The Americans lost all three games in the preliminary round against Finland, Norway and Denmark failing to bring home a medal from the IIHF World Championships for the sixth straight year. The Czech Republic won the gold medal while Russia won silver.
The World Championships marked the first time Galiardi competed on the international stage. In 2007, Galiardi attended the USA National Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., but did not make the roster for the World Junior Championship team.
Galiardi, a dual citizen, was born in Canada and grew up in Calgary. Because his mother is from Phoenix, Ariz., Galiardi was eligible to play for Team USA.
Galiardi played for Dartmouth in the 2006-2007 season. That year, he scored 31 points 14 goals and 17 assists in 33 games and led the Big Green to the ECACHL Championship Game.
After being drafted in the second round, 55th overall, in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Galiardi spent the next two seasons with two Colorado Avalanche minor league affiliates the Calgary Hitmen and the Lake Erie Monsters. Galiardi received his introduction to elite level hockey in the NHL when he played in 11 games for the Avalanche at the end of the 2008-2009 season.
"When [Galiardi] first came up, he had some great games late that season," Adrian Dater said in an interview with The Dartmouth. "Then this past fall, he was able to break camp with the team."
Dater is a long-time sports writer and author of the "All Things Avs" blog for the Denver Post.
In the 2009-2010 season, Galiardi played in 70 regular season games and six playoff games with the Avalanche. He contributed 15 goals and 11 assists, leading all NHL rookies with four short-handed points.
Galiardi played in multiple positions over the course of the season. Starting off mainly on the penalty kill and defense, Galiardi also played center, and finished the season as the top-line left winger.
At only 22 years old, Galiardi has shown leadership and maturity beyond his years, according to Dater.
"He is a leader type who scores a lot of big goals," Dater said. "He really got under the skins of the Sharks in their playoff series."
Galiardi's contributions to the team are also reflected on the stat sheets.
Last year, he finished sixth among NHL rookies in points and finished fifth in both goals and assists.
A top penalty killer, Galiardi led all Avalanche forwards in short-handed time. Despite the amount of time he spends on the ice during opponent power plays, Galiardi finished the season with a +6 plus/minus ranking.
One of the most memorable highlights of Galiardi's season came on March 22 against the Los Angeles Kings. With less than 10 seconds to play and the Avalanche down by a goal, Galiardi slapped a rebound past the Kings' goalie to tie the game at three. The goal gave the Avalanche an important point toward its late-season playoff push.
With the IHF World Championship experience under his belt, Galiardi is one of the early candidates to make the U.S. Olympics team in 2014.
This past February, a young American Olympic squad played its way into the men's hockey finals game at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, before falling to host country Canada.
"I think he has a real good chance in making the 2014 American Olympics team," Dater said. "He is a smart kid and more mature-looking and sounding than his age suggests."
Galiardi and Avalanche spokesperson Jean Martineau could not be reached for comment.
