Days after being named Player of the Game, the VJW veteran scored three goals to pace his team to a 12-1 victory over Latvia. Kreider, who was hauled down into the Latvian net (see right) to draw a penalty shot which helped to complete his hat trick with less than two minutes remaining in the game, has led Team USA to a 3-0-0-0 record and a berth into the quarterfinals with one game remaining in the preliminary round.

The team's next challenge will be its toughest as it takes on Canada on Thursday. Game time is 8:00 p.m. All games can be viewed live through Fast Hockey (click here to access Team USA’s full schedule).

Kreider, a native of Boxford and current freshman at Boston College, redirected a Cam Fowler slap shot under Swiss goalie Benjamin Conz for his first tally of the tournament just six minutes into the second period to give his team a 1-0 lead. As a result of his outstanding play, Kreider was named Team USA's Player of the Game.

Team USA will next face off against Latvia and Canada at the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship which runs through January 5 in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask. 

Kreider, who spent more than 10 years in a VJW jersey, was most recently a member of Ken Cleary’s VJW U-18 team.