WJC Group B Preview: It's Time For The United States of America To Remind Everybody Who Runs The World
Great moments are born from great opportunity. That's when the U.S. National Junior Team has earned for themselves as they head to Gothenburg, Sweden next week for the start of the 2024 World Junior Championships. This is a team that is hungry after losing to Canada in the semifinals last year and coming away with bronze. This is a team that is loaded with 8 players returning from last year's roster, 10 players who have been drafted in the 1st round of their respective NHL Drafts, and plenty of guys who led USA to win gold at the 2023 U18 World Championships.
If you read yesterday's WJC Group A Preview blog, you'll know that this year's tournament is wide open. It's another year without the Russians being allowed to compete, Canada isn't quite as loaded as they typically are, the Swedes will be dangerous but not overpowering, the Finns are in a down year, and then there's Germany and Latvia. If you didn't read yesterday's blog, here you go.
So between all the '04 and '05 birth years on this team, these guys have won a silver medal at the 2022 U18's, a gold medal at the 2023 U18's, and a bronze medal at the 2023 WJC. They are as good as anybody in this tournament, and better than most.
That's not to say it's going to be the easiest path for them to get to the gold medal game. The Czech '04s are solid, the Slovakian '05s are solid. Those are going to be tight games in the group stage. But USA Hockey is coming into another World Juniors with the expectation of "gold or bust", and that should excite the shit out of all you patriots out there for the puck to drop on the 26th against Norway.
So without further adieu, let's get to the Group B Preview.
2024 WJC Group B Preview
Teams:
- USA (2023 WJC Bronze)
- Czechia (2023 WJC Silver)
- Slovakia (2023 WJC 6th Place)
- Switzerland (2023 WJC 7th Place)
- Norway (Promoted from Division IA)
Games To Watch:
- Czechia vs Slovakia // 12/26 @ 6am
- USA vs Czechia // 12/29 @ 11am
- USA vs Slovakia // 12/31 @ 6am
*all times in Eastern
Top Players To Watch:
- Cutter Gauthier, // USA // Philadelphia '22, 1st rd
- Dalibor Dvorsky // Slovakia // St. Louis '23, 1st rd
- Jiri Kulich // Czechia // Buffalo '22, 1st rd
- Lane Hutson // USA // Montreal '22, 2nd rd
- Adam Gajan // Slovakia // Chicago '23, 2nd rd
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygärd // Norway // Top 20 prospect for '24 Draft
- Rodwin Dionicio // Switzerland // Anaheim '23, 5th rd
- Trey Augustine // USA // Detroit '23, 2nd rd
Team USA
When you look around at all the other teams in this tournament, pretty much all of them have at least one weak spot in their lineup. Maybe they lack a consistent goaltender they know they can rely on all tournament long. Maybe they don't have any proven defensemen who you know can keep up with the pace of playing against the best U20 players in the world. Maybe they don't have firepower up front to score at will like some other teams. But when you look at Team USA's roster, you'd have to do a ton of digging before you find an actual hole.
It all starts between the pipes with Trey Augustine (DET '23, 2nd rd).
He was the guy last year for USA at this tournament when they won bronze. He also led Team USA to a gold medal at the U18's last year, and was the 2nd best goalie in the tournament. He also won a silver medal in the 2022 U18's. So he's been the guy for this program for a while now, and has been putting together a solid season so far with Michigan State putting up a .916 sv% and has over 500 saves on the year so far. So you know those pads are coming back from Sweden with plenty of puck scuffs on them.
But the other guy Team USA can throw between the pipes? Well he's just as solid. Jacob Fowler (MTL '23, 3rd rd) hasn't had a chance to play for USA as much as Augustine has. But this year he had to make the team after the start to the season he's had with Boston College. He has a .925 sv% and only giving up 2.16 goals per game. So I'm sure we'll see both of them splitting time throughout group stage before one of them really taking over the job for the medal round. I'd imagine Trey Augustine has the job for now, but the Americans easily have the best tandem in the tournament.
Lane Hutson (MTL '22, 2nd rd) is probably going to be the most exciting player to watch on USA's blue line this tournament. He's another guy returning from last year's team, will be wearing an 'A' on his sweater this tournament, and is as shifty as they come. He has 8 goals and 12 assists for BU so far this season, and I'd imagine he will rack up a shit ton of assists at this tournament every time a team takes a penalty against the Americans.
Speaking of defensemen who can fill up the scoresheet, let's talk about Zeev Buium ('24 Draft). He's the only draft eligible player on this year's team. Obviously now would be a good time to bring up the fact that Cole Eiserman was left off of this roster. He's the 2nd rated prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft, but the forward position for Team USA is so loaded that it just wouldn't make sense to bring him along to play bottom 6 minutes. Buium, on the other hand, should get plenty of chances out there on the blue line. He's projected to go somewhere in the 1st round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and has 20 assists in 18 games so far this year for Denver.
This defense has decent size, and a ton of skill and speed. And when you have goalies like Augustine and Fowler who can bail you out, you don't necessarily have to focus as much on locking down defensively. So if this defensive group gets the green light to run and gun in transition, there isn't a team in this tournament who can keep up with them.
Offensively, this is going to be Cutter Gauthier's (PHI '22, 1st rd) team. The 5th overall pick in the 2022 Draft, he's one of the best goal scorers in this tournament. Last year he was a top 10 point scorer at the WJC with 10 points in 7 games, then he went on to play for the men's team at the World Championship and had 9 points in 10 games there. He's top 10 this year so far in goals and points in the NCAA with Boston College, and this is probably his last go around before turning pro in a few months. He has an insane shot, and can play 200 feet.
Also returning with him from last year's team will be Jimmy Snuggerud (STL '22, 1st rd) and Rutger McGroarty (WPG '22, 1st rd). McGroarty is going to be wearing the 'C' for this year's team. Snuggerud also had a dominant tournament last year when Team USA won bronze with 13 points in 7 games. That top line is going to be the most experienced and dominant line in the tournament. But if you want to talk about the most dangerous line…
The top 3 point scorers at the 2023 U18 World Championships were Will Smith (SJS '23, 1st rd), Gabe Perreault (NYR '23, 1st rd), and Ryan Leonard (WSH '23, 1st rd). The 3 of them combined for 55 points in just 7 games at that tournament as USA went on to win gold. All 3 of them play together as Boston College this year, and all of them have over a point-per-game this year.
That'll do. That will absolutely do.
So just to reiterate, Team USA has the best goalie tandem in the tournament, they have a defense than can get a jump on anybody, and they have the deepest top 6 forwards in the tournament. This team is going to rule so hard.
Team Czechia
The Czechs were just one goal away from winning gold at last year's tournament. Now a lot of that was thanks to how loaded their '03 birth years were, especially on defense. You had guys like David Jiricek and Stanislav Svozil being absolute demons to play against. Tomas Suchanek was one of the best goalies in the tournament. None of those guys are playing in this year's tournament.
But if there's one player on this Czech roster who is as dangerous as anybody in the tournament, it's Jiri Kulich (BUF '22, 1st rd).
He played 62 games in the AHL last year. He currently has 22 points in 22 games playing with the Rochester Americans this year in the AHL. He was named one of the top 3 forwards at last year's World Juniors, and he was the MVP of the 2022 U18 Worlds. They Czechs ended up getting crushed by Team USA in the semifinals of that tournament, but he had 9 goals and 11 points in 6 games. He's a weapon.
Outside of Kulich, the Czechs have a few decent players floating around out there. Eduard Sale (SEA '23, 1st rd) was a top 20 pick in last year's draft, and currently putting up good numbers with Barrie in the OHL. Matyas Sapovaliv (VGK '22, 2nd rd) is making his 3rd trip to the World Juniors this year. He's currently top 25 in the OHL in points with 36 points in 27 games for Saginaw. Also, I always have a soft spot in my heart for guys from the same hometown as Jaromir Jagr. So shoutout to Kladno.
Defense might be a bit of a question mark for the Czechs at this tournament, but all eyes should be on Adam Jiricek ('24 Draft). Having an older brother who was a top 10 draft pick just a couple years ago helps build up your name a little, but I'd imagine Adam Jiricek wants to make a name for himself at this year's tournament. He's projected to go somewhere in the middle of the 1st round at the 2024 Draft, but this is the type of tournament that can really lock a player into a top 10 spot.
They have a couple defensemen who have been drafted, but I'm also interested in seeing Tomas Cibulka (undrafted) play. He's having a really solid season so far for Val-d'Or in the QMJHL. Maybe he's a potential free agency signing for someone after this tournament.
Team Slovakia
Slovakia may have finished 6th last year, but they had one of the better tournaments. The Slovaks crushed Team USA in group play 6-3, and then they took Canada to overtime in the quarterfinals. If it weren't for Connor Bedard being Connor Bedard, there's a good chance they were playing for a medal. The Slovakians also finished in 4th at the 2023 U18's after taking down Finland in the quarterfinals, but then getting spanked by the Americans in the semis. Again, they lost to Canada in overtime in the bronze medal game. But this group of '05 birth years from Slovakia are really good.
They're led by Dalibor Dvorsky (STL '23, 1st rd) who was a top 10 pick in last year's draft, and one of the top scorers at the U18 Worlds.
He started off the season playing in the top Swedish league before coming over to North America to play for Sudbury in the OHL. In just 20 game with Sudbury, he has 18 goals and 16 assists. He was also one of the best players at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he had more goals and points than his teammate and 1st overall pick in 2021, Juraj Slafkovsky.
Another player who had a great showing at that 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup was Filip Mesar (MTL '22, 1st rd). He's probably not too far away from getting a few games in the NHL. He's made a quick stop in the AHL in each of the past two seasons, but is currently killing it for Kitchener in the OHL.
You get Mesar's vision and passing to go along with Dvorsky's ability to score, and this Slovakian forward group is going to be a goddamn hassle to deal with all tournament long. They might not be as deep as the Americans from top to bottom, but their top can keep up with just about anyone. They have a ton of NHL-caliber talent. A kid like Samuel Honzek (CAL '22, 1st rd) has to be the potential of a player who manages show up and take over when you're least expecting it.
And just for my fellow Flyers fans out there, keep your eyes peeled for Alex Ciernik (PHI '23, 4th rd).
As far as Slovakia's downfall in this tournament, it'll most likely be on defense. There's not as much NHL-caliber talent there. Jakub Chromiak ('24 Draft) is currently playing with Kingston in the OHL, following in the footsteps of his brother Martin Chromiak, and could be a mid round pick in next summer's draft. But who I'm most excited to watch out of this group of Luka Radivojevic ('25 Draft).
Mainly because his old man, Branko Radivojevic, played for the Flyers. But also because he's going to be the youngest player in the tournament, and the only '07 birth year. Granted, he'll turn 17 just 3 days into the new year. But he's been having a big year playing in the U20 league in Sweden, putting up 18 points in 27 games with Örebro.
And luckily for Slovakia, defense won't be nearly as important for them at this tournament when they have Adam Gajan (CHI '23, 2nd rd) returning in net.
He was the best goaltender at last year's tournament, and is currently one of the best goalies in the USHL playing for the Green Bay Gamblers. He has the most saves in the league, and the 2nd highest Sv%.
So the Slovakians have top tier offensive firepower, questionable defense, and one of the best goalies in the tournament. If you're looking for a dark horse to play in one of the medal games this year, Slovakia is my pick.
Team Switzerland & Norway
The Swiss have done a great job lately at keeping themselves out of relegation trouble at this tournament. They might not have the talent to keep up with the top 4-5 teams in the tournament, but they always do enough to at least get themselves into the quarterfinals. It's been 7 tournaments in a row now without having to fight for relegation, with a bronze medal game loss tossed in the mix there.
As for Norway, they are back up to the top division for the first time since 2014. At one point they even got relegated out of the Division 1A tournament and had to win the Division 1B tournament in '18 just to get back. But after winning last year's Division 1A, Norway is back, and they might be able to surprise some people. Petter Versterheim (undrafted) was one of the top point scorers at last year's tournament to get Norway promoted back to the top division. But the one player everyone should keep an eye on will be Michael Brandsegg-Nygärd ('24 Draft). He's projected to go in the top 10-20 in next summer's draft, and would easily be the highest drafted Norwegian player ever.
It all gets going next Tuesday morning bright and early. And just remember, USA Hockey is Do or Die.