2021 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM GAME NOTES 2021 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP | EDMONTON, ALBERTA | DEC. 25, 2020 - JAN. 5, 2021 PRELIMINARY GAME • USA (0-0-0-1) VS. AUSTRIA (0-0-0-0 ) • EDMONTON, ALBERTA • ROGERS PLACE • DECEMBER 26, 2020 VERSUS AUSTRIA FAMILY TRADITION The U.S. National Junior Team has a 2-0-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL- Three Team USA players have fathers who previously played on L-T) series record against Austria in the IIHF World Junior U.S. National Junior Teams: Championship. The Americans have outscored Austria 15-2 in its two meetings. In the most recent matchup during the 2004 Bobby Brink - Andy Brink (1994) tournament, Zach Parise (Minneapolis, Minn.) led the way with a Ryan Johnson - Craig Johnson (1991) hat trick and an assist, while Al Montoya (Chicago, Ill.) recorded Alex Turcotte - Alfie Turcotte (1984) a 15-save shutout for the Americans. It was the first preliminary game of the 2004 World Juniors tournament. Craig Johnson played in four IIHF Men's World Championships (1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003), and served as an alternate captain TALKING POINTS in 2003. Johnson won a bronze medal in 1996, and also played on the Team USA Winter Olympic Team in 1994. Alfie Turcotte BIRTHDAYS IN THE BUBBLE played in the 1986 IIHF Men's World Championship for USA Three players will be celebrating their birthdays while staying in Hockey. the bubble: U.S. GAME SCHEDULE Dec. 26 - Sam Colangelo DATE OPPONENT TIME (LOCAL/ET) Jan. 2 - Cam York Jan. 5 - Cole Caufield TUES., DEC. 22 FINLAND* W, 3-2 Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place Sam Colangelo is celebrating his 19th birthday today. The FRI., DEC. 25 RUSSIA L, 3-5 Northeastern Univresity forward was recently drafted by the Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place Anaheim Ducks, after playing a full season with the Chicago Steel (USHL). Colangelo's parents, Mark and Karen, are SAT., DEC. 26 AUSTRIA 7:30 PM/9:30 PM watching the World Juniors back at home in Stoneham, Mass. Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place TUES., DEC. 29 CZECH REPUBLIC 12:00 PM/2:00 PM DOWN THE ROAD Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place Jake Sanderson's grandparents live in Edmonton, Alberta. This year's World Juniors was going to be the first time in over two THUR., DEC. 31 SWEDEN 7:30 PM/9:30 PM years seeing their grandson play in-person. Instead, they'll be Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place cheering on Jake and Team USA from the comfort of their home SAT., JAN. 2 QUARTERFINALS TBD this year. Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place TEAM USA ON ZOOM MON., JAN. 4 SEMIFINALS TBD During the four-day isolation quarantine, Team USA spent time Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place on Zoom with notable U.S. National Junior Team alumni Patrick TUES., JAN. 5 BRONZE-MEDAL GAME 3:30 PM/5:30 AM Kane (2007), Charlie McAvoy (2016, 2017) and Dylan Larkin Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place (2015). Kane, who won a bronze medal in 2007, was named to TUES., JAN. 5 GOLD-MEDAL GAME 7:30 PM/9:30 PM the World Juniors All-Star Team. McAvoy, who won a gold and Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place bronze medal, was named to the 2017 World Juniors All-Star Team. Larkin was tied for the tournament's lead in goals scored *Pre-tournament game All U.S. tournament games will be televised live on NHL Network in 2015 with five goals in five games. Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Derek LaLonde also spoke to Team USA early TEAM USA AT THE WORLD JUNIORS in the isolation quarantine period, with emphasis on best tips Entering the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, the United for staying sharp in the bubble and how Tampa Bay overcame States holds a 142-10-6-118-11 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) all-time adversity to win the Stanley Cup. record in world junior championship play. Most recently, Team USA finished sixth at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship RETURNERS in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic, after earning a silver in The U.S. returns eight players from last year's roster, including 2019 at Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. To date, Team both goaltenders Spencer Knight and Dustin Wolf. In total, U.S. USA has earned 12 podium finishes, including four gold medals players who scored 56% of goals, and 54% of team total points (2004, 2010, 2013, 2017), two silver medals (1997, 2019) and last year are set to return for the Americans in 2021. Trevor Zegras six bronze medals (1986, 1992, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2018). The led all Americans last year with nine points, all assists, including United States has medaled in six of the last 10 years, including his memorable four-assist game against Germany. Arthur Kaliyev a four year streak from 2016-19 that set a new U.S. record. The leads the returning forward corps, after notching four goals in United States celebrated a successful decade from 2010-2020, 2020. Knight is playing in his third World Junior Championship, collecting seven medals in 10 years. The three gold medals after winning a silver medal as the third goaltender in 2019, and (2010, 2013, 2017) were only matched by Finland. The United playing four of the United States' five games in 2020. Knight is States has featured four tournament Most Valuable Players, only the third goaltender in USA history to appear in three World Zach Parise (2004), John Gibson (2013), Casey Mittelstadt Junior Championships. Cam York is the lone returner on the blue (2018) and Ryan Poehling (2019). line. York led the Americans in scoring last night. MEDIA INFORMATION All U.S. National Junior Team players, as well as head coach Nate FIRST IIHF GOAL Leaman, will be available for interviews in designated media Zooms Trevor Zegras scored his first IIHF career goal with Team USA following practices and games. Members of the media are not allowed in in last night's 5-3 loss to Russia. The goal, a power play marker, the U.S. dressing room at any time. made the game 4-3 prior to an empty-net goal. Zegras had played MEDIA CONTACT: AARON WESTENDORF in 10 IIHF games heading into this year's tournament, between 512.422.7752 [email protected] the 2019 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship and 2020 All media availability with U.S. team members must be arranged through IIHF World Junior Championship. Zegras had been credited with Aaron Westendorf, who is on-site with Team USA throughout the event. 18 points, all assists, in 10 games. ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE TEAMUSA.USAHOCKEY.COM/WORLDJUNIORS2021 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. AUSTRIA • DECEMBER 26, 2020 ADDITIONAL NOTES MEET THE CAPTAINS VIRTUAL FANS Cam York was voted as team captain on Dec. 24 prior to the Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there will be no fans in attendance team's first preliminary game. Cole Caufield and Alex Turcotte will at this year's World Junior Championship. However, there will still serve as alternate captains for tonight's game against Russia. be fans cheering on teams, albeit virtually, this year. Team USA has some special guests in its virtual crowd, including friends (C) CAM YORK: One of eight returners from last year’s National and family for some of the players. Matt Boldy's father, Todd, Junior Team, York is currently a sophomore at the University of will be in attendance and says, "Go get the gold boys!" Dustin Michigan (Big Ten). This is York’s first time serving as a captain Wolf's mother, Michelle, will also be logging in from the Wolf's for Team USA, after playing in both the 2018 and 2019 IIHF house in Washington. She says, "We'll be together as a family on Under-18 Men’s World Championships, where he earned a silver the 25th rooting on our boys!" U.S. National Team Development and bronze medal. In the 2019 tournament, York set tournament Program Under-17 player Frank Nazar is joining the fan section. records for all-time tournament points by a defenseman (17) and Landon Slaggert's cousins Mitchell and Morgan Nave have all-time tournament assists by a defenseman (13). York is the lone had their youth seasons cancelled due to COVID-19, but they're returner from the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship on the logged in and ready to cheer on USA. USA Hockey also invited blue line for the Americans. The defenseman was teammates with fans to apply to join the virtual cheering section. Jason Eselunas Caufield and Turcotte from 2017-19 at the U.S. National Team plans to be watching with his twin girls and says, "Go USA!" And Development Program. A native of Anaheim, Calif., York was best of all, Brenton Parsons promised to "paint my entire family drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, 14th overall. red, white and blue. America." (A) COLE CAUFIELD: Caufield is competing in his fourth IIHF WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN TRAINING? event, after previously collecting a silver and bronze medal Not all leagues have been able to begin their seasons, meaning at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship in 2018 and some of Team USA's players have not played a game since last 2019. Additionally, the forward played for Team USA in the 2020 season. Below is a list of those players and where they've been World Juniors.