2021 U.S. National Junior Team Game Notes 2021 Iihf World Junior Championship | Edmonton, Alberta | Dec
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2021 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM GAME NOTES 2021 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP | EDMONTON, ALBERTA | DEC. 25, 2020 - JAN. 5, 2021 PRELIMINARY GAME • USA (1-0-0-1) VS. CZECH REPUBLIC (1-0-0-1 ) • EDMONTON, ALBERTA • ROGERS PLACE • DECEMBER 29, 2020 VERSUS CZECH HATS OFF The United States holds a 13-2-1-7-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) all-time Matthew Boldy scored a hat trick Saturday night against Austria advantage over the Czech Republic, and have outscored them with two goals at even-strength and one on the power play. The 86-67. Team USA currently holds a six-game win streak over hat trick was the first for Team USA in World Juniors play since the Czech Republic, including last year’s 4-3 overtime win. Cole Ryan Poehling scored three in an overtime preliminary game Caufield (Stevens Point, Wis.) played overtime hero, quieting against Sweden in the 2019 tournament. The Boston College the rowdy Czech crowd inside Ostravar Arena. Alex Turcotte forward was credited with six shots on goal. Boldy's NCAA (Chicago, Ill.) was credited with the lone assist. Spencer Knight career-high is two goals, scored four different times including (Darien, Conn.) matched up against Czech goaltender Lukas against Nate Leaman's Providence Friars on Dec. 5, prior to Parik, as Knight earned the win stopping 26 of 29 shots. USA Hockey's training camp. Boldy's last recorded hat trick was on Feb. 16, 2018 with the U.S. National Team Development TALKING POINTS Program Under-17 Team. Boldy scored four goals against LAST 10 GAMES USA VS. CZECH REPUBLIC Sweden in a 10-2 win. In their last 10 matchups the U.S. holds a 7-2-0-1 (W-OTW- OTL-L) advantage, outscoring the Czech Republic 46-19. The U.S. GAME SCHEDULE team's have met only four times in preliminary round matchups DATE OPPONENT TIME (LOCAL/ET) over the 10 games. Full matchup history on Page 9. TUES., DEC. 22 FINLAND* W, 3-2 TOURNAMENT GAME DATE RESULT Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2020 Preliminary 12/30/19 OTW, 4-3 2019 Quarterfinals 1/2/19 W, 3-1 FRI., DEC. 25 RUSSIA L, 3-5 2018 Bronze-medal 1/5/18 W, 9-3 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2016 Quarterfinals 1/2/16 W, 7-0 2014 Preliminary 12/16/13 W, 5-1 SAT., DEC. 26 AUSTRIA W, 11-0 2013 Quarterfinals 1/2/13 W, 7-0 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2012 Preliminary 12/30/11 L, 2-5 2009 Fifth-place 1/4/09 OTW, 3-2 TUES., DEC. 29 CZECH REPUBLIC 12:00 PM/2:00 PM 2009 Preliminary 12/28/08 W, 4-3 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2006 Quarterfinals 1/2/06 W, 2-1 THUR., DEC. 31 SWEDEN 7:30 PM/9:30 PM Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place STAYING DISCIPLINED The U.S. National Junior Team has only taken three penalties SAT., JAN. 2 QUARTERFINALS TBD totaling six minutes through two games of the tournament. Head Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place coach Nate Leaman has emphasized staying disciplined since MON., JAN. 4 SEMIFINALS TBD the October training camp at USA Hockey Arena. Prior to both Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place the October and December camps, Leaman showed video clips breaking down proper stick positioning and body checking in TUES., JAN. 5 BRONZE-MEDAL GAME 3:30 PM/5:30 AM order to emphasize discipline. Of the three penalties, the U.S. has Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place been perfect on the penalty kill. The United States ranks first for TUES., JAN. 5 GOLD-MEDAL GAME 7:30 PM/9:30 PM top penalty killing honors in the tournament with a 100% rate. Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place The Czech Republic has given up the third-most power play opportunities with nine, compared to the United States' three. *Pre-tournament game All U.S. tournament games will be televised live on NHL Network TEAM USA AT THE WORLD JUNIORS POSSESSION GAME Entering the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, the United The U.S. has outshot both of its preliminary opponents, and has States holds a 142-10-6-118-11 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) all-time outshot opponents in five of six periods. In its second preliminary record in world junior championship play. Most recently, Team game, the U.S. outshot Austria 73-10, the most shots in U.S. USA finished sixth at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship history since it recorded 61 shots against Kazakhstan at the 2009 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic, after earning a silver in World Juniors. The 73 shots fell short of the third-highest marker 2019 at Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. To date, Team in IIHF World Junior Championship history, 81 set by Finland in USA has earned 12 podium finishes, including four gold medals 1987. (2004, 2010, 2013, 2017), two silver medals (1997, 2019) and SCORING LEADERS six bronze medals (1986, 1992, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2018). The United States has medaled in six of the last 10 years, including Six players on the U.S. roster are currently ranked in the top-20 in a four year streak from 2016-19 that set a new U.S. record. The tournament points scored: United States celebrated a successful decade from 2010-2020, T-3rd: Trevor Zegras (2-3—5) collecting seven medals in 10 years. The three gold medals T-8th: Matthew Boldy (3-1—4) (2010, 2013, 2017) were only matched by Finland. The United T-13th: John Farinacci (2-1—3) States has featured four tournament Most Valuable Players, T-13th: Brett Berrard (1-2—3) Zach Parise (2004), John Gibson (2013), Casey Mittelstadt T-13th: Cam York* (1-2—3) (2018) and Ryan Poehling (2019). T-13th: Alex Turcotte (0-3—3) *T-3rd among all defensemen MEDIA INFORMATION All U.S. National Junior Team players, as well as head coach Nate CAREER WORLD JUNIORS ASSISTS Leaman, will be available for interviews in designated media Zooms Trevor Zegras is chasing down Kyle Palmieri, Phil Kessel and following practices and games. Members of the media are not allowed in Jeremy Roenick in the USA record books for all-time assists the U.S. dressing room at any time. at World Juniors. The three are T-3rd with 12 assists, and Doug MEDIA CONTACT: AARON WESTENDORF Weight holds second with 14 all-time. Zegras enters today's 512.422.7752 [email protected] game with 11 career assists, after dishing out nine assists in the All media availability with U.S. team members must be arranged through 2020 tournament. Jordan Schroeder holds the all-time assist Aaron Westendorf, who is on-site with Team USA throughout the event. record with 20 in his career, across 19 games. Schroeder played ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/WORLDJUNIORS2021 in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 tournaments, winning gold in 2010. Team USA information, including bios, team schedule, news and team history are available at the official website of USA Hockey's national teams. @USAHOCKEY • TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/WORLDJUNIORS2021 • USAHOCKEY.COM • #USAWJC 1 2021 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM NOTES PRELIMINARY GAME VS. CZECH REPUBLIC • DECEMBER 29, 2020 ADDITIONAL NOTES TEAM USA RANKINGS VIRTUAL FANS Team USA ranks second in tournament SOG (99) and ranks Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there will be no fans in attendance second in goals scored (14). The U.S. ranks T-3rd with three at this year's World Junior Championship. However, there will still power play goals at 42.86% rate. The IIHF ranks Team USA 2nd be fans cheering on teams, albeit virtually, this year. Team USA in scoring efficiancy. has some special guests in its virtual crowd, including friends and family for some of the players. Matt Boldy's father, Todd, RETURN TO EDMONTON will be in attendance and says, "Go get the gold boys!" Dustin Five players on the U.S. National Junior Team competed in Wolf's mother, Michelle, will also be logging in from the Wolf's the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2018, hosted inside Rogers Place in house in Washington. The Rocha family are from Maryland but Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. The team's captain, John are currently station in Germany. DJ Lucey promsies to, "cheer Farinacci, scored in the third period against Russia to lead the so hard for Team USA they'll hear me up in Edmonton." Robert attempted comeback, and scored again versus Austria. Duritza is a youth hockey coach with three kids, all currently playing hockey, and will gather up the family to cheer on USA. MEET THE CAPTAINS Macy Piccoli says she'll be the best fan on the screen, and loves playing girls hockey. Best of all, Anna Martinkova lives in (C) CAM YORK: One of eight returners from last year’s National a Czech-American family and is looking forward to the family Junior Team, York is currently a sophomore at the University of rivalry. Michigan (Big Ten). This is York’s first time serving as a captain for Team USA, after playing in both the 2018 and 2019 IIHF WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN TRAINING? Under-18 Men’s World Championships, where he earned a silver Not all leagues have been able to begin their seasons, meaning and bronze medal. In the 2019 tournament, York set tournament some of Team USA's players have not played a game since last records for all-time tournament points by a defenseman (17) and season. Below is a list of those players and where they've been all-time tournament assists by a defenseman (13).