USA win the World Juniors

USA win the World Juniors

            Well the first big USA event is in the books and it just might be the best of all the sports the USA is involved in all year. The USA U-20 Junior team has won the IIHF Championship beating their northern neighbor in a dramatic shoot out. There were many good players on both sides but the Americans came back twice, down 2 goals both times. The Juniors is an indication of the potential your youth has in your sport going forward. This is like the U-23 soccer team winning the Olympics. We can now look at all the players on the USA junior team and watch them develop on their prospective NHL teams.  As the head of USA Hockey seems to always say “There is a lot to like about USA Hockey”.

            The game was played in the iconic Bell Centre home of the Montreal Canadians. Looking up at all the Championship banners would give any hockey fan goose bumps thinking about how they all were acquired. The Juniors is the biggest national event in Canada weather it is hosted in Canada or hosted elsewhere.

Group Stage

            Well Canada and Russia are always the favorites in this tournament. Canada has won the most championships (16) and were playing at home behind their fanatical fans. Russia has been their main rival since 1977 at both the Junior and senior level. Russia seems to always metal in this event.  However the USA, Sweden and Finland have been gaining ground on the top dogs the last 10 years. This tournaments group A had the power teams of Canada, USA and Russia. Sweden and Finland were in Group B. There were quite a few surprises in the group stages. The USA was a surprise winner of the talented Group A.  Group B had the emergence of Denmark which took second place for the first time. Denmark won 2 games and lost in an overtime game. Czech Republic took 3^rd and Swiss made the knockout rounds. Finland was the reigning champion but did not make the knock out rounds. This was a total disaster for the Fins. “It will be the Finns' worst placement in an IIHF tournament in any category since 1955. “ Finland did manage to book their ticket to the World Juniors in Buffalo in 2018 by beating Latvia in the playoff game.

Knockout rounds

            All the favorites won in the quarterfinals. Sweden beat 4^th seed Slovakia. USA beat 4^th seed Switzerland. #2 Seed Canada handled Czech Republic. Now the only lower seed Russia beat the higher seed Denmark 4-0, however that was expected. The semi-finals again was filled with 4 of the Big 5 hockey nations. Sweden again lost in the knockout rounds after another outstanding group stage play to the host Canada.                                                             
           The USA finally beat Russia in the knockout rounds. The USA has been dumped by Russia in the last 3 World Juniors in the knockout rounds. The USA has not beat Russia in over 10 years, the last being December 2007.  The Americans came back from 0-1, 1-2 deficits to lead 3-2. Russia tied it up with opportunistic play. There was a penalty shot created by the lightning fast Clayton Keller, however Samsonov saved it and Russia hung in there. There was a post hit in the 4 v 4 over time. Then the shootout; which is where the USA finally beat the Russian to end a 10 year jinx.

            The final was a showdown against 2 heavy weights. Canada got the crowd behind them taking 2-0 lead and 4-2 leads. The Americans however had 4 lines and they all could skate. They never gave up and their persistence paid off. Bellows scored the next 2 goals for the USA tying the game in the 3^rd period. The game was an epic game full of drama, excitement and play swings. These 2 teams were equals with talent, speed and skill. This game went to OT and Troy Terry who got the goals for the USA against Russia again was the hero against Canada. All 5 shooters were stoned by Pasrons, while the Canadian goaltender Hart stopped all USA shooters except Terry’s.

The result

            The result was a huge win for USA hockey. This gives them 4 titles total in the World Juniors. They are way behind Canada who has 16 however USA hockey program is arguably as good as Canada’s. The USA have won 3 Championships in the last 8 tournaments. Finland has won 2 and Russia, Canada and Sweden each won the Championship. As the head of USA hockey always seems to say “There is a lot to like about USA hockey”.!

The tournament

            With 5 different nations winning the Championship in the last 8 years the tournament has become much more exciting. Slovakia even metaled in the 2015 tournament. Denmark has emerged the last 3 tournament as a legitimate threat. There is talk about expanding the tournament to a 12 team from its current 10 team format. Since Canada walloped Latvia 10-2, and Russia beat them 9-1 that conversation was muted. Once all games in the group stage get more competitive this tournament will expand.