Daniil Ustinkov finally gets run against his own peer group at Five Nations

PLYMOUTH, Michigan – Daniil Ustinkov has become accustomed to being the youngest player on the ice. 

The Russian-born, Swiss defender won’t turn 18 until August and has been the youngest player in both Switzerland’s National League and the second tier Swiss League. When he played for Switzerland at the World Juniors in December, he was the third youngest player in the tournament. 

So for a week, it was a welcome change for Ustinkov play with his actual peers during the Under-18 Five Nations Tournament hosted here at USA Hockey Arena. 

“I’ve really gotten used to playing against adults in the men’s league, the physicality part of that, I had to learn, I think,” Ustinkov said. “It helps me in things like this (against under-18 competition.)” 

On the whole, the Swiss team struggled in the tournam