2023 World U20 Championship Tournament Site
OTOPENI, Romania — Princeton University goalkeeper West Temkin (Fr., Alamo, Calif./Campolindo) capped off a week in which he registered 66 saves in seven games by turning aside 12 shots as the United States cut down Greece, 11-6, in the 22nd World U20 Championships Bronze Medal game hosted near Bucharest, Romania.
Temkin – who made eight saves versus Greece (13-10 W), five against Hungary (12-6 L), 10 facing Serbia (8-7 L), 11 more in topping Australia (11-8 W), a dozen in taking out Montenegro in the quarterfinals (10-9 W) and eight more in a 13-9 semifinal defeat by Hungary – was recognized for his performance with status as the tournament’s Outstanding Goalkeeper.
The United States’ placement is historic as it marks the nation’s first ever medal at a men’s age-group World Championship (U16, U18, U20 and senior categories). The first senior World Championships was held in 1973. The World Men’s Junior (U20) Championships were inaugurated in 1981. The first World U18 Championships was staged in 2012, while the first World U16 Champs was last year.
Facing Greece for the second time after notching a 13-10 win on Saturday, June 10, in the opening game for both programs’ in Group B, the Americans never trailed as Team USA jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to natural markers with 5:38 and 4:45 left in the first quarter. Greece cut into the margin with 3:22 on the clock via a penalty shot, but the North Americans answered with consecutive man-up tallies at 1:51 and eight seconds to pull ahead after eight minutes of action.
The Greeks chipped their deficit down to a pair at 4-2 with 6:19 on the second quarter clock courtesy another penalty shot. However, Team USA took command of the remaining six minutes in the first half by stuffing in a penalty shot (3:15) and an even-strength strike (56 seconds) to possess a commanding four-goal lead at 6-2 entering halftime.
Following over three and a half minutes of back-and-forth play in the third quarter, the Americans broke through with a man-up goal (4:22) to pull ahead 7-2. The run was short-lived, however, as Greece notched man-up (2:11) and even-strength (34 seconds) markers to shrink the United States’ lead to 7-4 heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
The teams exchanged two goal spurts in the fourth quarter as the Americans racked up back-to-back power-play goals (7:31, 6:46) to make it 9-4, but Greece responded with even-strength (5:46) and man-up (4:50) answers to again inch within three at 9-6.
Facing the potential of Greece continuing its string and potentially forcing overtime – or claiming victory in regulation – Temkin and the Americans stiffened on defense and the offense did the rest by putting away six-on-six goals at 3:32 and 2:04 to account for the final blows in the 11-6 Bronze Medal victory.
2023 World U20 Championships Final Standings: 1. Hungary, 2. Serbia, 3. USA, 4. Greece, 5. Spain, 6. Italy, 7. Montenegro, 8. Croatia, 9. Japan, 10. Netherlands, 11.Australia, 12. Romania, 13. Germany, 14. Brazil, 15. Iran, 16. Argentina, 17. New Zealand, 18. South Africa, 19. Peru.
