By Harry Thompson
USA Hockey Magazine

BUFFALO, N.Y. - With every bad bounce and every near miss, the frustration on Kyle Palmieri’s face became more evident.

As one of eight returning players from last year’s gold-medal winning team, Palmieri is looked upon as a leader on the U.S. National Junior Team that is looking to defend its crown at this year’s IIHF World Junior Championship tournament in Buffalo.

He ranked second on Team USA with eight assists, and recorded points in all but one game during the 2010 tournament playing on a line with Jordan Schroeder and Phillip McRae.

After a solid start to the season with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, there was little doubt that Palmieri would provide offensive firepower for this year’s squad.

Yet, against a tough Finland team, Palmieri was eyelash close from potting several goals, and as the seconds ticked down on what was a hard-fought game, the frustration seemed to grow.

“In a short tournament like this you pretty much have to have a short memory,” said Palmieri who was kept off the score sheet for only the second time in eight World Junior games.

“You have one bad game you don’t have time to sulk about it. You have to go out the next night and keep playing the way you are.”

There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep and a fresh start against a sluggish Slovakian team that was still feeling the effects of the previous night’s game, to jumpstart the offensive juggernaut.

Palmieri rediscovered his scoring touch with two first-period goals to lead the injury-riddled Americans to a 6-1 victory that kept the Yanks at the top of the standings in Pool A with 5 out of a potential 6 points. Read more >>