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2017 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM GAME NOTES 2017 INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP | MONTREAL AND TORONTO, CANADA PRE-TOURNAMENT GAME • USA VS. SWITZERLAND • WED, DEC. 21, 2016 • 7:00 P.M. ET • OSHAWA, ONTARIO • TRIBUTE COMMUNITIES CENTRE TONIGHT’S GAME 2017 IIHF WJC: TEAM USA OUTLOOK The United States faces Switzerland tonight in its first pre-tournament Team USA will play its preliminary-round games at the Air Canada Centre action before the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior in Toronto against Canada, Latvia, Russia and Slovakia. Quarterfinals will Championship.Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET at the Tribute Communities be split between the Bell Centre in Montreal and Air Canada Centre while Centre (capacity: 5,500) here in Oshawa, Ontario. The game will be the semifinal and medal games will be played at the Bell Centre. For updated live on Twitter @USAHockeyScores. more information, visit teamusa.usahockey.com/worldjuniors2017. ST. CLOUD’S BOB MOTZKO LEADING TEAM USA FOR FIRST TIME TOURNAMENT HOSTS JOIN TEAM USA Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn.), head coach of St. Cloud State Team USA has two team hosts -- J.F. Beaupre and Ryan Hancock -- who University’s men’s ice hockey program, is making his international head joined the team yesterday (Dec. 20) in Oshawa and will remain embedded coaching debut as a Team USA head coach with the 2017 U.S. National with the squad throughout its stay in Canada. The duo, who fulfilled this Junior Team. This is the second time Motzko will be behind a Team USA same role during the 2015 IIIHF World Junior Championship, will ensure bench after serving as an assistant coach for the 2014 U.S. National Team USA has a seamless experience during its stay. From Montreal, Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden. Beaupre’s full- time job is as plant manager at Numest in Laval, Quebec. For a complete bio on Motzko, visit page 4. Hancock is a risk manager for Mercedes Benz in Toronto. KUNIN, WHITE AND MCAVOY TO LEAD TEAM USA NHL NETWORK TO BROADCAST In an afternoon team meeting last Sunday (Dec. 18), head coach Bob NHL Network is the exclusive U.S. TV home of the 2017 IIHF World Motzko named forward Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo./University of Junior Championship and will provide live telecasts of all U.S. games Wisconsin) captain of the 2017 U.S. National Junior Team. In addition, and 23 games in total. NHL Now co-host Steve Mears, longtime NCAA Motzko tabbed forward Colin White (Hanover, Mass./Boston College) hockey analyst Dave Starman and veteran reporter Jill Savage will and defenseman Charlie McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y./Boston University), provide commentary for every Team USA game. two returning bronze medalists from last year’s squad, as alternate captains. To watch the moment, visit teamusa.usahockey.com/ SEVENTH HEAVEN worldjuniors2017. Seven players from Boston University are here at the 2017 U.S. National Junior Team training camp. Those players include goaltender Jake TEAM USA ARRIVES IN CANADA Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.), defensemen Charlie McAvoy (Long The United States arrived in Canada yesterday (Dec. 20) after spending five Beach, N.Y.) and Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.), and forwards Kieffer days in Buffalo, New York. There, amidst the continuous snow fall, Team Bellows (Edina, Minn.), Jordan Greenway (Canton, N.Y.), Patrick USA took part in daily practices and meetings at Buffalo’s HarborCenter, Harper (New Canaan, Conn.) and Clayton Keller (St. Louis, Mo.). which will play a role in next year’s tournament along with the KeyBank Never before have seven players from one team represented the U.S. Center, home of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Practices included skill drills, National Junior Team in a single tournament. The highest ever was game situation exercises, and an intersquad scrimmage before closing when the University of Minnesota sent six players -- Aaron Broten, Neal with a shootout contest won by forward Logan Brown (St. Louis, Mo./ Broten, Bryan Erickson, Jim Jetland, Mike Ramsey and Steve Ulseth -- Windsor Spitfires) on the final day of practice. to the 1979 IIHF World Junior Championship in Carlsbad and Karlskoga, Sweden. Team USA, coached by 2014 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS inductee Lou Vairo, earned sixth place and saw Aaron Broten finished Celebrations are in order as defenseman and alternate captain Charlie seventh in tournament scoring. McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y./Boston University) turns 19 today. He is the third U.S. player to be celebrating his birthday since camp opened on Dec. 16. Last Sunday (Dec. 18), forward Alex DeBrincat (Farmington TEAM USA SCHEDULE Hills, Mich,/Erie Otters) also celebrated his 19th birthday while goaltender Broadcast NHL NETWORK EASTERN TIME TV Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn./Boston University) turned 18. All U.S. tournament games to be televised live on NHL Network QUICK GLANCE: U.S. PRELIMINARY ROSTER Wed., Dec. 21 SWITZERLAND 7:00 P.M. TOURNAMENT The preliminary roster for the 2017 U.S. National Junior Team was Oshawa, Ontario Jersey: Blue PRE announced on Dec. 5, 2016, by USA Hockey exclusively on NHL Fri., Dec. 23 CZECH REPUBLIC 7:00 P.M. Network’s “NHL Now.” The players at camp include four returnees from last year’s bronze-medal winning 2016 U.S. National Junior Team and 10 Kingston, Ontario other players who have previously earned IIHF medals with Team USA. Mon., Dec. 26 LATVIA 3:30 P.M. Forward Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn./Univ. of North Dakota), who ROUND PRELIMINARY was also a member of the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team, was named to Toronto, Ontario the roster but is unable to attend due to injury. For a full roster and player Wed., Dec. 28 SLOVAKIA 7:30 P.M. GROUP A breakdowns, see pages 3 and 4. Toronto, Ontario TEAM USA STAFF RUNDOWN Thurs., Dec. 29 RUSSIA 3:30 P.M. Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo./USA Hockey) is serving Toronto, Ontario as general manager for the U.S. National Junior Team for the eighth Sat., Dec. 31 CANADA 3:30 P.M. consecutive time. Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn.), the 2014 National Toronto, Ontario Collegiate Hockey Conference Coach of the Year and two-time Western Mon., Jan. 2 QUARTERFINALS TBD Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year (2006, 2007) with St. Cloud State University’s men’s ice hockey program, is serving as head TBD ROUND PLAYOFF coach. Joining Motzko behind the bench are assistant coaches Greg Wed., Jan. 4 SEMIFINALS TBD Brown (Scituate, Mass./Boston College), Grant Potulny (Minneapolis, Montreal, Quebec Minn./Univ. of Minnesota), Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, Pa./Providence Thurs., Jan. 5 BRONZE MEDAL GAME 3:30 P.M. College) and Steve Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Force Academy). Montreal, Quebec Ryan Martin (Simsbury, Conn./Detroit Red Wings) and Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass./USA Hockey) will again assist with player evaluation Thurs., Jan. 5 GOLD MEDAL GAME 8:00 P.M. during training camp. Team USA’s support staff includes video Montreal, Quebec SOCIAL coordinator Matt Chapman (Bloomington, Ind./St. Cloud State Univ.); Social Media FOLLOW USA HOCKEY @usahockey equipment managers Scott Aldrich (Colorado Springs, Colo./USA Hockey) and Joe Guilmet (San Diego, Calif./Arizona State University); Facebook Twitter Instagram YouToube @usahockeyscores athletic trainers Jason Hodges (New Baltimore, Mich./USA Hockey National Team Development Program) and Stan Wong (Boca Raton, MEDIA CONTACT: Jon Gomez • Manager, Communications • 973.723.5744 • [email protected] Fla./USA Hockey); team physician Dr. Phil Johnson (Fargo, N.D./USA All media availability must be arranged through Jon Gomez. All team members, including head coach Bob Motzko, will be available for post-practice interviews in the designated mixed-zone Hockey); and communications Jon Gomez (Colorado Springs, Colo./ area. Other media requests may be submitted through Jon Gomez. Members of the media are USA Hockey). not allowed in the U.S. dressing room. 1 DECEMBER 21, 2016 • @USAHOCKEY • TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/WORLDJUNIORS2017 • USAHOCKEY.COM • #USAWJC 1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2017 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ GAME NOTES VS. SWITZERLAND ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2017 U.S. IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN NOTABLE TEAM USA STATISTICS SWITZERLAND TALE OF THE TAPE Last Meeting: Team USA topped Switzerland, 10-1 in the preliminary round of the 2016 ALL-TIME MEDALS AT WORLD JUNIORS IIHF World Junior Championship. The 10 Year Medal Coach Result Opp. USA SUI goals scored were the most by a U.S. team 2016 Bronze Ron Wilson W, 8-3 SWE GF-GA: 128-43 43-128 in tournament play since Team USA tallied 2013 Gold Phil Housley W, 3-1 SWE W-L: 20-0 0-20 11 against Denmark at the 2012 event. Series vs. Switzerland: 20-0-0-0-2 2011 Bronze Keith Allain W, 4-2 SWE (W-OTW-OTL-L-T). 2010 Gold Dean Blaise OTW, 6-5 CAN 2007 Bronze Ron Rolston W, 2-1 SWE CZECH REPUBLIC TALE OF THE TAPE Last Meeting: Team USA blanked the Czech Republic, 7-0, in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Gold Mike Eaves W, 4-3 CAN 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. 1997 Silver Jeff Jackson L, 0-2 CAN USA CZE 1992 Bronze Walt Kyle W, 3-2 CZE GF-GA: 70-60 60-70 Series vs. Czech Republic: 11-1-1-7-1 1986 Bronze Dave Peterson W, 5-1 SWE W-L: 12-8 8-12 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) and has outscored the Czechs, 70-60. PREVIOUS 10 WORLD JUNIORS LATVIA TALE OF THE TAPE Last Meeting: The U.S. and Latvia last met in Year Finish Coach Record* the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, 2016 Bronze Ron Wilson 5-0-0-2 where Team USA skated to a 12-2 victory.