'Yotes Notes: Kuemper, OEL Reach Quarterfinals at World Championship

GLENDALE --Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped all 12 shots he faced tending net for Team Canada vs. Team Germany on Tuesday in the final preliminary-round game for both teams at the 2018 IIHF World Championship at Herning, Denmark.
Canada won, 3-0, to finish the first round 4-1-1-1 and to help set up a quarterfinal match vs. Russia on Thursday.
"It was a quick turnaround after playing last night, but I thought we did a good job," Kuemper said during a TV interview. "Everyone took care of their bodies and that helped make this game easier. We were super responsible and that's what you want to build on heading into the quarterfinals."

After sharing the net with teammate Curtis McElhinney, Kuemper appears to be Canada's starting goalie for the duration of the tournament. He's played in five of seven games and started the past two.
"I hadn't played in quite some time, since the end of the regular season," Kuemper said. "Just like the team, I wanted to build my game as the tournament went along and I feel pretty good in there right now ... We (he and McElhinney) are supporting each other and getting the opportunity to represent our country, so there's no time to be selfish or anything like that. It's been really positive between us, and we are always cheering for each other."
Kuemper, who has stopped 58 of 66 shots in the tournament and owns a 1.99 goals-against average, said playing a hockey powerhouse such as Team Russia in the quarterfinals will be exciting.
"We have a lot of good players in here and we're excited for the challenge," Kuemper said.
• Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson played 24:35 and notched an assist for Team Sweden in its 3-1 victory over Russia on Tuesday at Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Swedes finished the preliminary round unbeaten with a 6-1-0-0 record and will face Team Latvia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Ekman-Larsson has notched one goal and three assists in seven games for Sweden, and leads the team in ice time (169:34) and ice time/per game (24:13). He also ranks second with 23 shots on goal, trailing only forward Rickard Rakell (27).
• The Coyotes added center David Ullstrom to the mix on Tuesday by signing the 29-year-old Swede to a one-year, two-way contract.
Ullstrom has played 52 NHL games, all for the New York Islanders from 2011-13, including three playoff games. He has six goals and eight assists on his NHL resume. New York drafted him 102nd overall in 2008.
After leaving the NHL following the 2012-13 season, Ullstrom played in the KHL and in Sweden.

"I expect him to come in and compete for a roster spot like all of our younger players," General Manager John Chayka said. "We have a flexible roster and want competition to be at an all-time high in training camp. David's a versatile player and we believe his game will translate well to the North American game and ice surface. He's motivated to get an opportunity to play at this level."
• Prospects MacKenzie Entwistle and Tyler Steenbergen forever will be linked as Coyotes draftees in 2017. And now, both are set to participate in the 2018 Memorial Cup, which begins Friday in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Entwistle and Steenbergen are acquaintances who met at the Coyotes rookie camp last September.

Entwistle plays forward for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League; Steenbergen plays forward for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. Those teams are scheduled to play each other on Monday, May 21, at the four-team, round-robin event.
"We got to know each other pretty well when we were down there (in Arizona), but we haven't really texted throughout the season," Steenbergen said. "It'll be nice to see his face, and I'm sure we'll say 'hi' on the ice, but once the puck drops it will be game time and we'll be ready to go against each other."

Entwistle agreed.
"Obviously it's going to be cool to see him there," Entwistle said. "... I got to know him down there (in Arizona) and watched him at the World Juniors score that big goal for Canada (in the gold-medal game). It was a great accomplishment for him and the country, so I'm excited to see him and play against him."