U.S. Eliminated with WJC Loss to Russia

There will be no gold medal repeat for Team USA.

The U.S. dropped a 5-3 decision to Russia in a quarterfinal match at the 2014 IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championship today in Malmo, Sweden. The loss leaves the Americans, who won gold last year in Russia, albeit with a much different lineup, at 3-2-0 overall in the tournament and out of medal contention for the first time since 2012.

A 3-2 U.S. lead after one period today didn't stand up. Stephane Matteau scored for the second straight game for the Americans, sandwiching a goal between two Russian scores before Ryan Hartman and Nic Kerdiles (Wisconsin) scored just under five-and-a-half minutes apart to put the U.S. ahead.

That was it for the American offensive effort, however, as Nikita Zadorov scored two second period power-play goals, both on 5-on-3 advantages, for the Russians, who added an empty-netter with 28 seconds remaining in regulation.

Jon Gillies (Providence) made 20 saves for Team USA, which outshot Russia, 33-25, but couldn't connect in five power-play attempts. The U.S. also had 10 giveaways in its own defensive zone, according to the NHL Network.

After winning its first three round-robin games by a combined score of 19-4 against the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany, things started to unravel for the Americans in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Canada. That defeat left the U.S. one point behind the Canadians in the Group 'A' final preliminary standings and matched it up against the Russians in the quarterfinals, against whom Team USA was 0-4 in WJC playoff competition entering Thursday's contest.

Now that mark is 0-5 and the Americans are headed home, while the Russians will face host Sweden in a semifinal match. The winner will meet the victor of Canada-Finland for the gold medal that last year belonged to the U.S.

U.S. Begins WJC Play on Thursday in Sweden

The U.S. National Junior Team will attempt to defend its title when it begins the 2014 IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden this week.

The U.S. opens WJC play on Thursday morning at 11:30 a.m. ET against the Czech Republic, in a game that will be televised on the NHL Network. The U.S. will also face Group 'A' opponents Slovakia, Germany and Canada in the preliminary round, which runs through Dec. 31. All of Team USA's games will be shown on the NHL Network, according to USAHockey.com.

Only three members of last year's gold-medal-winning squad in Russia return this time out for the Americans, including goaltender Jon Gillies (Providence) and captain Riley Barber (Miami). The only other returnee is Ryan Hartman of the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers.

The 24-man roster includes 23 NHL draft choices, and 18 players who are currently skating for NCAA Division I schools. The head coach this year is Don Lucia (Minnesota), a two-time NCAA national championship winner with the Golden Gophers who will attempt to guide the Americans to their second straight gold medal, and third in five years. The U.S. previously won gold in Saskatoon in 2010, and in Finland in 2004, both times by besting Canada in the title game.

Drop the puck, and Merry Christmas!

Canada Features Just Two NCAA Skaters on World Junior Roster

In contrast to the U.S National Junior Team, which just made its preliminary cuts and is top-heavy with American college-trained players, its Canadian counterpart features just two NCAA skaters in defenseman Michael Matheson and forward Mark Jankowski. Both hail from Hockey East and were 2012 NHL first-round draft choices, and both will be sophomores in 2013-14.

Matheson, a 6'2", 189-pound blueliner from Pointe-Claire, Quebec, was chosen 23rd overall by the Florida Panthers last year. As a freshman last season at Boston College, he put up eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 36 games, and helped the Eagles to their ninth NCAA Tournament berth in the last 10 years. He spent the 2011-12 campaign with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League.

Jankowski, a 6’3”, 175-pound forward from Dundas, Ontario, was taken two spots ahead of Matheson by the Calgary Flames last year. As a rookie at Providence College in 2012-13, he collected 7-11—18 points in 34 outings, while helping the Friars to the Hockey East semifinals. Prior to enrolling at Providence, he skated two years at Stanstead College Prep in Quebec.

The 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship will be contested in Malmo, Sweden from Dec. 26, 2013 to Jan. 5, 2014. The U.S. is the defending WJC champ, having taken gold last winter in Ufa, Russia.