2021 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM GAME NOTES 2021 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP | EDMONTON, ALBERTA | DEC. 25, 2020 - JAN. 5, 2021 PRELIMINARY GAME • USA (2-0-0-1) VS. SWEDEN (2-0-1-0 ) • EDMONTON, ALBERTA • ROGERS PLACE • DECEMBER 31, 2020 VERSUS SWEDEN SHUTOUTS The United States and Sweden have a close all-time series, with U.S. netminders Dustin Wolf and Spencer Knight recorded the U.S. record standing at 14-1-1-16-2 back-to-back shutouts against Austria and Czech Republic, (W-OTW-OTL-L-T). Sweden has outscored the U.S. 126-114. something the U.S. hadn't done since the 2015 tournament. However, the United States holds a significant advantage over Those back-to-back shutouts (2021, 2015) are the only in team Sweden in playoff round games, 7-2, including a 4-0 advantage history. The U.S. has never had three consecutive shutouts. This in gold and bronze-medal games. Team USA's last preliminary is the first time since 2015 that two different U.S. netminders win over Sweden was a 3-2 overtime thriller in the 2007 IIHF have recorded shutouts, when Thatcher Demko and Brandon World Junior Championship, with Nate Leaman serving as an Halverson accomplished the feat. Prior to this year's tournament, assistant coach. The U.S. went on to defeat Sweden in the Joe Woll (2018) was the last American goaltender to record a bronze-medal game, 2-1 in the tournament. shutout. Only two U.S. goaltenders have ever recorded two shutouts in a single tournament: Al Montoya (2004) and Brian TALKING POINTS Boucher (1997). USA Hockey will be hosting a virtual goaltending LAST 10 GAMES USA VS. SWEDEN pre-game party prior to tonight's game. More info on Page 2. In their last 10 matchups the U.S. holds a 6-1-1-2 (W-OTW- U.S. GAME SCHEDULE OTL-L) advantage, outscoring Sweden 39-23. Of the 10 games, only three were played in the preliminary round. Full matchup DATE OPPONENT TIME (LOCAL/ET) history on Page 9. TUES., DEC. 22 FINLAND* W, 3-2 TOURNAMENT GAME DATE RESULT Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2019 Preliminary 12/29/18 OTL, 4-5 FRI., DEC. 25 RUSSIA L, 3-5 2018 Semifinals 1/4/18 L, 2-4 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2016 Bronze-medal 1/5/16 W, 8-3 2016 Preliminary 12/28/15 L, 0-1 SAT., DEC. 26 AUSTRIA W, 11-0 2013 Gold-medal 1/5/13 W, 3-1 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2011 Bronze-medal 1/5/11 W, 4-2 2010 Semifinals 1/3/10 W, 5-2 TUES., DEC. 29 CZECH REPUBLIC W, 7-0 2007 Bronze-medal 1/5/07 W, 2-1 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2007 Preliminary 12/31/06 OTW, 3-2 2005 Quarterfinals 1/1/05 W, 8-2 THUR., DEC. 31 SWEDEN 7:30 PM/9:30 PM Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place STAYING DISCIPLINED SAT., JAN. 2 QUARTERFINALS TBD The U.S. National Junior Team has only taken five penalties Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place totaling 10 minutes through three games of the tournament. The MON., JAN. 4 SEMIFINALS TBD U.S. has yet to take back-to-back penalties in game action. Head Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place coach Nate Leaman has emphasized staying disciplined since the October training camp at USA Hockey Arena. Prior to both TUES., JAN. 5 BRONZE-MEDAL GAME 3:30 PM/5:30 AM the October and December camps, Leaman showed video clips Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place breaking down proper stick positioning and body checking in TUES., JAN. 5 GOLD-MEDAL GAME 7:30 PM/9:30 PM order to emphasize discipline. Of the five penalties, the U.S. has Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place been perfect on the penalty kill. The United States ranks first for top penalty killing honors in the tournament with a 100% rate. *Pre-tournament game All U.S. tournament games will be televised live on NHL Network Sweden has also stayed out of the penalty box, ranking 2nd behind only the U.S. in team penalty minutes. TEAM USA AT THE WORLD JUNIORS Entering the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, the United POSSESSION GAME States holds a 142-10-6-118-11 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) all-time The U.S. has outshot all three of its opponents in preliminary play, record in world junior championship play. Most recently, Team including outshooting its opponents in seven of the nine periods. USA finished sixth at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship Only Russia and Czech Republic outshot the U.S. in a period, in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic, after earning a silver in both in the first period of games. 2019 at Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. To date, Team USA has earned 12 podium finishes, including four gold medals A PRELIMINARY STREAK ENDED (2004, 2010, 2013, 2017), two silver medals (1997, 2019) and Sweden had won 54 consecutive preliminary games in World six bronze medals (1986, 1992, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2018). The Junior Championship play, prior to its 4-3 overtime loss against United States has medaled in six of the last 10 years, including Russia last night. Prior to Russia, the U.S. was Sweden's last a four year streak from 2016-19 that set a new U.S. record. The preliminary game loss in the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship. United States celebrated a successful decade from 2010-2020, Defenseman Jack Johnson's power play goal in overtime pushed collecting seven medals in 10 years. The three gold medals the United States squad to a 3-2 win. Since then, the U.S. and (2010, 2013, 2017) were only matched by Finland. The United Sweden have met twice in the preliminary round, with both games States has featured four tournament Most Valuable Players, being decided by one goal including an overtime final in the 2019 Zach Parise (2004), John Gibson (2013), Casey Mittelstadt IIHF World Junior Championship. (2018) and Ryan Poehling (2019). MEDIA INFORMATION CAREER WORLD JUNIORS ASSISTS All U.S. National Junior Team players, as well as head coach Nate Trevor Zegras is chasing down Jordan Schroeder's all-time USA Leaman, will be available for interviews in designated media Zooms career assists mark, set at 20 across three tournaments. Zegras is following practices and games. Members of the media are not allowed in currently tied for second with Doug Weight at 14 assists all-time. the U.S. dressing room at any time. Zegras recorded nine assists, all primary, in the 2020 tournament, MEDIA CONTACT: AARON WESTENDORF and has added five in 2021. 512.422.7752 [email protected] All media availability with U.S. team members must be arranged through WIN AND YOU'RE THE FIRST SEED Aaron Westendorf, who is on-site with Team USA throughout the event. Tonight's preliminary game will determine the top seed from Group B. If either team wins in regulation, they are the Group B ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/WORLDJUNIORS2021 Team USA information, including bios, team schedule, news and team first seed. 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. SWEDEN • DECEMBER 31, 2020 ADDITIONAL NOTES PRE-GAME VIRTUAL SUITE WITH USA HOCKEY WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN TRAINING? USA Hockey is hosting a pre-game virtual suite with notable Not all leagues have been able to begin their seasons, meaning American goaltenders including: Ben Bishop, Brian Boucher, some of Team USA's players have not played a game since last Steve Cash, Alex Cavallini, Jim Craig, Lefty Curran, Thatcher season. Below is a list of those players and where they've been Demko, Pam Dreyer, Robert Esche, Jimmy Howard, Steve training. Janaszak, Jack McCartan, Ryan Miller, Jake Oettinger, Cayden Primeau, Mike Richter, Maddie Rooney, Cory Schneider and Joe Sam Colangelo: has been training with Northeastern University Woll. The discussion will be led by ADM goaltending manager and Arthur Kaliyev: trained with Los Angeles Kings long-time volunteer Ron DeGregorio, who still laces them up as Alex Turcotte: trained at USA Hockey Arena with Cole Caufield a goaltender today after more than 40 years of service at USA and Cam York, in addition to training with Los Angeles Kings, Hockey. USA Hockey staff members Jim Smith, Pat Kelleher, Tami and briefly trained in Germany with Eisbären Berlin Tranter and Katie Million will also be in attendance. Dustin Wolf: trained in Stockton, Calif. with Flames organization, and traveled to Michigan early to train at USA Hockey Arena TEAM USA RANKINGS Trevor Zegras: trained with the Anaheim Ducks 1st - Penalty Kill (100%) GONE CAMPING 1st - PIM (10:00) OCTOBER CAMP 1st - Shutouts (2) 2nd - Scoring Efficiency (16.03%) Due to COVID-19 restrictions, USA Hockey was unable to host 2nd - Power Play (46.15%) its annual World Junior Summer Showcase, that would normally 2nd - Power Play Goals (6) play host to games between the United States, Canada, Finland 4th - Shots on Goal (131) and Sweden. The United States did hold a National Junior 4th - GAA (1.68) Evaluation Camp in Plymouth, Mich. at USA Hockey Arena from Oct. 8-13 that included 42 players. The camp, featuring SCORING LEADERS three days of intrasquad competition, allowed general manager Trevor Zegras is T-1st in individual tournament scoring with 10 John Vanbiesbrouck and his staff to review the talent pool of points in three games, while defenseman Cam York is T-1st in American players born in 2001 or later.