U.S. National Junior Team Takes on Sweden This Afternoon in Pre-Tournament Game

By USA Hockey, 12/21/22, 8:00AM EST

Faceoff set for 2:30 p.m. ET; Final tune-up before World Juniors starts Dec. 26

MONCTON, New Brunswick – The U.S. National Junior Team will take on Sweden here at the Avenir Centre this afternoon in its final pre-tournament game in advance of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, which begins Dec. 26 in Moncton and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The game will be televised live on NHL Network, the exclusive home of the IIHF World Junior Championship in the U.S.

Team USA arrived in Moncton yesterday afternoon fresh off a 5-2 pre-tournament game victory over Finland on Monday (Dec. 19) night at the QPlex in Quispamsis, New Brunswick. Charlie Stramel and Ryan Ufko each had a goal and assist, while 11 players contributed points. Tyler Augustine went the distance in the U.S. net and picked up the win with 19 saves.

The U.S. will use the same lineup it did against Finland today against Sweden, however, Kaidan Mbereko will start in goal for Team USA.

Following today’s contest, the U.S. will remain in Moncton and continue preparations for its opening game of the World Junior Championship here on Dec. 26 against Latvia.

The U.S. is playing its preliminary round games in Group B, which also includes Finland, Slovakia and Switzerland. Group A, which features Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Germany and Austria, will contest its preliminary round contests in Halifax. Two quarterfinals will be played in each city, while Halifax will host both semifinals, along with the bronze and gold-medal games.