Danny Nelson scored the United States goal that broke host Canada’s heart as the preliminary round of the IIHF Junior World Hockey Championship concluded on New Year’s Eve at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa, Ont.
With the United States on one of its seven power-play opportunities against the Canadians, the 6-foot-2, 216-pound Nelson, a sophomore for coach Jeff Jackson’s Irish, took a pass in the mid-slot from Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson and beat Canada goaltender Carter George from 30 feet out at 4:22 of the third period. The goal begin a three-goal finish by United States coach David Carle’s team in its 4-1 victory which clinched first-place in Group A.
The Americans, seeking to defend the gold medal they won last year at the tournament held in Sweden, will open single-elimination play Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against Switzerland, which finished fourth in Group B.
It was the third goal of the tournament for the 19-year-old Nelson, who was named an assistant captain by Carle and has primarily centered the checking line for the Americans. Noted for his proficiency at the faceoff dot, Nelson also has shown the scoring ability he has exhibited for Notre Dame this season in scoring a team-high eight goals. Nelson’s first two goals of the tournament came in the United States’ 5-1 preliminary-round victory over Latvia last Saturday.
The victory certainly wouldn’t have been possible without the stellar netminding of Michigan State sophomore Trey Augustine. With Canada outshooting the United States 39-28, Augustine was strong from the start and eventually finished with 38 saves. The only goal he allowed was scored on a power play by Bradly Nadeau at 1:58 of the third period that tied the game at 1-1.
Playing before a home crowd of 18,935, the Canadians couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, making four trips to the box in the first 20 minutes. On one of the penalties, Hutson took a pass from his Boston University teammate Cole Eiserman to beat George at 13:02 for Team USA’s first goal.
Canada was whistled for a total of 11 minor penalties, including three straight during the scoreless second period. U.S. team captain Ryan Leonard ended the period taking a roughing penalty, giving the Canadians their early third-period power play which ended when Nadeau batted home a crossing pass from Brayden Yager at 1:58.
But just 38 seconds later, Canada’s Sawyer Mynio was whistled for cross checking and the U.S. patiently controlled the resulting power-play opportunity before Hutson set up Nelson to give the Americans their 2-1 lead.
After killing off a Canadian power-play opportunity, the United States had two more power-play chances, the second coming after a boarding call against Easton Cowan in front of the Canadian bench at 12:09. Eiserman then made it 3-1 at 13:21 off a feed from Denver defenseman Zeev Buium.
Canada’s Luca Pinelli was whistled for elbowing at 17:09 and the United States was penalized for delay of game at the same time after Canadian coach Dave Cameron pulled George for a sixth attacker. But with Canada skating with six attackers, Leonard atoned for his earlier penalty when he scored an empty-net goal at 18:08.
UNITED STATES 4, CANADA 1
Tuesday, Dec. 31 at Canadian Tire Center, Ottawa, Ont.
Canada 0 0 1—1
United States 1 0 3—4
First Period—Scoring: 1. United States, Cole Hutson 2 (Cole Eiserman) PP 13:02. Penalties: Canada 4-8, United States 3-6.
Second Period—Scoring: None. Penalties: Canada 3-6 (7-14), United States 2-4 (5-10).
Third Period—Scoring: 2. Canada, Bradly Nadeau 1 (Brayden Yager, Tanner Molendyk) PP 1:58; 3. United States, Danny Nelson 3 (Cole Hutson, Trevor Connelly) PP 4:22; 4. United States, Cole Eiserman 2 (Zeev Buium) PP 13:21; 5. United States, Ryan Leonard 2 (unassisted) EN 18:08. Penalties: Canada 4-8 (11-22), United States 2-4 (7-14).
Shots on goal: Canada 39 (11-15-13), United States 28 (5-13-10). Goalie saves: Canada, Carter George 24 (4-13-7); United States, Trey Augustine 38 (11-15-12).
Faceoffs won: Canada 31 (6-10-15), United States 29 (10-11-8). Power-play opportunities: Canada 1 of 3, United States 3 of 7.
Referees: Andris Ansons (Latvia) and Christoffer Holm (Sweden). Linesmen: Onni Hautamaki (Finland) and Anders Nyqvist (Sweden). Attendance: 18,935.
STANDINGS
GROUP A
GP Pts W OTW OTL L GF-GA
United States 4 10 3 0 1 0 22-10
Finland 4 8 2 1 0 1 10-8
Canada 4 7 2 0 1 1 10-7
Latvia 4 4 0 2 0 2 8-13
Germany 4 1 0 0 1 3 8-20
Thursday, Dec. 26
United States 10, Germany 4
Canada 4, Finland 0
Friday, Dec. 27
Latvia 3, Canada 2 (OT) (Latvia wins shootout 1-0)
Finland 3, Germany 1
Saturday, Dec. 28
United States 5, Latvia 1
Sunday, Dec. 29
Finland 4, United States 3 (OT)
Canada 3, Germany 0
Monday, Dec. 30
Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT)
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Finland 3, Latvia 0
United States 4, Canada 1
GROUP B
GP Pts W OTW OTL L GF-GA
Sweden 4 12 4 0 0 0 24-10
Czechia 4 9 3 0 0 1 25-9
Slovakia 4 5 1 1 0 2 11-14
Switzerland 4 3 1 0 0 3 10-15
Kazakhstan 4 1 0 0 1 3 8-30
Thursday, Dec. 26
Sweden 5, Slovakia 2
Czechia 5, Switzerland 1
Friday, Dec. 27
Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1
Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1
Saturday, Dec. 28
Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2
Sunday, Dec. 29
Sweden 7, Switzerland 5
Czechia 4, Slovakia 2
Monday, Dec. 30
Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1
Sweden 4, Czechia 2
SINGLE-ELIMINATION
Thursday, Jan. 2
Germany vs. Kazakhstan at Canadian Tire Centre, 11 a.m.
Sweden vs. Latvia at TD Place, 12 p.m.
United States vs. Switzerland at Canadian Tire Centre, 2:30 p.m.
Finland vs. Slovakia game at TD Place, 5 p.m.
Czechia vs. Canada at Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 4
Semifinal game at Canadian Tire Centre, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinal game at Canadian Tire Center, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 5
Consolation game at Canadian Tire Center, 3:30 p.m.
Championship game at Canadian Tire Center, 7:30 p.m.