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OF A KINDFour W U.S. Sets The Gold Standard At IIHF Under-18 World Championship proudly hold up their index fingers to signify that they sit alone atop of the hockey world. But for members of the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team, it was appropriate to break custom by holding aloft four digits after its latest conquest. With a 7-0 victory over Sweden in the gold-medal game at the 2012 IIHF Men's World Under-18 Championship, Team USA had captured its fourth consecutive title at the event, the first U.S. National Team of any sort to execute such a streak. And as it turns out, the number four was of further significance to the U.S. Under-18 squad. Team USA allowed just four goals in the tournament, the lowest total for any team in the 13-year history of the event, en route to a 6-0-0-0 record. The U.S. was also able to compile four shutouts, including three from Collin Olson, which tied the tournament record set by American Jack Campbell in 2010. "I was confident going in, but never would have expected those results," said Olson, who became the third straight American netminder to receive the directorate award as the tournament's best goaltender. Olson collected a stunning 0.80 goals- against average and a .965 save percentage, allowing just two goals at even strength. However, Olson was quick to deflect praise to his teammates for his success. After all, the defense had allowed just 133 shots 26 hen posing for a championship photo, it's a matter of practice for members of the winning team to over six games, 31 less than the next closest opponent in the tournament. "Going out on the ice with the team that I had, [I wasn't] worried," said the Apple Valley, Minn., native. "All seven of the defensemen we brought played unbelievable. All of the forwards, even if they don't realize it – playing our system – you get over the red line, you shoot the puck in and go forecheck hard, that's 30-40 seconds the puck's not in our end and [the opponent's] not scoring." Pat Sieloff celebrates with the Championship Cup after the U.S. National Under-18 Team won its fourth straight title at the 2012 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship. The forwards also did the job offensively, scoring 20 of Team USA's 27 goals in the tournament. Nic Kerdiles was the team's leading goal scorer with, ahem, four tallies, to go along with a team-high nine points. JUNE/JULY.2012 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM highly-touted prospects Seth Jones, Jacob Trouba, Brady Skjei, Patrick Sieloff, Matt Grzelcyk, Connor Carrick and Will Butcher, were the talk of the tournament. Still, Team USA's defensive corps, including PHOTOS BY IIHF Images On Ice BY CHRIS PETERS