After skating away with medals in four straight tournaments for the first time in the program'shistory, the United States left the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic empty-handed. Last year's squad finished a disappointing sixth despite finishing in the top twoin a tough Group B.
In 2021, the grouping doesn't get any easier as Team USA will meet Ru sia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and upstart Austria. It'll be a tough slog to rise to the top for the Americans, who will also be without the services of John Beecher and Thomas Bordeleau after they were released because of a positive test for COVID-19. Miami Dolphins Pet Gear (Beecher tested positive,although he's tested negative since, and Bordeleau was his roommate.)
WORLD JUNIORS:
No longer considered an afterthought, the U.S. isan established power on the world juniors circuit and is expected to be amedal contender. The Americans are owners of 12 medals (four gold, two silver and six bronze), and head coach Nate Leaman built a highly-skilled squad that should see another shiny medal come Jan. 5.
Here's everything to know about the tournament, including how to watch live games in the United States, and a complete schedule with updated scores and standings.
Team USAs schedule and results at World JuniorsThe format for the 2021World Junior Championship consists of two groups of five teams playing a preliminary round-robin to determine seeding followed by a single-eliminationtournament. The United States drew Group B, which also includes Ru sia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Austria.
Date Opponent Result TV info Dec. 259:30 p.m. Salvon Ahmed Jerseys (NHLN, , TSN)Dec. 26Austria9:30 p.m. (NHLN, , TSN1/4/5)Dec. 29Czech Republic2 p.m. (NHLN, , TSN)Dec. 31Sweden9:30 p.m. (NHLN, , TSN)Jan. 2QF vs. Slovakia10:30 p.m. (NHLN, , TSN)Jan. 4SF vs. Finland9:30 p.m. (NHLN, , TSN)Jan. 5Gold Mark Clayton Jerseys vs. Canada9:30 p.m. (NHLN, , TSN)(All times Eastern)
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How to watch USA games live onlineAll the games will be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. World Junior Championship games are only available on NHL Network in the United States, which has plans to televise every game for the first time ever.Stephen Nelson willprovide the play-by-play for each Team USA game and will be joined by analyst Dave Starman and reporter Jill Savage.
NHL Network is also streamed on .
Team USA's 2021 World Juniors rosterEight players return from last year's squad, includingnetminders Spencer Knight and Dustin Wolf, who provide one of the best 1-2 combos at the tournament. With a young defense in front of them Cam York is the only returnee on the blue line the two backstops will be heavily relied on.
Up front, USA Hockey's forward group is deep. Trevor Zegras, who led the team in points last year with nine a sists, returns, as does the team's top goal scorer Arthur Kaliyev (aka #ArtyParty). Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield will look to avenge a poor 2020 tournament, where he only collected a goal and an a sist.
No.NamePositionHometownClub teamNHL Draft9Trevor ZegrasForwardBedford, N.Y Raheem Mostert Jerseys .Signed NHL contractANA (2019)10Matthew BeniersForwardHingham, Ma s.Michigan (Big Ten)2021 Draft12Matthew BoldyForwardMillis, Ma s.Boston College (HE)MIN (2019)13Cole CaufieldForwardStevens Point, Wisc.Wisconsin (Big Ten)MTL (2019)15Alex TurcotteForwardChicago, Ill.Signed NHL contractLAK (2019)18Brendan Bri sonForwardManhattan Beach, Calif.Michigan (Big Ten)VGK (2020)19Patrick MoynihanForwardMillis, Ma s.Providence (HE)NJD (2019)21Brett BerardForwardEast Greenwich, R.I.Providence (HE)NYR (2020)22Sam ColangeloForwardStoneham, Ma s.Northeastern (HE)ANA (2020)24Bobby BrinkForwardMinnetonka, Minn.Denver (NCHC)PHI (2019)25John FarinacciForwardRed Bank, N.J.Muskegon (USHL)ARI (2019)26Landon SlaggertForwardSouth Bend, Ind.Notre Dame (Big Ten)CHI (2020)28Arthur KaliyevForwardStaten Island, N.Y.Hamilton (OHL)LAK (2019)2Drew HellesonDefenseFarmington, Minn.Boston College (HE)COL (2019)3Henry ThrunDefenseSouthborough, Ma s.Dubuque (USHL)ANA (2019)4Cam YorkDefenseAnaheim, Calif.Michigan (Big Ten)PHI (2019)5Jackson LaCombeDefenseEden Prairie, Minn.Minnesota (Big Ten)ANA (2019)7Tyler KlevenDefenseFargo, N.D.North Dakota (NCHC)OTT (2020)8Jake SandersonDefenseWhitefish, Mont.North Dakota (NCHC)OTT (2020)11Brock FaberDefenseMaple Grove, Minn.Minnesota (Big Ten)LAK (2020)17Hunter SkinnerDefensePinckney, Mich.London (OHL)NYR (2019)23Ryan JohnsonDefenseIrvine, Calif.Minnesota (Big Ten)BUF (2019)29Logan SteinGoaltenderSuwanee, Ga.Ferris State (WCHA)2021 Draft30Spencer KnightGoaltenderDarien, Conn.Boston College (HE)FLA (2019)32Dustin WolfGoaltenderGilroy, Calif.Everett Miami Dolphins Home Office (WHL)CGY (2019)World Juniors 2021: Latest newsTournament
Time, TV channel, live stream, where, when, schedule Dach, Caufield and the top four storylines Oilers' Philip Broberg impre ses with three a sists for Sweden Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen sends Finland to semis with late goalUSA
Americans mount comeback but fall in opener to rival Ru sia USA bounces back with dominating 11-0 win Arthur Kaliyev's goal with 76 seconds left lifts USto gold-medal showdown with CanadaCanada
Kirby Dach out of tournament with wrist injury Scores, schedule, how to watch every Hockey Canada game Canada opens WJC with 16-2 blowout of Germany Birthday boy Devon Levi, Canadians hold on to beat Slovakia Alex Newhook, Devon Levi have Canada going for gold 2021 World Junior Championship Jason McCourty Jerseys standingsGROUP A
Team Wins Lo ses OTL Points 1. Canada400122. Finland31093. Germany22054. Slovakia12145. Switzerland0400GROUP B
Team Wins Lo ses OTL Points 1. USA31092. Ru sia31083. Sweden21174. Czech Republic22065. Austria0400Wins in regulation = 3 pointsOvertime win = 2 pointsOvertime lo s = 1 point
Full 2021 World Junior Championship schedule(All times Eastern)
FRIDAY, DEC. 25 Slovakia 1 , Switzerland 02 p.m.TSN, NHLNFinland 5 , Germany 36 p.m.TSN, NHLNRu sia 5 , USA 3 9:30 p.m.TSN, NHLNSATURDAY, DEC. 26
