Team USA Defeats Poland in World Tourney; Goalie Injured

STOCKHOLM —  Team USA closed out the preliminary round of the World Hockey Championships with a 6-1 victory over Poland today, but possibly lost its goaltender for the rest of the tourney with an injury.

John Vanbiesbrouck, who plays for the New York Rangers, was removed to a hospital with a suspected broken jaw after being hit by the puck early in the second period.

Vanbiesbrouck was struck in the lower part of his face mask when a Polish shot deflected off his stick. The accident occurred about six minutes into the second period during a Polish power play.

Team USA already had one player sidelined with an injury. Last Friday, defenseman Phil Housley had torn collarbone ligaments in a 7-4 win over West Germany and has not played since.

Vanbiesbrouck was replaced in goal by two-time All-American Robb Stauber of the University of Minnesota, who shut out the Poles the rest of the way.

Team USA completed the preliminary round-robin portion of the tourney with a 2-1-4 won-tied-lost record.

The Americans play Poland again in the first relegation group game on Wednesday. The last-placed team drops to the B championships next year.

Team Canada faces defending world champion Sweden, and the unbeaten Soviets, 7-0, play Czechoslovakia in the opening medal round games Thursday.