Blue Jackets go for gold at the World Championships

History was made last spring as the United States won the IIHF World Championship for the first time since 1933, with CBJ defenseman Zach Werenski capturing a gold medal and honoring Johnny Gaudreau along the way. 

Now, fresh off an Olympic gold medal, can Team USA keep it going? 

Werenski won’t be there this time – we'd say he’s earned some time off after representing his country at three tournaments in 12 months, including the Olympic triumph – but Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier is wearing the red, white and blue. 

Meanwhile, Canada’s red also has a blue feel, as CBJ goaltender Jet Greaves and defenseman Denton Mateychuk are representing our neighbors to the north at the tournament. In addition, Columbus native Misha Donskov is serving as head coach for the Canadian squad. 

READ MORE: Greaves embracing his opportunity | Mateychuk builds on excellent season

This year’s tournament runs from May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland. The seven-game round robin portion of the event runs through May 26, with quarterfinals set for May 28, semifinals May 30 and the gold and bronze medal games on the final day of the month. Games can be watched live on NHL Network throughout the tournament.

Follow along here throughout the tournament as we’ll post scores, schedules and stats for the CBJ players taking part in this year’s World Championships. 

CBJ Player Stats

Olivier (United States): 5 GP, 2-2-4, 16 SOG, Even +/-, 15:06 TOI

Greaves (Canada): 3 GP, 3-0-0, 1.67 GAA, .909 SV%

Mateychuk (Canada): 5 GP, 2-1-3, 4 SOG, +5, 10:02 TOI

Schedule and Results

Friday, May 15 

Canada 5, Sweden 3

Switzerland 3, United States 1

Saturday, May 16 

Canada 6, Italy 0

Sunday, May 17 

United States 5, Great Britain 1

Monday, May 18 

Canada 5, Denmark 1

Finland 6, United States 2

Wednesday, May 20

United States 4, Germany 3 (SO)

Thursday, May 21

Canada 6, Norway 5 (OT)

Friday, May 22

Canada 3, Slovenia 1

Saturday, May 23

Latvia 4, United States 2

Sunday, May 24

Canada (Greaves, Mateychuk) vs. Slovakia, 2:20 p.m. 

Monday, May 25

United States (Olivier) vs. Hungary, 10:20 a.m. 

Tuesday, May 26

United States (Olivier) vs. Austria, 10:20 a.m. 

Canada (Greaves, Mateychuk) vs. Czechia, 2:20 p.m. 

CBJ Player Updates

Saturday, May 23

Mathieu Olivier scores his second goal of the Worlds, but it was too little, too late as Team USA's comeback effort fell short in a 4-2 loss to Latvia. The setback dropped the U.S. to fifth in its group with two games to go, and the Americans now must finish strong to reach the quarterfinals.

Olivier's tally came in the final minute and cut the Latvia lead to 3-2, as he took a pass from Matthew Tkachuk in the slot and fired past Kristers Gudlevskis. The veteran Latvian goalie was the star of the show, though, stopping 45 shots to earn the win.

Olivier had five shots on goal and six penalty minutes in 16:31. 

Friday, May 22

Denton Mateychuk notched his second goal of the tournament and Greaves turned in another solid outing as Canada stayed atop Group B with a 3-1 win over Slovenia.

Mateychuk started the scoring for Canada at the 11:07 mark, taking Fraser Minten's pass, coming into the left circle and wiring a wrist shot past goalie Zan Us.

Canada added a goal from Dylan Cozens in the second and Emmett Finnie in the third, and that was more than enough for Greaves, though the CBJ netminder's shutout bid was foiled with 1:05 to go on a goal by Rozle Bohinc. Greaves still finished with 13 saves on 14 shots and improved to 3-0 in the tournament.

Thursday, May 21

Canada survived a scare from a game Norway squad, with Mark Scheifele's hat trick goal 29 seconds into overtime giving the Canadians a 6-5 victory.

It was a wild affair, as Norway held three different leads including 5-4, before Canada rallied in the end. CBJ defenseman Denton Mateychuk played 6:41 as the seventh defenseman, while goalie Jet Greaves was rested in favor of Cam Talbot. 

Wednesday, May 20

The United States had to work extra time but earned a key victory over Germany, capturing a 4-3 final in a shootout. The win moved the squad to five points in four games and fourth place in the group, with the top four moving on to the quarterfinals.

It wasn't always pretty, as the squad was down 3-2 before Tommy Novak's tying goal with 5:47 to go. Ryan Leonard later added the deciding goal in the shootout, while Isaac Howard and Max Sasson scored.

Olivier played a tournament-best 16:05 but finished a minus-2. 

Monday, May 18

The CBJ Canadian contingent had a big day as Team Canada improved to 3-0 with a 5-1 win over Denmark. Canada dominated the opening 40 minutes, outshooting Denmark 27-9, before a five-goal third period made Jet Greaves a winner for the second time. Denton Mateychuk had a key hand in the goal explosion, jumping into the play and burying his own rebound off a pass from Sidney Crosby for his first goal of the tournament. Greaves stopped 15 of 16 shots against. 

Things weren't as rosy for the United States, as Finland jumped on the red, white and blue early, taking a 5-1 lead on the way to a 6-2 victory. Olivier played 16:27 with six shots on goal and an even plus-minus.

Sunday, May 17

Mathieu Olivier had a huge game, posting a goal and two assists as the United States earned its first win at the tournament, downing Great Britain by a 5-1 score.

The CBJ winger gave Team USA a 3-1 lead in the third period as he scored from in front of the net, putting a rebound past goalie Ben Bowns. Olivier also assisted on tallies by Paul Cotter in the first and Declan Carlile in the third and finished plus-3

Saturday, May 16

Canada eased to its second win of the tournament, taking a 6-0 victory over Italy on Saturday.

With the team on a back-to-back, Greaves was given the night off, with Cam Talbot taking the net. Denton Mateychuk played 12:51, posting a plus-2 rating and notching his first assist of the tournament. 

Friday, May 15

Canada's tournament got off to a good start as Greaves backstopped the squad to an opening win vs. Sweden, while Team USA's title defense began with a setback against the home Swiss squad.

Greaves got the nod in net for Canada in the opener and overcame a rough middle frame in the country's 5-3 win over Sweden. The CBJ goalie gave up three goals in the second as Sweden rallied to tie the game, but Greaves shut the door in the third and Canada got the win.

Greaves did make a highlight reel stop on a one-timer by Albert Johansson, moving to his left and getting his outstretched arm on the shot.

Mateychuk dressed as Canada's seventh defenseman and played nine shifts in the game.

Meanwhile, Team USA couldn't get much going in its 3-1 loss to the hosts, as Switzerland took a 2-0 lead in the first and weathered the Americans' push in the third that included Alex Steeves' goal. Olivier played 13:26 and wore an alternate captain's "A", while the Swiss team featured former Jackets Dean Kukan, Calvin Thurkauf and Tim Berni.