After winning medals in four consecutive tournaments for the first time in the program’s history, the United States left the 2020 IIHF Junior World Championship in the Czech Republic empty-handed. Last year’s roster finished a disappointing sixth place despite finishing in the top two in a tough Group B.
In 2021, the grouping won’t get any easier as Team USA will face Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Austria. It will be difficult for the Americans, who after their release will do without the services of John Beecher and Thomas Bordeleau because of a positive test for COVID-19, to get to the top. (Beecher tested positive, although he has since tested negative, and Bordeleau was his roommate.)
WORLD JUNIORS: How Covid-19 influenced the tournament
No longer viewed as an afterthought, the US is an established force on the world junior racing circuit and is expected to be medalists. The Americans own 12 medals (four gold, two silver, and six bronze medals), and head coach Nate Leaman built a highly skilled squad that was due to see another shiny medal on Jan.
Everything you need to know about the tournament is here, including the ability to watch live matches in the US, as well as a full schedule with updated results and tables.
Team USA schedule and results at the World Juniors
The format for the 2021 Junior World Championship consists of two groups of five teams playing a preliminary round robin to determine the sowing, followed by an individual elimination tournament. The United States drew Group B, which also includes Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Austria.
| date | opponent | Result | TV info |
| 25 December | Russia | 9:30 p.m. (NHLN, fuboTV, TSN) | |
| December 26th | Austria | 9:30 p.m. (NHLN, fuboTV, TSN1 / 4/5) | |
| December 29th | Czech Republic | 2 p.m. (NHLN, fuboTV, TSN) | |
| December 31 | Sweden | 9:30 p.m. (NHLN, fuboTV, TSN) | |
| January 2nd | Quarter finals | TBD (NHLN, fuboTV, TSN) | |
| January 4th | Semifinals | TBD (NHLN, fuboTV, TSN) | |
| January 5th | Bronze / gold medal | TBD (NHLN, fuboTV, TSN) |
(All times east)
How to watch USA games live online
All games are played at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Junior World Championship games are only available from the NHL Network in the US, which plans to televise each game for the first time. Stephen Nelson will provide play-by-play for every Team USA game and will be supported by analyst Dave Starman and reporter Jill Savage.
NHL Network is also streamed on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial.
Team USA 2021 World Juniors squad
Ten players return from last year’s roster, including netminders Spencer Knight and Dustin Wolf who offer one of the best 1-2 combos in the tournament. With a young defense ahead – Cam York is the only returnee on the blue line – the two setbacks will be heavily dependent.
The forward group of USA Hockey is deep. Trevor Zegras, who led the team by nine assists in points last year, is returning, as is the team’s top scorer Arthur Kaliyev (aka #ArtyParty). Canadian Cole Caufield will try to avenge a poor 2020 tournament in which he only collected one goal and one assist.
| No. | Surname | position | Hometown | Club team | NHL draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Trevor Zegras | Forward | Bedford, NY | Signed NHL contract | ANA (2019) |
| 10 | Matthew Beniers | Forward | Hingham, Mass. | Michigan (Big Ten) | 2021 draft |
| 12th | Matthew Boldy | Forward | Millis, Mass. | Boston College (HE) | MIN (2019) |
| 13 | Cole Caufield | Forward | Stevens Point, Wisc. | Wisconsin (Big Ten) | MTL (2019) |
| 15th | Alex Turcotte | Forward | Chicago, Ill. | Signed NHL contract | LAK (2019) |
| 18th | Brendan Brisson | Forward | Manhattan Beach, California | Michigan (Big Ten) | VGK (2020) |
| 19th | Patrick Moynihan | Forward | Millis, Mass. | Providence (HE) | NJD (2019) |
| 21st | Brett Berard | Forward | East Greenwich, RI | Providence (HE) | NYR (2020) |
| 22nd | Sam Colangelo | Forward | Stoneham, Mass. | Northeast (HE) | ANA (2020) |
| 24 | Bobby Brink | Forward | Minnetonka, Minn. | Denver (NCHC) | PHI (2019) |
| 25th | John Farinacci | Forward | Red Bank, NJ | Muskegon (USHL) | ARI (2019) |
| 26th | Landon Slaggert | Forward | South Bend, Ind. | Notre Dame (Big Ten) | CHI (2020) |
| 28 | Arthur Kaliyev | Forward | Staten Island, NY | Hamilton (OHL) | LAK (2019) |
| 2 | Drew Helleson | defense | Farmington, Minn. | Boston College (HE) | COL (2019) |
| 3 | Henry Thrun | defense | Southborough, Mass. | Dubuque (USHL) | ANA (2019) |
| 4th | Cam York | defense | Anaheim, California | Michigan (Big Ten) | PHI (2019) |
| 5 | Jackson LaCombe | defense | Eden Prairie, Minn. | Minnesota (Big Ten) | ANA (2019) |
| 7th | Tyler Kleven | defense | Fargo, ND | North Dakota (NCHC) | OTT (2020) |
| 8th | Jake Sanderson | defense | Whitefish, Mont. | North Dakota (NCHC) | OTT (2020) |
| 11 | Brock Faber | defense | Maple Grove, Minn. | Minnesota (Big Ten) | LAK (2020) |
| 17th | Hunter Skinner | defense | Pinckney, me. | London (OHL) | NYR (2019) |
| 23 | Ryan Johnson | defense | Irvine, California | Minnesota (Big Ten) | BUF (2019) |
| 29 | Logan stone | goalkeeper | Suwanee, Ga. | Ferris State (WCHA) | 2021 draft |
| 30th | Spencer Knight | goalkeeper | Darien, Conn. | Boston College (HE) | FLA (2019) |
| 32 | Dustin Wolf | goalkeeper | Gilroy, California. | Everett (WHL) | CGY (2019) |
World Juniors 2021: The latest news
competition
United States of America
Canada
2021 Junior World Championship
GROUP A
| team | Wins | losses | OTL | Points |
| 1. Canada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. Finland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5. Germany | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GROUP B.
| team | Wins | losses | OTL | Points |
| 1. Russia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. Sweden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. USA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. Czech Republic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5. Austria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wins in regulation = 3 points
Overtime gain = 2 points
Loss of overtime = 1 point
Full schedule for the 2021 Junior World Championship
(All times east)
| FRIDAY, DEC. 25th | ||
| Switzerland versus Slovakia | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Germany versus Finland | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Russia versus USA | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| SATURDAY, DEC. 26th | ||
| Sweden versus Czech Republic | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Germany versus Canada | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| USA vs. Austria | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| SUNDAY, DEC. 27 | ||
| Finland versus Switzerland | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Slovakia versus Canada | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Czech Republic versus Russia | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| MONDAY, DEC. 28 | ||
| Austria versus Sweden | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Slovakia versus Germany | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| TUESDAY, DEC. 29 | ||
| USA versus Czech Republic | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Canada versus Switzerland | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Austria versus Russia | 9:30 p.m. | TSN |
| WEDNESDAY, DEC. 30th | ||
| Finland versus Slovakia | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Switzerland versus Germany | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Russia versus Sweden | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| THURSDAY, DEC. 31 | ||
| Czech Republic versus Austria | 14 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Canada versus Finland | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Sweden versus United States | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| SATURDAY, JAN. 2 | ||
| Quarter finals | 12 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarter finals | 3:30 pm | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarter finals | 19 o’clock | TSN, NHLN |
| Quarter finals | 10:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| MONDAY, JAN. 4th | ||
| Semifinals | 6 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| Semifinals | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
| TUESDAY, JAN. 5 | ||
| Game for the bronze medal | 17:30 | TSN, NHLN |
| Gold medal game | 9:30 p.m. | TSN, NHLN |
