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 QUARTERFINAL GAME • USA (3-0-0-1) VS. SLOVAKIA (1-0-1-2 ) • EDMONTON, ALBERTA • ROGERS PLACE • JANUARY 2, 2021 U.S. IN QUARTERFINALS SHUTOUTS The U.S. is 11-0-0-8 (W-OTW-OTL-L) all-time in IIHF World U.S. netminders Dustin Wolf and Spencer Knight recorded three Junior Championship quarterfinals, including a 4-1 record in straight shutouts against Austria, Czech Republic and Sweden. its last five quarterfinal games. USA is 0-1 versus Slovakia Knight became the first American goaltender to record back-to- in quarterfinals, with their lone matchup coming in the 2009 back shutouts in World Juniors history. This is the first time since IIHF World Junior Championship. The U.S. enters the 2021 2015 that two different U.S. netminders have recorded shutouts, tournament having outscored opponents, 17-6, in its last five when Thatcher Demko and Brandon Halverson accomplished quarterfinals. In the team's most recent quarterfinal win, the U.S. the feat. The U.S. is currently riding the following shutout streaks: won, 3-1, over the Czech Republic thanks to Cayden Primeau's - 3 consecutive games 18-save performance. Last year's quarterfinal loss to Finland - 180:21 team shutout streak was a closely contested 1-0 game, as Spencer Knight stopped - 206:35 team shutout streak with a goalie in net 28 of 29 shots. - 70 consecutive shots with a goalie in net - Spencer Knight is T-1st with most shutouts (2) in U.S. World TOURNAMENT OPPONENT RESULT FINISHED Juniors history 2020 Finland L, 0-1 Sixth 2019 Czech Republic W, 3-1 Silver U.S. GAME SCHEDULE 2018 Russia W, 4-2 Bronze 2017 Switzerland W, 3-2 Gold DATE OPPONENT TIME (LOCAL/ET) 2016 Czech Republic W, 7-0 Bronze TUES., DEC. 22 FINLAND* W, 3-2 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place TALKING POINTS FRI., DEC. 25 RUSSIA L, 3-5 LAST 10 GAMES USA VS. SLOVAKIA Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place In their last 10 matchups the U.S. holds an 8-0-0-2 (W-OTW- SAT., DEC. 26 AUSTRIA W, 11-0 OTL-L) advantage, outscoring Slovakia 49-22. Of the 10 games, Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place only one was played in the quarterfinals. Full matchup history on Page 9. TUES., DEC. 29 CZECH REPUBLIC W, 7-0 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place TOURNAMENT GAME DATE RESULT 2019 Preliminary 12/26/18 W, 2-1 THUR., DEC. 31 SWEDEN W, 4-0 2018 Preliminary 12/28/17 L, 2-3 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2017 Preliminary 12/28/16 W, 5-2 SAT., JAN. 2 QUARTERFINALS 8:30 PM/10:30 PM 2015 Preliminary 12/29/14 W, 3-0 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2014 Preliminary 12/28/13 W, 6-3 2013 Preliminary 12/31/12 W, 9-3 MON., JAN. 4 SEMIFINALS TBD 2011 Preliminary 12/28/10 W, 6-1 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place 2010 Preliminary 12/26/09 W, 7-3 2009 Quarterfinals 1/2/09 L, 3-5 TUES., JAN. 5 BRONZE-MEDAL GAME 3:30 PM/5:30 AM 2007 Preliminary 12/30/06 W, 6-1 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place TUES., JAN. 5 GOLD-MEDAL GAME 7:30 PM/9:30 PM STAYING DISCIPLINED Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place The U.S. National Junior Team has taken six penalties totaling 12 minutes through four games of the tournament. The U.S. has yet *Pre-tournament game All U.S. tournament games will be televised live on NHL Network to take back-to-back penalties in game action. Head coach Nate Leaman has emphasized staying disciplined since the October TEAM USA AT THE WORLD JUNIORS training camp at USA Hockey Arena. Prior to both the October and Entering the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, the United December camps, Leaman showed video clips breaking down States holds a 142-10-6-118-11 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) all-time proper stick positioning and body checking in order to emphasize record in world junior championship play. Most recently, Team discipline. Of the six penalties, the U.S. has been perfect on the USA finished sixth at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship penalty kill. The United States ranks first for top penalty killing in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic, after earning a silver in honors in the tournament with a 100% rate. 2019 at Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. To date, Team USA has earned 12 podium finishes, including four gold medals DICTATING GAMES (2004, 2010, 2013, 2017), two silver medals (1997, 2019) and The U.S. has outshot all four of its opponents in preliminary play, six bronze medals (1986, 1992, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2018). The including out-shooting its opponents in nine of the 12 periods. United States has medaled in six of the last 10 years, including The offensive push is part of a team identity to "dictate games" a four year streak from 2016-19 that set a new U.S. record. The through possession and power play opportunities. The U.S. ranks United States celebrated a successful decade from 2010-2020, second in both shots on goal (168) and shots allowed (83) in collecting seven medals in 10 years. The three gold medals tournament play. (2010, 2013, 2017) were only matched by Finland. The United States has featured four tournament Most Valuable Players, ZEGRAS CHASING HISTORY Zach Parise (2004), John Gibson (2013), Casey Mittelstadt Trevor Zegras is chasing down multiple high marks in the U.S. (2018) and Ryan Poehling (2019). record books, full U.S. records on page 10: MEDIA INFORMATION All U.S. National Junior Team players, as well as head coach Nate Assists (Career) - currently 2nd, 16 assists Leaman, will be available for interviews in designated media Zooms Points (Career) - currently T-3, 22 points following practices and games. Members of the media are not allowed in Points (Single Tournament) - currently T-5, 13 points the U.S. dressing room at any time. Goals (Single Tournament) - currently T-10, 6 goals MEDIA CONTACT: AARON WESTENDORF Assists (Single Tournamnet) - currently 1 asst. shy of T-10, 7 asst. 512.422.7752 [email protected] All media availability with U.S. team members must be arranged through CAUFIELD BIRTHDAY Aaron Westendorf, who is on-site with Team USA throughout the event. Cole Caufield is celebrating his 20th birthday today. Sam Colangelo celebrated his 19th birthday earlier in the tournament ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/WORLDJUNIORS2021 Team USA information, including bios, team schedule, news and team by scoring his first career World Juniors goal. 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 QUARTERFINAL GAME VS. SLOVAKIA • JANUARY 2, 2021 ADDITIONAL NOTES WINNING GROUP PLAY WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN TRAINING? Since the group play format began in the World Junior Three American centers have a winning faceoff percentage, Championship in 1996, the United States has won its group on with John Farinacci leading the U.S. team through four games five occasions. Those results are listed below: (minimum 50 faceoffs taken): TOURNAMENT RESULT 62.37% - John Farinacci 2017 Gold 53.70% - Matthew Beniers 2011 Bronze 52.70% - Alex Turcotte 2008 Fourth 2004 Gold WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN TRAINING? 1996 Silver Not all leagues have been able to begin their seasons, meaning some of Team USA's players have not played a game since last TEAM USA RANKINGS season. Below is a list of those players and where they've been 1st - Penalty Kill (100%) training. 1st - Power Play (40.00%) 1st - PIM (12:00) Sam Colangelo: has been training with Northeastern University 1st - Shutouts (3) Arthur Kaliyev: trained with Los Angeles Kings 2nd - Power Play Goals (6) Alex Turcotte: trained at USA Hockey Arena with Cole Caufield 2nd - Shots on Goal (168) and Cam York, in addition to training with Los Angeles Kings, 2nd - Shots Allowed (83) and briefly trained in Germany with Eisbären Berlin 2nd - GAA (1.26) Dustin Wolf: trained in Stockton, Calif. with Flames organization, 3rd - Scoring Efficiency (14.88%) and traveled to Michigan early to train at USA Hockey Arena Trevor Zegras: trained with the Anaheim Ducks SCORING LEADERS Trevor Zegras ranks 1st in individual tournament scoring with GONE CAMPING 13 points in four games, while defenseman Cam York is 2nd in OCTOBER CAMP individual scoring by defensemen with six points. In total, four Due to COVID-19 restrictions, USA Hockey was unable to host U.S. players are currently ranked in top-20 in individual scoring: its annual World Junior Summer Showcase, that would normally play host to games between the United States, Canada, Finland 1st: Trevor Zegras (6-7—13) and Sweden. The United States did hold a National Junior T-8th: Cam York (1-5—6) Evaluation Camp in Plymouth, Mich. at USA Hockey Arena T-13th: Matthew Boldy (4-1—5) from Oct. 8-13 that included 42 players. The camp, featuring T-13th: Alex Turcotte (1-4—5) three days of intrasquad competition, allowed general manager John Vanbiesbrouck and his staff to review the talent pool of YOUTH CONNECTION American players born in 2001 or later. Some players on the U.S. National Junior Team have notable DECEMBER CAMP youth hockey connections dating back more than 10 years. Linemates Trevor Zegras and Arthur Kaliyev played together USA Hockey invited 29 players back to Plymouth, Mich., on in New York at about 10-years old, often facing Spencer Knight Dec.