The USA started its Group A competition against Germany in Preliminary Play on Thursday afternoon at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Boston College and Boston University players dominated the scoreboard as the Americans cruised to a 10-4 victory to open the tournament 1-0 with a +6 goal differential, which factors into the all-important tie-breaking scenarios. DU defenseman Zeev Buium was + 3 for the game, playing on the USA’s top D pairing with a game-high 24+ minutes of ice time.
Two Boston College Eagles got Team USA on the board, 2-0. At 8:07, BC’s James Hagens stuffed the puck past German goaltender Nico Pertuch, 1-0, USA. With eight minutes left in the period, BC’s Ryan Leonard found Gabe Perreault wide open in front of the goal and he buried USA’s second gold, 2-0. BC’s Ryan Leonard added an assist on both goals.
Providence’s Trevor Connelly scored early in the second as the USA broke down the German defense, 3-0. A German power play goal by Julius Sumpf pulled Germany within two, 3-1. Germany’s David Lewandowski scored from near the blue line a few minutes later to make it 3-2 but that was the closest the Germans got to pulling off the upset. Hagens responded four minutes later from the high slot with his second of the game. Team USA struck two more times in the second – BU’s Brandon Svoboda picked up a loose puck and scored on the backhand and Perreault scored his second to take a 6-2 lead into the final frame.
Three minutes into the third period, a Carey Terrance (Erie Otters) goal confirmed that the rout was officially on to make it 7-2. By the time all was said and done, the USA added three more goals – Brodie Ziemer scored twice and Cole Eiserman scored in the final two minutes – while the Germans found two consolation goals to end the 10-4 drubbing.
Despite Team USA’s overwhelming victory, coach David Carle will look to tighten up the defense and improve the power play’s efficiency, which did not score – all 10 of Team USA’s goals were scored at even strength.
Team USA next plays Latvia on Saturday afternoon. The full American schedule is below:
LetsGoDU’s Puck Swami will report live from Ottawa for the Latvia and Finland games.
Dunker enjoyed the watch today. I’m trying to get all the players. The World Juniors is one of my favorite tournaments. My New Year’s Eve date just told me to shove it. I told her I’d bring in shrimp, lobster, and some terrific desserts so we could stay in and watch USA v Canada. I guess the she didn’t believe my warning that DU Hockey trumps my social life. (Carle, Buium, Meldrum, etc).
Dunker, you need to find a woman like 5bwest’s wife.
A+++++