What do you think enables the US U18 hockey team to do so well in the U18 Championships?

I'm gueesing the IIHF World U18 Championships are the minor league of international ice hockey. Whereas the World Juniors, and the Olympics are the major leagues where the Americans generally struggle in since only a few are able to compete with the world's best at a professional level. American born hockey players generally don't get much credit, even when they place 1st overall in the NHL draft. I think guys like Mike Modano, defenseman Erik Johnson, Patrick Kane, and Bryan Berard, and I think Brian Leetch deserved the Conn Smythe Trophy back in '94. I don;t know about Rick DePietro.