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Gameday: U.S. Ready for Russia in Final Preliminary Round Matchup

By USA Hockey, 12/13/19, 8:00AM EST

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Puck drops at 4:00 ET

DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia – The U.S. Junior Select Team will continue tournament play at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge tonight at 4:00 p.m. E.T. Team USA will take on Russia at the Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Live streaming for tonight’s game can be found here.

Today’s Opponent: Russia

Team USA is 3-0-2-0 (W-OTW-L-OTL) in its last five meetings with Russia (2-0-3-0) at the World Junior A Challenge. Last year, the U.S. Junior Select Team topped Russia, 2-0 to win the 2018 World Junior A Challenge. In the three previous meetings, the two teams met in a semifinal game, with the U.S. winning in both 2017 and 2016.

Team USA has finished in the top three at the World Junior A Challenge 10 times in the past 10 years, while Russia has finished in the top three in six of the last 10. 

2023 WJAC

The U.S. has won five of the last seven World Junior A Challenges, including in 2018, with Russia finishing in the top three in five of the last seven. Team USA sits a top this year's tournament standings with a 2-1-0-0 record, while Russia is third with a 0-1-0-2 record.

Game Three Recap:

The U.S. Junior Select posted a 7-3 World Junior A Challenge victory over Canada East Wed. (Dec. 11) at North Peace Arena. Team USA’s third victory secured first seed for semifinals ahead of the team’s fourth and final preliminary matchup.

Brendan Brisson (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) was named the U.S. Player of the Game. The U.S. outshot Canada East 38-23. Brisson (2-1-3) and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (East Greenwich, R.I.) (1-2-3) led all U.S. skaters with three points apiece. 12 different players collected a point in the 7-3 U.S. victory. For full game stats, click here.

U.S. Roster


U.S. Schedule

Date Opponent/Round Result Location Broadcast/Streaming U.S. Player of the Game
Thur., Dec. 5 Canada East
Pre-Tournament
W, 6-0
Chetwynd Rec Centre
Chetwynd, B.C.
Live Stream
Sat., Dec. 7 Canada West
Preliminary
W, 3-2
Encana Events Centre
Dawson Creek, B.C.
Live Stream
Brendan Brisson
Mon., Dec. 9 Czech Republic
Preliminary
OTW, 5-4
Encana Events Centre
Dawson Creek, B.C.
Live Stream
Gunnarwolfe Fontaine
Wed., Dec. 11 Canada East
Preliminary
W, 7-3 North Peace Arena
Fort St. John, B.C.
No Stream Brendan Brisson
Fri., Dec. 13 Russia
Preliminary
W, 7-2 Encana Events Centre
Dawson Creek, B.C.
Live Stream
Josh Lopina
Sat., Dec. 14 Canada East
Semifinals
SOL, 1-2
Encana Events Centre
Dawson Creek, B.C.
Live Stream
Logan Stein
Sun., Dec. 15 Czech Republic
Third-Place Game
OTW, 2-1
Encana Events Centre
Dawson Creek, B.C.
TSN Ethan Haider

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