Bobby Goepfert Makes 22 Saves as U.S. Hockey National Junior Team Defeats Czech Republic, 4-3 - Providence College Official Athletics Site

Bobby Goepfert Makes 22 Saves as U.S. Hockey National Junior Team Defeats Czech Republic, 4-3

Goepfert earns fourth consecutive victory as U.S. advances to semifinals of the World Junior Championship.

Bobby Goepfert made 22 saves on January 2 to lead the U.S. National Junior Team past the Czech Republic, 4-3.

Jan. 2, 2003

SYDNEY, Nova Scotia -- Providence College freshman goaltender Bobby Goepfert (Kings Park, N.Y.) recorded another strong performance as he stopped 22 shots to lead the U.S. National Junior Team to a 4-3 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday, January 2 at the World Junior Championship.

With the win, the U.S. advanced to the semifinals and will face Canada on Friday, January 3 at 7:10 p.m. The win also moved the U.S. a step closer to earning a medal at the Championship for the first time since 1997 when the Americans captured the silver medal. The U.S. led, 4-2, after two periods before the Czech Republic cut the lead to 4-3 in the third period. However, Goepfert made the score stand by stopping eight shots in the third period. Goepfert held off early pressure from the Czechs with some solid saves, before the U.S. jumped ahead to a 2-0 first period lead. In the second period, Goepfert made 11 of his 22 saves as the Czech Republic outshot the U.S., 13-5. For the game the Czechs outshot the Americans, 25-18.

In five games at the Championship, Goepfert has posted a 4-0-0 record, a 1.50 goals against average and a .943 save percentage. He ranks second among goaltenders at the Tournament in goals against average and save percentage.

Goepfert has played in eight games for the Friars this season and has a 5-2-1 record. He is third in the nation with a .940 save percentage and fourth with a 1.85 goals against average. Goepfert was the runner-up for Hockey East Rookie of the Month for the months of October and November and runner-up for Hockey East Goaltender of the Month for November.

Prior to coming to Providence, Goepfert played junior hockey for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League. He earned USHL Goaltender of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and was named USHL Player of the Year in 2002. Goepfert was a sixth-round selection (171st overall) of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He is the son of JoAnn and Steve Goepfert. The Friars will return to action on Friday, January 3 when they host top-ranked Maine at Schneider Arena.