photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
The last time a team not named Canada won consecutive gold medals at the World Juniors was nearly a quarter century ago. But the United States is firing on all cylinders as they prepare to challenge that record tonight. Their only loss this year has been a 4-3 overtime defeat to Finland in the preliminary round, after which they won four in a row. Here are five reasons why we can expect the Americans to win gold tonight.
The Perreault-Leonard combo
Gabe Perreault and captain Ryan Leonard are two of the best players on the team individually, but together they have been playing better and better, finding each other on ice—and near the net—with Sedin-like efficiency. With success comes confidence, and vice versa, and they are playing with more and more of both. If the Finns can’t shut this duo down, it’s over.
Augustine hot in January
Goalie Trey Augustine will turn 20 later next month, so this is it for him at the junior level. So far, his teen years have reaped an incredible four medals, two at U18 (gold, silver) and two more at U20 (gold, bronze). He also got his first taste of action at the senior Men’s World Championship last May. In Ottawa, Augustine has been very good, not in a general sense but very good when his team needed it the most. In the first half of the second period against Canada, he was unbeatable. When the Czechs made their push yesterday in the third, the same. In four games, he has allowed only six goals while playing five-on-five. Big stage. Big time. Big saves.
Experience
For teenage players, playing in front of 18,000 fans for the first time can be a daunting experience. But half this U.S. team won gold a year ago in Gothenburg. They know what the pressure is like, how to be prepared before the opening faceoff, how to make sure to get a solid start and overcome the jitters. Over the course of the game experience will come through in small decisions, avoiding penalties, being selfless. Playing with controlled emotions. Advantage U.S..
The (Anti-) Crowd
“It’s cool the be hated,” Leonard said the other day of the booing Team USA got form the Ottawa crowd. Get ready for more. The sold-out arena bought their tickets months ago not because they anticipated a Finland-United States final. They expected Canada to be there. Cheering for the dreaded enemy south of the border? Not on the menu today, sorry. But by now the Americans are used to it. In fact, they seem to have adopted the Leonard mantra and made it their own. Booing? Bring it on; it only makes us play better!
Buium to the rescue
The American defender has been sensational. Averaging 24:52 of ice time a game, which ranks second among all teams, Buium is a +8 and has chipped in two goals and four points. He has a gold from the U18 team two years ago, and was on last year’s golden U20 team as well, so not only is he going for a golden hat trick just a month after turning 19, he will be a big reason why he’ll get it.
The Perreault-Leonard combo
Gabe Perreault and captain Ryan Leonard are two of the best players on the team individually, but together they have been playing better and better, finding each other on ice—and near the net—with Sedin-like efficiency. With success comes confidence, and vice versa, and they are playing with more and more of both. If the Finns can’t shut this duo down, it’s over.
Augustine hot in January
Goalie Trey Augustine will turn 20 later next month, so this is it for him at the junior level. So far, his teen years have reaped an incredible four medals, two at U18 (gold, silver) and two more at U20 (gold, bronze). He also got his first taste of action at the senior Men’s World Championship last May. In Ottawa, Augustine has been very good, not in a general sense but very good when his team needed it the most. In the first half of the second period against Canada, he was unbeatable. When the Czechs made their push yesterday in the third, the same. In four games, he has allowed only six goals while playing five-on-five. Big stage. Big time. Big saves.
Experience
For teenage players, playing in front of 18,000 fans for the first time can be a daunting experience. But half this U.S. team won gold a year ago in Gothenburg. They know what the pressure is like, how to be prepared before the opening faceoff, how to make sure to get a solid start and overcome the jitters. Over the course of the game experience will come through in small decisions, avoiding penalties, being selfless. Playing with controlled emotions. Advantage U.S..
The (Anti-) Crowd
“It’s cool the be hated,” Leonard said the other day of the booing Team USA got form the Ottawa crowd. Get ready for more. The sold-out arena bought their tickets months ago not because they anticipated a Finland-United States final. They expected Canada to be there. Cheering for the dreaded enemy south of the border? Not on the menu today, sorry. But by now the Americans are used to it. In fact, they seem to have adopted the Leonard mantra and made it their own. Booing? Bring it on; it only makes us play better!
Buium to the rescue
The American defender has been sensational. Averaging 24:52 of ice time a game, which ranks second among all teams, Buium is a +8 and has chipped in two goals and four points. He has a gold from the U18 team two years ago, and was on last year’s golden U20 team as well, so not only is he going for a golden hat trick just a month after turning 19, he will be a big reason why he’ll get it.