Jimmy Snuggerud had a hat trick and set up another goal, all in the first period, as Team USA beat Switzerland 11-3 on Thursday at the world junior hockey championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Snuggerud, a sophomore winger for the Gophers, is one of six Minnesotans on the U.S. team. Gavin Brindley had two goals for the second consecutive game, and Frank Nazar had four assists for the U.S. (2-0).
Bemidji State defenseman Eric Pohlkamp, Will Smith, Zeev Buium, Ryan Leonard. Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis.) and Quinn Finley also scored for the Americans in the Group B game. Cutter Gauthier added three assists.
The U.S., which plays Czechia on Friday, got 21 saves from Jacob Fowler while firing 40 shots at two Swiss goalies.
The American team, coached by Denver's David Carle, opened the tournament with a 4-1 victory over Norway on Tuesday. Team USA also includes Gophers defensemen Sam Rinzel and Ryan Chesley, Maple Grove's Danny Nelson (Notre Dame) and Gophers forward Oliver Moore.
In another Thursday game, Otto Stenberg had a hat trick as Sweden shut out Germany 5-0. Wild 2022 first-round pick Liam Ohgren, 19, is captain of the Swedish team and is in his third world junior tournament.
Canada won the past two tournaments.
