2020 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM GAME NOTES 2020 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP | OSTRAVA & TRINEC, CZECH REPUBLIC | DEC. 26, 2019 - JAN. 5, 2020 QUARTERFINAL GAME • USA (2-1-0-1) VS. FINLAND (2-0-1-1 ) • OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC • OSTRAVAR ARENA • JANUARY 2, 2020 U.S. IN QUARTERFINALS TIDBITS The U.S. is 11-0-0-7 (W-OTW-OTL-L) all-time in IIHF World Forward Cole Caufield is celebrating his 19th birthday today Junior Championship quarterfinals, including a 4-0-0-1 record (Jan. 2). Defensemen Spencer Stastney (Jan. 4) and Cam York in its last five quarterfinal games. USA is 2-0-0-0 versus Finland (Jan. 5) will be celebrating their birthdays later this week ... After in quarterfinals, including a 6-2 victory in 2010. The U.S. enters playing back-to-back games, Team USA enjoyed an off-day on the 2020 event having outscored opponents, 17-5, in its last four New Year's Eve (Dec. 31). The team celebrated with a steak dinner quarterfinals. In the team's most recent quarterfinal matchup, in Ostrava ... Cole Caufield, K'Andre Miller and Alex Turcotte, the U.S. won, 3-1, over the Czech Republic thanks to Cayden all currently playing at the University of Wisconsin, were on the Primeau's 18-save performance. ice for USA's three-on-three overtime-winner against Czech Republic ... Trevor Zegras' nine assists in four games already TOURNAMENT OPPONENT RESULT FINISHED tops three of the past five end of tournament assist leaders. The 2019 Czech Republic W, 3-1 Silver IIHF World Junior Championship has never had a points leader 2018 Russia W, 4-2 Bronze without a goal scored. The next closest was American forward 2017 Switzerland W, 3-2 Gold 2016 Czech Republic W, 7-0 Bronze Phil Kessel (1-10–11) who led tournament scoring in 2006. 2015 Russia L, 2-3 5th U.S. GAME SCHEDULE TALKING POINTS DATE OPPONENT TIME (LOCAL/ET) GOLD MEDAL REMATCH The U.S. and Finland meet in 2020 IIHF World Junior SUN., DEC. 22 SWEDEN* W, 6-4 Championship quarterfinals after playing in the 2019 gold- Cesky Tesin, Czech Republic Cesky Tesin medal game. It is the first time since the 2015 IIHF World MON., DEC. 23 GERMANY* W, 7-1 Junior Championship, when Sweden and Finland squared off in Havirov, Czech Republic Havirov Arena quarterfinals, that the previous year's gold-medal game teams THUR., DEC. 26 CANADA L, 4-6 played one another in quarterfinals the following year. Finland Ostrava, Czech Republic Ostravar Arena won the gold-medal game in 2014 over Sweden, 3-2, but would FRI., DEC. 27 GERMANY W, 6-3 go on to lose the following year to Sweden, 6-3. Ostrava, Czech Republic Ostravar Arena DOMINANCE OVER THE PAST DECADE SUN., DEC. 29 RUSSIA W, 3-1 Ostrava, Czech Republic Ostravar Arena The U.S. and Finland led all teams in IIHF World Junior Championship play the past decade, with three gold medals MON., DEC. 30 CZECH REPUBLIC OTW, 4-3 apiece. The U.S. has medaled in seven of the last ten years, Ostrava, Czech Republic Ostravar Arena including its current four-year podium streak (gold - 2017; silver THUR., JAN. 2 FINLAND (QF) 5:30 PM/11:30 AM - 2019; bronze - 2018, 2016), the first time it has accomplished Trinec, Czech Republic Werk Arena the feat in U.S. history. Only Russia, with eight medals, has SAT., JAN. 4 SEMIFINALS TBD more than USA since 2010. Ostrava, Czech Republic Ostravar Arena U.S. VERSUS FINLAND SUN., JAN. 5 BRONZE-MEDAL GAME 3:00 PM/9:00 AM Ostrava, Czech Republic Ostravar Arena The U.S. holds a 5-2-0-3 (W-OTW-OTL-L) advantage over Finland in its previous 10 matchups, including two quarterfinals SUN., JAN. 5 GOLD-MEDAL GAME 7:00 PM/1:00 PM victories. Finland defeated the U.S., 3-2, in the 2019 World Junior Ostrava, Czech Republic Ostravar Arena Championship gold-medal game, as Kaapo Kakko scored with *Pre-tournament game All U.S. tournament games will be televised live on NHL Network 1:26 remaining in regulation. Finland has not won back-to-back TEAM USA AT THE WORLD JUNIORS World Junior Championship games against the U.S. since 2003. Entering the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, the U.S. TOURNAMENT GAME DATE RESULT holds an all-time event record of 140-9-6-116-11 (W-OTW-OTL- 2019 Gold-medal 1/5/19 L, 2-3 L-T) and has earned 12 podium finishes, including four gold 2019 Preliminary 12/31/18 W, 4-1 medals (2004, 2010, 2013, 2017), two silver medals (1997, 2019) 2018 Preliminary 12/31/17 W, 5-4 and six bronze medals (1986, 1992, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2018). 2015 Preliminary 12/26/14 OTW, 2-1 The U.S. has medaled in seven of the last ten years, including 2012 Preliminary 12/28/11 L, 1-4 2011 Preliminary 12/26/10 OTW, 3-2 the last four years (gold - 2017; silver - 2019; bronze - 2018, 2010 Quarterfinals 1/2/10 W, 6-2 2016), the first time it has accomplished the feat in U.S. history. 2008 Preliminary 12/31/07 W, 5-3 Additionally, Team USA's three gold medals since 2010 (2010, 2007 Quarterfinals 1/2/07 W, 6-3 2013, 2017) are tied with Finland for the most of any nation. 2006 Bronze-medal 1/5/06 L, 2-4 In each of the last four IIHF World Junior Championships, a U.S. player has earned Media All-Star Team honors, including TOURNAMENT LEADERS Ryan Poehling (2019), Casey Mittelstadt and Kieffer Bellows Entering quarterfinals play, the U.S. has three players ranked in (2018), Clayton Keller and Charlie McAvoy (2017), and Auston the top-10 in points: Trevor Zegras (9 points - 1st), Shane Pinto Matthews and Zach Werenski (2016). Poehling (Forward), (7 points - T-2nd) and Arthur Kaliyev (6 points - T-8th). Pinto and Mittelstadt (Forward) and Werenski (Defense) were also tabbed Kaliyev are T-2nd in goals scored with four each. A U.S. player with Directorate Awards. has finished as the tournament's top points-getter 10 times in MEDIA INFORMATION World Junior Championship history (full list on Page 2 of these All U.S. National Junior Team players, as well as head coach Scott game notes). Sandelin, will be available for interviews in designated media areas following practices and games. Members of the media are not allowed in 2019 TO NHL the U.S. dressing room at any time. Six players from the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship silver-medal team have played NHL games this season: Joel MEDIA CONTACT: AARON WESTENDORF 512.422.7752 [email protected] Farabee (Philadelphia Flyers), Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), All media availability with U.S. team members must be arranged through Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), Ryan Poehling (Montreal Aaron Westendorf, who is on-site with Team USA throughout the event. Canadiens), Cayden Primeau (Montreal Canadiens) and 2020 U.S. National Junior Team forward Oliver Wahlstrom (New York ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/WORLDJUNIORS2020 Islanders). 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/WORLDJUNIORS2020 • USAHOCKEY.COM • #USAWJC 1 2020 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM NOTES QUARTERFINAL GAME VS. FINLAND • JANUARY 2, 2020 ADDITIONAL NOTES IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD RECORD FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS WITH A MEDAL In the U.S.-Russia preliminary game, forwards Arthur Kaliyev and The U.S. has medaled at the IIHF World Junior Championship in four Nick Robertson scored six seconds apart, giving the U.S. a 2-0 lead consecutive years, the longest streak in U.S. history. Five players in the second period. The goals tied the World Junior Championship currently on the 2020 U.S. roster earned a silver medal at the 2019 record for fastest two goals scored by the same team. IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver, British Columbia. USA FACEOFF LEADERS HOCKEY BLOODLINES Five USA forwards currently have 50% faceoff records or better: Mattias Samuelsson's father, Kjell Samuelsson, won a gold medal Shane Pinto (61.0%), Jack Drury (58.8%), Jacob Pivonka (55.1%), with Sweden at the 1991 Men's World Championship and a Stanley Alex Turcotte (54.1%) and John Beecher (50.0%). Only USA and Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. Kjell was a 1984 sixth Sweden can boast five skaters with 50% faceoff records or better. round draft pick of the New York Rangers and went on to play 14 Pinto, who is 47-30 on the draw, ranks 8th among tournament years in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, skaters with a minimum of 30 faceoffs. Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Kjell is the Director of Player Development currently with the Philadelphia Flyers. Mattias' HISTORY OF SCORING LEADERS brother, Lukas Samuelsson, is a current teammate at Western A U.S. player has led the tournament in points 10 times in World Michigan University (NCHC). Junior Championship history: Casey Mittelstadt (2018), Derek Stepan (2010), James van Riemsdyk (2008), Erik Johnson (2007), Jack Drury's father, Ted Drury, skated on two U.S. Olympic Men's Phil Kessel (2006), Brian Gionta (1999), Jeff Farkas (1998), Mike Ice Hockey Teams (1992, 1994) in addition to playing eight seasons York (1997), Doug Weight (1991) and Jeremy Roenick (1989). The in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks, Hartford U.S. currently has three players ranked in the top-10 in scoring: Whalers and Calgary Flames.