USA World Junior Team Wins Bronze

I was stuck at work and couldn't watch the game. But the US followed up their great Gold Medal year with a respectable 3rd place finish.

The US only lost one game in the tournament which is as good as anyone can do.

I'm not disappointed at all and I hope that we can all be proud what the team accomplished this year on the international stage.

The United States will not be going home empty handed as they have capture the bronze by beating Sweden 4-2 at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

It is the first time ever that the Americans have won medals in consecutive tournaments after defeating Canada for the gold last year in Saskatoon and Regina.

Chris Kreider scored twice while Jack Campbell made 34 saves to clinch the victory for the States.

The teams one loss was to Canada, who just plain was a better team Monday night.

It's official Dean Blais to coach WJC.

This is some really exciting news as former Fighting Sioux and current Fargo Force hockey coach Dean Blais has been named coach of the USA WJC team. Since winning the WJC in 2004 USA many have felt that U20 WJC teams have under achieved at the World Junior Championship. Last year's team was an utter disappointment and seen as undisciplined team.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Dean Blais, head coach and general manager for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League and widely regarded as one of the top coaches in the United States at any level, will be head coach of the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team, it was announced today by USA Hockey.

I'm honored to be selected to coach this team," said Blais. "The World Junior Championship has evolved into one of the great events on the hockey calendar every year and I look forward to the challenge ahead."

USA Hockey also announced that Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey, will serve as the general manager of the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team and Tim Taylor, an assistant coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and head coach of the 1994 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, will serve as the team's director of player personnel.

The U.S. National Junior Team will compete at the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2009 - Jan. 5, 2010, in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.

Blais to coach WJC?

This is the word on Fiona Quick's Twitter. Also the USA Hockey web page is reporting that a WJC coach will be announced at 11:00 am Central. Dean Blais would be a nice change from Ron Rolston days. Stay tuned.

WJC tourney news.

Here are some of the links of interest to the 2009 WJC. Go team USA.

Canada hockey schedule

2009 IIHF World Junior Championship
*Friday, Dec. 26 Canada vs. Czech Republic 7PM EST TSN
*Sunday, Dec. 28 Canada vs. Kazakhstan 3PM EST TSN
*Monday, Dec. 29 Canada vs. Germany 7PM EST TSN
*Wednesday, Dec. 31 Canada vs. USA 7PM EST TSN
*Friday, Jan. 2 Quarter-final #1 3:30PM EST TSN
*Friday, Jan. 2 Quarter-final #2 7PM EST TSN
*Saturday, Jan. 3 Semifinal #1 3:30PM EST TSN
*Saturday, Jan. 3 Semifinal #2 7PM EST TSN
*Monday, Jan. 5 Bronze Medal 3:30PM EST TSN
*Monday, Jan. 5 Gold Medal 7PM EST TSN

*Former Maple Leafs coach Pat Quin returns for team Canada.

*Here is the team USA World junior hockey championship capsule.

United States
No shortage of talent, but an inability to finish sums up the Americans the last few years at the world junior championship. They've played for a medal the last six years and won just two. The U.S. has heaps of talent again, including four first-round NHL draft picks on defence. If they master the art of playing as a team, the gold could be theirs.

Player to watch: UNH player James vanRiemsdyk, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 NHL draft by Philadelphia.

James vanRiemsdyke is also leading the NCAA in pointers per game as well (9-17-26). Look for the Flyers to sign vanRiemsdyke after the Wildcats season is over.

*Prospects Tavares, Hedman rivals on ice and off with both vying for the No. 1 spot at the June draft. I have read where some of the NHL pundits have compared Tavares to the great one.

*Title defence: Manning Team Canada's blue line. Wisconsin's Cody Goloubef is the only NCAA player on team Canada's defense.

CODY GOLOUBEF

Oakville

Lone college player on the team out of Wisconsin is calm, covers off gaps and doesn't give quarter in the defensive zone. Good skater with quick transition game.

*Team USA hockey roster.

*Jonathon Blum (Vancouver Giants of the WHL)was named team USA captain, Colin Wilson (Boston University) and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (Boston University) have been named team USA's alternate captains. Hockey East is represented well.

*Here is the team USA WJC blog.

*Here is current Golden Gopher and USA WJC player Jordan Schroeder's hockey's future page.

*Canadian WJC coach Pat Quinn has built this years team around speed and skill up front, a bruising defensive corp on the blue-line. I believe it is a good way to set up any team. Hum, sounds like last season B.C. Eagles.

*Canada 2009 WJC preview (read the article here).

*I think this article is stating the obvious; Canadians face stern test in Ottawa.

United States (2008 result: 4-2, 4th place)

With four first-round NHL draft picks on defence, the Americans will be competitive and will be led by James vanRiemsdyk, the second overall pick in the 2007 draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The lineup also includes 2009 draft prospects Jordan Schroeder , who had seven assists at last year's world juniors, and Jeremy Morin. Both will go in the first round of the draft in Montreal.

Another player to watch is Colin Wilson , who was Nashville's top choice, seventh overall, in the 2008 draft. He is the son of former Canadian national team member Carey Wilson.

The Guelph Storm's Thomas McCollum of the Ontario Hockey League is expected to get the majority of the starts in net for Team USA. He was the 30th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 draft.

*Here is a link to the Dallas Star's prospects in the WJC.