NY Islanders prospects and Team USA fall short, exiting the World Junior Championship earlier than expected

After back-to-back Gold Medals at the World Junior Championship, the USA fell short of making it a three-peat, falling dramatically to Finland.

After a subpar tournament from NY Islanders prospects Cole Eiserman and Kamil Bednarik, the two Boston University Terriers left their stamp on the quarter-final matchup.

USA eliminated from the WJC

Bednarik, held to one assist through four games, had been playing as the USA’s 13th forward, but was promoted to fourth-line center. He’d earn the primary assist on the opening goal of the game, finding his BU teammate Cole Hutson trailing the play and giving the US a 1-0 lead.

After Finland knotted the game up one, Eiserman did what he does best - excel on the power play. Hutson found Eiserman in his office near the right circle, firing a one-timer past the Finnish netminder to restore the one-goal lead. 

After giving up two goals and the lead in a span of 55 seconds, the US tied the game late on a Ryker Lee goal with 1:33 remaining to force OT. 

The Finns came out on top in the extra stanza cashing in just 2:11 into the three-on-three.

It was a tough loss, and not the one the Americans had expected on home soil, leaving the players and staff disappointed in the final result

"That we let our country down,” Wiserman said on what was most disappointing. “We're on home soil, and [the fans] did a great job coming to our games and we didn't do it for them. That's the hardest part.”