BUFFALO, N.Y. — Kieffer Bellows (Edina, Minn./Portland Winterhawks) and Casey Mittelstadt (Eden Prairie, Minn./University of Minnesota) each scored twice as the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team defeated Denmark, 9-0, tonight in its first preliminary round game of the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship at KeyBank Center.
“This was a good team win to get us started here in the tournament,” said Bob Motzko, head coach of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team. “I liked our special teams tonight and the fact that a lot of people were able to contribute. We’ll enjoy this win tonight, but tomorrow we move forward and turn our attention to the next task at hand.”
Team USA (1-0-0-0/W-OTW-OTL-L) will practice tomorrow at New Era Field in preparation of its preliminary round outdoor game against Canada on Friday, Dec. 29. The U.S. will then return to game action on Thursday, Dec. 28, when it faces Slovakia in its second game of the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Puck drop is slated for 8:00 p.m. ET and tickets are on sale now here. That contest, along all U.S. games at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, will be broadcast live on NHL Network.
For the complete game recap, click here.
2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship
Team USA Schedule – Dec. 26, 2017 – Jan. 5, 2018 – Buffalo, New York
Date Opponent Time (ET)
Result Broadcast
Tickets Location
Wed., Dec. 20 Belarus
Pre-Tournament W, 14-0 HockeyTV.com Northwest Arena
Jamestown, N.Y.
Fri., Dec. 22 Sweden
Pre-Tournament W, 3-1 HockeyTV.com Erie Insurance Arena
Erie, Pa.
Tues., Dec. 26 Denmark
Preliminary Round W, 9-0 NHL Network KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
Thurs., Dec. 28 Slovakia
Preliminary Round 8:00 p.m. NHL Network
Tickets KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
Fri., Dec. 29 Canada
Preliminary Round 3:00 p.m. NHL Network
Tickets New Era Field
Orchard Park, N.Y.
Sun., Dec. 31
Finland
Preliminary Round 4:00 p.m. NHL Network
Tickets KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
Tues., Jan. 2 TBD
Quarterfinals TBD NHL Network
Tickets KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
Thurs., Jan. 4 TBD
Semifinals TBD NHL Network
Tickets KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
Fri., Jan. 5 TBD
Bronze Medal Game 4:00 p.m. NHL Network
Tickets KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
TBD
Gold Medal Game 8:00 p.m. NHL Network
Tickets KeyBank Center
Buffalo, N.Y.
NOTES: Casey Mittelstadt (Eden Prairie, Minn./University of Minnesota) was named the U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outshot Denmark, 36-17, went 2-for-5 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. For complete box score, click here … The U.S. will play in the first ever outdoor game in tournament history when it takes on Canada at New Era Field on Dec. 29, 2017. Tickets for that game, as well as all other tournament games, are available here … Jim Johannson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the ninth consecutive year … Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn.) is serving as head coach for the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team and joined behind the bench by assistant coaches Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass.), Grant Potulny (Grand Forks, N.D.), Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Steve Miller (Littleton, Colo.) … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams … All U.S. games will be broadcast live on NHL Network.
