Hello, puckheads. Happy hockey-days! It's one of the most wonderful times of the year. From today through January 5th NHL Network is broadcasting the glorious mish-mash of national pride, youthful fervor, and mad skillz that is the World Juniors.
Team USA is expected to be one of many teams competing for a medal this year, but the Americans have to go though some tough competition. They share Group A with Germany, Slovakia, defending champion Finland, and continental nemesis Canada. The Red, White, and Blue open the preliminary round in just a few minutes, facing off against Finland at 3pm.
When you tune in you might notice a familiar face behind Team USA's bench. Former Ohio State coach Mark Osiecki heads up the U.S. staff. He oversees 23 of America's finest young hockey talents. The final roster features 15 collegiate players, including Big Ten opponents Ryan Collins and Hudson Fasching (Minnesota) and Zach Werenski, JT Compher, Tyler Motte, and Dylan Larkin (Michigan).
| GROUP A | Prelim round | time |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 26th | FIN vs USA | 3pm |
| CAN vs SVK | 8pm | |
| Dec. 27th | SVK vs FIN | 4pm |
| GER vs CAN | 8pm | |
| Dec. 28th | USA vs GER | 8pm |
| Dec. 29th | USA vs SVK | 4pm |
| FIN vs CAN | 8pm | |
| Dec. 30th | SVK vs GER | 8pm |
| Dec. 31st | CAN vs USA | 4pm |
| GER vs FIN | 8pm |
If cheering for all those Wolverines and Gophers weirds you out then I have good news. For the first time in many moons the Buckeyes have a skater in the WJC, Ohio State and Team Germany defenseman Janik Moser. Repeat after me (and Google Translate) "Gute Spiel, Moser! Kanada ist stinke."
Moser joined OSU this season after a one year stint in Muskegon (USHL). The rookie blueliner has skated in 13 games for the Bucks. He picked up the first point of his collegiate career in the first half finale loss to Michigan, springing Anthony Greco for the Bucks' third goal. The play offered fans (who had not already changed the channel) a glimpse of the offensive threat the d-man is projected to become.
Though he's a fresh face in Buckeye land, Moser is a grizzled veteran of Germany's national team. The Mannheim native skated for the Germans at the World Under-18 Championship in 2012 and 2013. Last year he made his WJC debut, potting a goal and two assists and earning player of the game honors in his team's tilt against Canada.
This will be Moser's second consecutive World Juniors appearance. It will also be the first time since the 2007-08 season that a player currently on Ohio State's roster has competed in the tournament. Former Buckeye goalie Joe Palmer backed up Jeremy Smith on a fourth place Team USA that year.
The Germans have a rough road ahead of them. They've drawn Group A, aka the Group of Death. They're also missing star forward Leon Draisaitl who was not released for the WJC by the Edmonton Oilers. The team will need other players, like Western Michigan's Fredrik Tiffels (Buckeye fans likely remember him all too well), will have to pick up the offensive slack.
Germany's goal this year may simply be to compete well and avoid relegation. There are surprises and spoilers in this tournament every year, though. Who's to say Team Germany won't wreck one of the contenders? Stranger things have happened.
The Germans played a couple of exhibitions earlier this week in preparation for the tournament. They dropped a 5-2 decision to Canada. Their warm-up match against Denmark was decided by a shootout, which Denmark won. Moser recorded an assist against the Danes.
So I know you're cheering for Janik Moser and the good old U S of A. Who else are you backing? Who are your picks for the podium? On which day do you think they will riot in Montreal? For me it's both the Swedish and Finnish Sebastian Ahos (no relation to former Buckeye Ray, so far as I know), beats the heck out of me, and Day Six.
For up to the minute scores, schedules, stats, etc. check out the IIHF's World Junior Championship page.
O-S-U! U-S-A!
The Women's Under-18 World Championship begins in Buffalo, NY on January 5th. Two NLI-signed Ohio State recruits made the final cut and will don the Red, White, and Blue. Defenseman Mikaela Gardner makes her Team USA debut while fellow blueliner Jincy Dunne, sister of current Buckeye Jessica Dunne, skates in her third U-18 tourney. Check out Doug Williams' feature on Dunne for USA Hockey.
All the championship details can be found on the tournament's official IIHF website.
