Tad O’Had, Director of Hockey Operations for BlueStreak Sports and co-founder of Hybrid Hockey, sent the following update about Team USA:

The Russian National Junior Team jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead, added another goal early in the second period to go up 4-0 and held on for a 4-2 win over the U.S. Team USA played much better after the first period, but couldn’t dig themselves out of the hole they had created. Any hopes of a last minute rally were negated by two penalties in the game’s final four minutes.

“It was disappointing to finish the way we did after such a good start in this tournament,” said U.S. head coach John Hynes. “We lacked the intensity we needed today.”

Bobby Sanguinetti was named the U.S. Player of the game. Nikita Filatov received the Russian honors.

The top three U.S. players for the whole tournament — as chosen by the tournament committee — were James vanRiemsdyk, Chris Summers and Colin Wilson.

Canada went on to defeat Sweden in overtime capturing their fifth gold medal in the past five years.

Next season’s World Junior Championship will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, and will run from Dec. 26, 2008 to Jan. 5, 2009.

You can view a photo gallery from the tournament at US College Hockey Online.