This is the first time in the history of the World Junior Championship that every game is being played on the same sheet of ice. Previously, even when the hosting was overseen by one city, two venues were used but, because the pandemic and bubble, Rogers Place has been the venue for every minute of play.
Wherefore the Shootouts?
It has now been 88 games and counting that the U20 last saw a penalty-shot shootout. There have been none so far this year, none last year, none in 2019. The last were three years ago by the calendar.
First Honours?
No Austrian has ever been named to an end-of-tournament All-Star Team or been given an IIHF Directorate Award, but one would think goaltender Sebastian Wraneschitz might get a few votes. Consider that in the three games he played he faced 194 shots, virtually double the number of any other goalie (Switzerland’s Thibault Fatton is second with 99). He allowed a whopping 21 goals but so many of those 194 shots were point blank, great chances. He likely won’t win anything, but it’s worth noting all the same.
Gentlemen
If the IIHF still awarded the Fair Play Cup, the winning team would be the U.S. It has incurred a measly three minor penalties in four games, by far the most disciplined of all the teams here. The most penalized team is Switzerland, with a whopping 25 minors in four preliminary round games.
Close…Or Not?
You can look at the preliminary round in different ways and formulate a summary. In 20 games, 15 saw the losing team score just one goal or none. At the same time, eight of 2- games were decided by two goals or less. There were also nine shutouts in those 20 games.
An Unwanted Streak
By failing to win a game in four tries, Austria now has the longest winless streak in U20 history at 21. Previously, Poland had gone 20 games (on two occasions) without a win.
Making History?
If Trevor Zegras manages to lead this tournament in goals on his own, he will do something no other player has done—lead the U20 outright in assists one year and goals another year. He currently shares the lead with six, with Canada's Dylan Cozens. Previously, Vladimir Krutov (URS) tied for the top assists getters in 1979 and the next year tied in goals.
Not that this is a reason Russia will or won’t win a medal, but it has only one right-shooting player in its lineup, forward Yegor Spiridonov.
Minute-Munchers
German defenceman Simon Gnyp is leading the tournament in average ice time—and by a wide, wide margin. He has been on the ice an incredible 28:43 per game. Forward and teammate Tim Stutzle isn’t far behind at 25:56. Luis Lindner (AUT) at 23:34 is next, well back of the German workhorses.
Birthday Wishes
There are still a few birthdays to celebrate at this year’s U20. Cole Perfetti (CAN) turns 19 today; Artemi Knyazev (RUS) and Albert Johansson (SWE) are both 20 on January 4; Jakub Kolenic (SVK) is 19 on the 4th as well; Filip Mesar (SVK) will be only 17 on January 3; Cole Caufield (USA) is 20 on January 2; Cam York would love to celebrate his 20th birthday on January 5 by playing in a medal game.
Been There
Since the current playoff format was introduced to the World Juniors in 1996 (25 years), Canada has been to the gold-medal game 17 times. Russia has been 13, Sweden 7, United States 6, Finland 5, Czech Republic 2. No other team has qualified even once for the big game.
Not Their First Rodeo
Fans might forget that Edmonton first hosted a U20 game back in 1995 during the hugely successful hosting by Red Deer. The Coliseum hosted the Russia-Ukraine game on December 29 and two more on New Year’s Day between Canada and Finland as well as the United States and Germany.