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4 // MAY 2024 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM J AMES HAGENS was happy to break a 13-year-old record at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. However, he would've rather helped Team USA win a gold medal. Hagens set a new single-tour- nament mark for most points (22), but the U.S. took home silver following a 6-4 loss against Canada in the gold-medal game. "Records are records, but the most unreal moments are being with the guys, going through the games and the ups and downs," Hagens said. "That's what you remember most, not the records you break. It's tough when you're standing on the other blue line watching a team cele- brate the gold medal. You're not thinking about a record that you set. We came in here and we were striving for a gold medal, and not being able to come out with that is tough." Hagens finished with 22 points in seven games, besting the 2011 mark previous- ly set by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov — this year's Art Ross Trophy winner — by one point. Hagens also established a new U.S. single-tournament record, previously held by Jack Hughes and Will Smith. "It's cool being able to see your name up there with those guys," Hagens said. "Those are guys I grew up watching and they still inspire me. I'm extremely grateful, but at the end of the day, the records, they don't ultimately matter." U.S. head coach Nick Fohr said Hagens' play throughout the season and tournament proves he belongs in the conversation with Kucherov, Hughes, Smith and others. While Fohr admits Hagens still has more to prove at the collegiate and eventually professional level, the standout forward is putting up numbers at a historic pace. O F F THE D R AW CLICK NOW to read more about James Hagens on Page 42. U S A H O C K E Y N E W S , P E O P L E & P R O G R A M S James Hagens Sets New IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship Points Record BY DAN SCIFO Jet Speed