough to equal let alone surpass.
photo: Matthew Manor / HHOF-IIHF Images
Although the men’s U18 has been around only since 1999, it has still produced many great moments and memories—and many nearly untouchable records. Here are the Top 10 Records in U18 play:
Most medals—17
The USA has ten gold and 17 total medals (10, 4,3) in 21 tournaments, by far the most. Finland has four gold and the Finns and Russians 11 total.
Most fans—12,820
The Minsk Arena attracted the largest crowd to a single WM18 game on April 23, 2010, to watch the U.S. beat Sweden, 3-1, in the gold-medal game.
Most tournaments, player—3
It’s pretty much impossible for a player to appear in four U18s, but eight players have appeared in three, including Michael Frolik (CZE), Andrei Kostitsyn (BLR), Alexei Shagov (BLR), Olexander Skorokhod (UKR), Konstantin Zakharov (BLR), Jakub Vrana (CZE), Nico Hischier (SUI), Nico Gross (SUI). Andrei Vasilevskiy of Russia is the only goalie on this list.
Most power-play goals, player, period—3
This is a record that will last a long time. Sweden beat Switzerland, 8-1, at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks on April 18, 2016, and along the way they scored five power-play goals. Two came in the second and three in the third, and Tim Wahlgren was responsible for all three in the final 20 minutes. In fact, the goals came on different man-advantage situations, and Wahlgren scored them all in a span of just 2:57. This is also the record for fastest three goals by a player in U18 play.
Most Points, career—32
Jack Hughes set the standard in 2019, surpassing Alexander Ovechkin by one point. Hughes had 12 points in his first U18 in 2018, and a year later had 20 points. His 31st and 32nd points, both assists, came in his final career U18 game, a 5-2 win over Canada in the bronze-medal game.
Jack Campbell (USA)
The American goalie gets an entry to call his own because he is a record machine. He is the only goalie tow have won two gold medals in U18 play. His 9 wins is also number one are his 5 shutouts. His career GAA is the lowest all time at 0.80, and he’s even tied for most assists by a goalie (2). His shutout streak of 274:56 is also tops.
Fastest two goals, team—5 seconds
There is a small window to improve on this record, but no IIHF event has seen faster goals, so it’s unlikely. In the case of U18, Russia scored two quickies on April 15, 2002, against Germany. Ilya Krikunov and Yevgeni Tunik were the scorers at 14:22 and 14:27 of the 3rd period.
Goalie goals—1
In all IIHF top-level competition the only goalie to be credited with a goal is Russia’s Anton Khudobin. On April 12,2004, his team beat Finland, 5-2. In the final minute, the Finns pulled their goalie, and with 48 seconds remaining Khudobin controlled the puck and fired it into the empty net to make it 4-2. They added a second empty netter at 59:59.
Most penalties, period, individual—5
This isn’t a record any player hopes to equal or break, but on April 23, 2008, Russian Vyacheslav Kulyomin incurred five penalties in the third period of his team’s game against Canada—3 minors, a major, and a game misconduct.
Fewest Shots, Team, Game—6
Another record teams would like to avoid. Germany managed only six shots in an entire game (3+1+2) against the United States on April 15, 1999, during the first ever U18 World Championship. The Americans had 42 shots and won, 6-0.
Most medals—17
The USA has ten gold and 17 total medals (10, 4,3) in 21 tournaments, by far the most. Finland has four gold and the Finns and Russians 11 total.
Most fans—12,820
The Minsk Arena attracted the largest crowd to a single WM18 game on April 23, 2010, to watch the U.S. beat Sweden, 3-1, in the gold-medal game.
Most tournaments, player—3
It’s pretty much impossible for a player to appear in four U18s, but eight players have appeared in three, including Michael Frolik (CZE), Andrei Kostitsyn (BLR), Alexei Shagov (BLR), Olexander Skorokhod (UKR), Konstantin Zakharov (BLR), Jakub Vrana (CZE), Nico Hischier (SUI), Nico Gross (SUI). Andrei Vasilevskiy of Russia is the only goalie on this list.
Most power-play goals, player, period—3
This is a record that will last a long time. Sweden beat Switzerland, 8-1, at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks on April 18, 2016, and along the way they scored five power-play goals. Two came in the second and three in the third, and Tim Wahlgren was responsible for all three in the final 20 minutes. In fact, the goals came on different man-advantage situations, and Wahlgren scored them all in a span of just 2:57. This is also the record for fastest three goals by a player in U18 play.
Most Points, career—32
Jack Hughes set the standard in 2019, surpassing Alexander Ovechkin by one point. Hughes had 12 points in his first U18 in 2018, and a year later had 20 points. His 31st and 32nd points, both assists, came in his final career U18 game, a 5-2 win over Canada in the bronze-medal game.
Jack Campbell (USA)
The American goalie gets an entry to call his own because he is a record machine. He is the only goalie tow have won two gold medals in U18 play. His 9 wins is also number one are his 5 shutouts. His career GAA is the lowest all time at 0.80, and he’s even tied for most assists by a goalie (2). His shutout streak of 274:56 is also tops.
Fastest two goals, team—5 seconds
There is a small window to improve on this record, but no IIHF event has seen faster goals, so it’s unlikely. In the case of U18, Russia scored two quickies on April 15, 2002, against Germany. Ilya Krikunov and Yevgeni Tunik were the scorers at 14:22 and 14:27 of the 3rd period.
Goalie goals—1
In all IIHF top-level competition the only goalie to be credited with a goal is Russia’s Anton Khudobin. On April 12,2004, his team beat Finland, 5-2. In the final minute, the Finns pulled their goalie, and with 48 seconds remaining Khudobin controlled the puck and fired it into the empty net to make it 4-2. They added a second empty netter at 59:59.
Most penalties, period, individual—5
This isn’t a record any player hopes to equal or break, but on April 23, 2008, Russian Vyacheslav Kulyomin incurred five penalties in the third period of his team’s game against Canada—3 minors, a major, and a game misconduct.
Fewest Shots, Team, Game—6
Another record teams would like to avoid. Germany managed only six shots in an entire game (3+1+2) against the United States on April 15, 1999, during the first ever U18 World Championship. The Americans had 42 shots and won, 6-0.