The United States beat the Czech Republic 7-0 this afternoon in the IIHF's 1,300th World Junor Championship game of all time.
photo: Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images
The United States-Czech Republic game that got things going on Tuesday marked the 1,300th game in the history of the World Junior Championships. Now well into the 45th year of the tournament, those 1,300 matches have produced many highs, a few lows, and plenty of memories. But for the nations who have competed over the years the milestone provides a suitable occasion to look back.
Over the first 1,300 games some 21 nations have made at least one appearance (if you count the Soviet Union and Russia as separate nations, and the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia as distinct). Only Austria (19 games) and Japan (7 games) have not recorded at least one win, while France has exactly one W in six games. Poland has just two wins in 41 U20 games.
Canada leads all nations with 209 wins. Sweden is next with 183, Finland is at 160, and the United States at 154. Russia has 133 (although the combination of Soviet Union and Russia adds up to 212 wins).
The unwanted distinction of having lost the most games goes to Germany, which has lost 147 games out of 182 played. The Swiss have lost 144 and the United States 125. Finland is next with 113 losses (the old and new Czech nations combine for 118 losses).
Sweden has played more games than any other, 291 as of today. By playing in game 1,300, the U.S. is now at 290, while Finland is at 289 and Canada 288. Switzerland is at 208 (the Soviet/Russia number is 295).
Canada has scored more goals than any other nation. Prior to this tournament that number stood at 1,473, but after piling in 16 against an under-manned Germany and another three against Slovakia, they’re now at 1,492. Number 1,500 is fast approaching. Sweden is second at 1,299 and will no doubt crack 1,300 in its next game. The United States has scored 1,227 goals and Finland is right behind at 1,217 (URS and RUS equals 1,453).
At the other end, Germany and Switzerland were close to being the team that has given up the most goals, but after playing its first two games with only 14 skaters and losing badly to Canada, Germany has now allowed more goals than any other in U20 history—1,046. The Swiss are at 1,025 and the United States next at 989.
Canada leads in gold medals, having won the tournament 18 times in 44 years, while the Soviet Union won eight and Russia five. The only other nations to have finished in first place are Finland (also 5 gold), United States (four), Sweden (two) and Czech Republic (two).
Outside of the big six, the only other nations to have won a medal are Slovakia (two bronze) and Switzerland (one bronze).
As for total medals, Canada has won 32 so far while Russia has won 24 and Sweden next at 19. The Finns have claimed 15 podium finishes while the old Soviet Union won 13. The Americans have 12 medals and the old Czechoslovaks 11.
The 1,300 all-time games have produced 9,753 goals, an average of 7.5 goals per game over the history of the event. At this rate, goal number 10,000 should come some time next year, late in the preliminary round.
And there you have it, the lowdown on team performance during the first 1,300 games of the World Juniors. Here’s to another great 1,300 over the next 44 ? years, with an update after 2,600 games in 2066!
Over the first 1,300 games some 21 nations have made at least one appearance (if you count the Soviet Union and Russia as separate nations, and the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia as distinct). Only Austria (19 games) and Japan (7 games) have not recorded at least one win, while France has exactly one W in six games. Poland has just two wins in 41 U20 games.
Canada leads all nations with 209 wins. Sweden is next with 183, Finland is at 160, and the United States at 154. Russia has 133 (although the combination of Soviet Union and Russia adds up to 212 wins).
The unwanted distinction of having lost the most games goes to Germany, which has lost 147 games out of 182 played. The Swiss have lost 144 and the United States 125. Finland is next with 113 losses (the old and new Czech nations combine for 118 losses).
Sweden has played more games than any other, 291 as of today. By playing in game 1,300, the U.S. is now at 290, while Finland is at 289 and Canada 288. Switzerland is at 208 (the Soviet/Russia number is 295).
Canada has scored more goals than any other nation. Prior to this tournament that number stood at 1,473, but after piling in 16 against an under-manned Germany and another three against Slovakia, they’re now at 1,492. Number 1,500 is fast approaching. Sweden is second at 1,299 and will no doubt crack 1,300 in its next game. The United States has scored 1,227 goals and Finland is right behind at 1,217 (URS and RUS equals 1,453).
At the other end, Germany and Switzerland were close to being the team that has given up the most goals, but after playing its first two games with only 14 skaters and losing badly to Canada, Germany has now allowed more goals than any other in U20 history—1,046. The Swiss are at 1,025 and the United States next at 989.
Canada leads in gold medals, having won the tournament 18 times in 44 years, while the Soviet Union won eight and Russia five. The only other nations to have finished in first place are Finland (also 5 gold), United States (four), Sweden (two) and Czech Republic (two).
Outside of the big six, the only other nations to have won a medal are Slovakia (two bronze) and Switzerland (one bronze).
As for total medals, Canada has won 32 so far while Russia has won 24 and Sweden next at 19. The Finns have claimed 15 podium finishes while the old Soviet Union won 13. The Americans have 12 medals and the old Czechoslovaks 11.
The 1,300 all-time games have produced 9,753 goals, an average of 7.5 goals per game over the history of the event. At this rate, goal number 10,000 should come some time next year, late in the preliminary round.
And there you have it, the lowdown on team performance during the first 1,300 games of the World Juniors. Here’s to another great 1,300 over the next 44 ? years, with an update after 2,600 games in 2066!