U.S. finishes World Championships preliminary round with 6-1 record

U.S. BEATS SWISS

Former Gophers defenseman Alex Goligoski had a goal as the U.S beat Switzerland 5-2 on Tuesday in the World Championships in Helsinski, Finland. Paul Stasny had a goal and two assists for the Americans.

Next the U.S. will play Finland again at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the tournament's quarterfinals. The NBC Sports Network will televise the game live. The U.S. beat the Finns 5-0 on Sunday in the preliminary round. The U.S. is 6-1 in the tournament so far.

Thursday's quarterfinals

Upper bracket

Canada vs. Slovakia

Sweden vs. Czechs

Russia vs. Norway

U.S. vs. Finland

Semifinals are on Saturday, the championship game on Sunday.

Here is where the other teams in the World Championships finished:

9. France

11. Switzerland

12. Germany

13. Denmark

14. Belarus

15. Italy

BADGERS SIGN D-MAN

Eddie Wittchow, a 6-4, 220-pound defenseman from Burnsville, has signed with Wisconsin. He will join the Badgers for the 2012-13 season.

He is playing now for Waterloo of the USHL. In 60 regular-season games, Wittchow had five goals and 13 assists for 18 points and, in nine playoff games, he has four assists. He was a team-best plus-22 before postseason play.

Waterloo is tied with Green Bay at 1-1 in the best-of-five Clark Cup finals.

PARADE SET FOR VEES

It won the RBC Cup on Sunday in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, which goes to the best Junior A team out of 133 in Canada.

After the parade, there will be a celebration and an awards presentation at the South Okanagen Events Center.

Eight of the players on the Vees roster this season were from Minnesota, including the three Reilly brothers, who will all play for the Gophers next season, and coach Don Lucia's son, Mario, who will play for Notre Dame.

AWARDS AT DU

Junior co-captain Drew Shore was named the MVP, the best offensive player and the three-star points leader for the Denver Pioneers who finished 25-14-4. After the season ended, he signed with the NHL's Florida Panthers.

Named the most inspirational player was goalie Sam Brittain. The top freshman was defenseman Joey LaLeggia, the most improved player Chris Knowlton, a junior forward.