On Tap: 2023 World Junior Championship semifinals
U.S. prepares to face Canada; Czechia to take on Sweden
© Dale Preston/Getty Images
Quarterfinal results
Sweden 3, Finland 2
Czechia 9, Switzerland 1
United States 11, Germany 1
Canada 4, Slovakia 3 (OT)
On Tap for the semifinals
All games on NHL Network in U.S., TSN and RDS in Canada
Czechia vs. Sweden (2:30 p.m. ET) --Czechia's only loss in the tournament came 3-2 in overtime against Sweden on Thursday. It also lost 3-1 to Sweden in the bronze-medal game at the 2022 WJC in August, denying the country its first World Juniors medal since winning bronze in 2005.
Czechia has 15 players back from the team that lost to Sweden in August, but avenging what happened then is not its focus.
"We just play our game," said Czechia forward
Jiri Kulich
(Buffalo Sabres), who is tied for second among all players with five goals. "We don't like thinking about playing for a medal. We just play the game."
Sweden rallied from down 2-1 in the third period against Finland to set up the rematch with Czechia.
"It's obviously so special," goalie
Carl Lindbom
(Vegas Golden Knights) said. "It was a great win. It was a lot of fun coming out on top but we've got to stay humble and refocus to the semifinals. It's a new game in two days and then it's another game so we're obviously aiming for the gold medal and we're going to do everything we can to get it."
United States vs. Canada (6:30 p.m. ET) --Connor Bedard, the expected No. 1 pick of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, summed up the U.S.-Canada rivalry when he said, "What else is better? What else do you want? I think that's something that everyone in the country, everyone in the continent, is going to be pretty excited for."
The United States has been led by its top line of
Logan Cooley
(Arizona Coyotes),
Jimmy Snuggerud
(St. Louis Blues) and
Cutter Gauthier
(Philadelphia Flyers), who combined for 10 points (six goals, four assists) in the win against Germany in the quarterfinals. Cooley, who is second in the tournament with 11 points (five goals, six assists) had three goals and an assist against Germany.
"It's going to be a great experience," U.S. defenseman
Ryan Ufko
(Nashville Predators) said. "Every kid kind of dreams about playing Canada in some type of game. We're going to be prepared, they're going to be prepared. It'll be a great game."
Key for the U.S. will be slowing Bedard, whose spectacular overtime goal clinched the quarterfinal win against Slovakia, and he leads the tournament in goals (eight), assists (13) and points (21).
"Obviously he's a great player," Ufko said. "You've definitely got to know when he's out there. If you're on the ice, always know where he is, because he could score from anywhere."
What We Learned on Day 7
Ascent of Augustine
Goalie Trey Augustine, the youngest member of the U.S. National Junior Team, said he's prepared for any challenge, especially if it means helping his country win a gold medal.
Augustine, an B rated goalie on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list presented by BioSteel, has won all four of his starts with a 1.36 goals-against average and .938 save percentage at the World Juniors.
"I haven't been nervous," he said. "I mean, at the end of the day we're just playing hockey out there, the same game I've been playing almost my whole life, so it's been good. No nerves."
What asked what it will be like playing Canada in the tournament semifinal round on Wednesday, Augustine said he'd look forward to the challenge.
"I've just got to do what I do for any other game," he said. "Canada is a super team but at the end of the day, I've just got to go do my job out there."
The native of South Lyon, Michigan, is the sixth 17-year goalie to play for the U.S. National Junior Team and the first to win three or more games (Andrew Oke, 2022; Jack Campbell, 2010; Alan Perry, 1984; Tom Barrasso, 1983; Mark Chiamp, 1980).
"Trey's been unbelievable," Ufko said. "Sometimes you kind of forget that he's an underage player, just because he looks like a pro. He does everything like a pro, with the way he talks to us during the games. It's great. He's really calm and it's great to have him in the net."
Memorable night for Milic
Bedard's overtime goal was the No. 1 topic after Canada's 4-3 win against Slovakia, but Canada coach Dennis Williams had a different perspective.
"Connor, that goal and the way he played ... but we don't get there without Thomas (Milic) in net," Williams said. "He was lights out, made some key saves in overtime, some big-time saves in the third for us. We outshot them by 2-1 there but they weren't all outside, perimeter shots, there were some Grade A opportunities that we needed 'Milly' to step up and play his game. Obviously, he was dynamite for us."
The biggest save Milic (2023 draft eligible) made came on a chance for
Servac Petrovsky
(Minnesota Wild) halfway through overtime, when the Slovakia forward got to the net and chipped his rebound over Milic's extended pad but into the goalie's glove.
"I think it was a bit of a rolling puck so I don't think he got full strength on it so I was a little lucky there," Milic said.
Bedard wasn't as sure.
"I thought it went in," he said. "I was going to start crying on the bench."
In four games, Milic has a 1.68 GAA and .921 save percentage. He also has earned the trust of his teammates.
"We have the utmost confidence in him and he showed why we have that," defenseman
Brandt Clarke
(Los Angeles Kings) said. "He's so sturdy. Nothing fazes him. I keep telling him, 'You're the best, you're the best,' and he goes, 'I know I am.' And that's the kind of confidence he has."
Czechia focusing only on next game
Czechia is back in the semifinals at the World Juniors and looking for its first medal at the tournament since winning the bronze in 2005. It lost 3-1 to Sweden in the bronze-medal game at the 2022 WJC in August.
One of the reasons Czechia has reached this point is offense from its defenseman. After getting one goal from a defenseman at the 2022 WJC, they have 10 through five games, topped by three from
David Spacek
(Minnesota Wild) and two each by
David Jiricek
(Columbus Blue Jackets) and Jiri Tichacek (2023 draft eligible).
Jiricek said familiarity among the group has been the key.
"This group was the same from the under-16 (tournaments) and the guys are still the same," he said. "We have some experience, and right now we're just scoring goals."
NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale contributed to this report
