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.

World Junior Championship update

Denmark

            This tournament is all about surprises. Let’s start with Denmark. Denmark will make the knock out rounds with one game left in the preliminary rounds. Denmark had never beaten Finland nor Czech before in this tournament. Denmark beat them both. Denmark has made the final 8 for 3 years in a row. They were beating Swiss 3-0 and 4-1 but eventually lost. Denmark has shown they are a legitimate player now in the Juniors. The Big 5 will take note.

Finland

It is the first time that a defending World Junior Champion has to play in the relegation round. Since the first World Junior Championship in 1977 Finland has never been ranked worse than 7th. The only times Finland didn’t have a top-8 ranking in an IIHF event was with the men’s national team in the World Championships in 1939 and 1955. Finland also changes its coach…yikes.!

The Big 5

            Well 3 of the big 5 are undefeated at this point. Sweden won Group A and will play Czech in their final game. Canada and the USA are also undefeated and will play each other today at 3:30pm. (15:30 GMT). Russia was unfortunately placed in with USA and Canada and don’t forget the tournament is in North America. Finland had a miserable tournament and will have to play in the regulation game.     

The USA

            The USA play like an NHL team with the ability to cycle the puck down low. They also look sharp and fast out of the break out with good mobile defense. The USA also rolls out 4 lines so they can play a fast pace game the whole tournament. There is not one line the other team can concentrate on to shut down. The biggest problem is the forwards bringing the puck back to the blue line and freezing their own defensemen. This allows a defender to take on 2 usa players and still be in position. This was extremely dangerous against the better teams and they better correct this mistake
.

Canada

            They were the favorites going into the tournament and remain the favorites. They have steam rolled their opponents scoring 20 goals while only giving up 5 against. They are led by Dylan Strome, Tylor Raddysh and Mathew Barzal. This team is not folding under pressure but rather thriving off it. This might change in the knockout rounds but all indications is Canada is rolling.