Oscar Dansk stopped 44 shots as Sweden edged the U.S. 1-0 on Monday in the World Junior A Challenge in Langley, B.C.

Defenseman Mike Reilly and forward A.J. Michaelson, two players expected to sign with the Gophers when the early signing period starts on Wednesday, played for the U.S. team as did forward Mario Lucia, the son of Gophers coach Don Lucia. Mario Lucia will be signing with Notre Dame.

The U.S. team outshot the Swedes 44-24 in the first 1-0 game in challenge history. The game was scoreless until Ludvig Nilsson scored for Sweden with six seconds left.

Reilly and Lucia are teammates for Penticton of the British Columbia Hockey League; Michaelson plays for Waterloo of the USHL.

Dansk is considered one of the top goalie prospects for the 2012 NHL draft. In another challenge game on Monday, Canada East beat the Czech Republic 5-0.

"We did so many things well tonight and not to get rewarded is frustrating," said Regg Simon, coach of the U.S. team which is the three-time defending champion in this tournament. "But I'm exceptionally proud of our guys and how we played. If we can play hockey like we did [Monday] for the rest of the tournament, I like our chances."

The U.S. team plays Canada West on Wednesday.

STAUBER COACHING U.S. WOMEN

Former Gophers goalie Robb Stauber will be the goalie coach and team scout for the U.S. women's national team in the 2011 Four Nations Cup starting Wednesday in Nykoping, Sweden.

The other teams in the tournament besides the U.S. and Sweden are Finland and Canada.