DECEMBER 27: Day 13

After securing a 9-0 win in yesterday’s tournament-opening game against Denmark, the United States visited New Era Field today where it held practice from 2-3pm ET. The practice was followed by photo opportunities with family and friends.

NEW ERA FIELD: SITE OF HOCKEY HISTORY
The U.S. and Canada will make history when the two rivals battle outdoors on Dec. 29, 2017, in a preliminary round game of the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. The outdoor game will be the very first outdoor game played at any top-level IIHF world championship.
    New Era Field is home to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and is poised to make hockey history for the second time in a decade. On January 1, 2008, what was then known as Ralph Wilson Stadium hosted the first-ever NHL Winter Classic between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins in front of a then-record 71,217 spectators. 

NINE-STRAIGHT WINS
With a win last night, the United States has set a new record for most consecutive U.S. wins in World Junior Championship play. Since a 2-1 semifinal setback to Russia at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, the United States has won nine straight games in tournament play, besting its previous record of eight-straight wins set by the 2004 and 2005 U.S. National Junior Teams. 
    This current nine-game win streak includes notable moments, such as Team USA's first-ever playoff round victory over Russia (4-3 semifinal SOW) and a thrilling come-from-behind 5-4 gold medal-game victory over Canada. Last year's two victories over Russia and Canada marked the first time a team defeated two teams twice en route to claiming a gold medal. 

LOOK AHEAD: USA vs. SLOVAKIA, 8PM ET
The United States returns to game action tomorrow when it takes on Slovakia at the KeyBank Center. Game time is set at 8pm ET. 
    All-time, the U.S. is 12-0-0-3-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) against Slovakia in tournament play. This is the fourth meeting in five years between the two teams. A year ago, Tanner Laczynski (Shorewood, Ill.), Colin White (Hanover, Mass.), Tage Thompson (Orange, Conn.), Charlie McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.) and Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) each scored and 12 players in total tallied points in a preliminary round win. 
    Tickets are still available and the game will be televised live in the United States on NHL Network. 

TAKE FIVE: BELLOWS, MITTELSTADT WITH TWO GOALS APIECE

Yesterday, the United States opened the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship with a 9-0 victory over Denmark behind a pair of goals from Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn./Portland Winterhawks) and Casey Mittelstadt (Eden Prairie, Minn./University of Minnesota).

NICKNAME:
Bellows: Chief Kieff
Mittelstadt: Mitty 

BEST MEMORY FROM YOUR OWN PLAYING CAREER:
Bellows: 2017 World Junior Championship gold
Mittelstadt: Playing in the Minnesota State Tournament

FAVORITE ACCOUNT TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Bellows: Barstool Sports
Mittelstadt: Brannon McManus

BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN:
Bellows: Work ethic is the key to success
Mittelstadt: Keep working and it will come

ANOTHER SPORT YOU PLAYED GROWING UP:
Bellows: Baseball, golf, lacrosse, football, soccer
Mittelstadt: Golf and lacrosse