skip navigation

U.S. Deaflympic Ice Hockey Team Claims Bronze

By USAHockey.com, 04/05/15, 11:30AM MDT

Share

Ruef and Struwing Lead Team USA Past Finland, 6-5

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.Robert Ruef (Erie, Pa.) recorded four points and Derek Struwing (Bartlett, Ill.) scored two goals as the U.S. Deaflympic Ice Hockey Team defeated Finland, 6-5, today to claim bronze at the 18th Winter Deaflympics in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

U.S. captain Jim Crane (San Diego, Calif.) opened the scoring just two minutes into the game. Four minutes later, Peter Gintoli (Shelton, Conn.) finished a pass from Ruef to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead. 

Struwing’s shorthanded tally 11:31 into the second stanza made it 3-0 for the U.S. Two minutes later, Ruef’s goal gave the U.S. a 4-0 lead before Victor Lindfors responded to make it 4-1.

Finland’s Janne Yrjola connected just :14 into the final frame to cut Team USA’s lead to two. Both teams continued to trade chances until Struwing’s second goal of the game made it 5-2 with 9:37 remaining in the period. Yrjola scored again for Finland two minutes later, but Garrett Gintoli (Shelton, Conn.) gave the U.S. a comfortable 6-3 cushion just 90 seconds later. 

Finland made it interesting with two goals in the final three minutes, but fell short of scoring the equalizer as the U.S. captured the bronze medal. 

The U.S. outscored its opponents 37-18 over five games and finished the tournament with a 3-0-2 (W-T-L) record.

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Finland, 44-35 … For complete stats, click here …  For the complete U.S. roster, click here … For more information on U.S. Deaf Hockey, click here … Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.), head coach of the U.S. Deaflympic Ice Hockey Team, also serves as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … The U.S. Deaflympic Ice Hockey Team operates under the governance of the USA Deaf Sports Federation.

Recent News

  • Otterly Unstoppable

  • By Justin Felisko 04/13/2025, 12:00pm MDT
  • SoCal Sea Otters win second consecutive 21+ Tier 3 title at 2025 USA Hockey-Long Drink Adult Women’s National Championships
  • Read More
Kenzie Kattich
  • Double Duty

  • By Justin Felisko 04/12/2025, 5:00am MDT
  • Kenzie Kattich Is Proud of Her Adult and Warrior Hockey Support System
  • Read More
Sydney Parkhurst
  • Rediscovering The Sport

  • By Justin Felisko 04/11/2025, 9:15am MDT
  • Sydney Parkhurst is back playing the game she loves thanks to adult hockey; USA Hockey-Long Drink Adult Women’s National Championships underway in Florida
  • Read More
Cindy Curley

Most Popular Articles

All Game Streaming Exclusively on USAHockeyTV.com

Game-like Practices Get the Most Out of Your Players

By Mike Doyle 03/12/2025, 4:30pm MDT

Cincinnati IceBreakers Helping Grow Sled Hockey In Ohio

By Steve Drumwright 04/23/2025, 3:45pm MDT

The 2025 USA Hockey Sled National Championships Are Slated For May 1-4 in Coral Springs, Fla