This year’s World Junior Championship is taking place in Minneapolis, Minn., and Team USA has started the tournament 3-0 on its home ice.
The United States started the tournament in style, beating Germany last Friday in commanding fashion by a score of 6-2.
The next day, Team USA barely edged out Switzerland, securing a 2-1 victory.
The team was back in action Monday night to take on a young but exciting Slovakian team after having Sunday off.
Boston Bruins prospect Will Zellers leads the team with four goals through three games. He added a two-point performance Monday night to help beat Slovakia 6-5 in an exhilarating preliminary contest.
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Zellers was a 2024 Colorado Avalanche draft pick, but found his way to the Bruins farm as a part of the deal that sent away Charlie Coyle.
He had an assist earlier in the contest, and his third-period goal put the game out of reach, securing the win for the USA.
Zellers and Team USA would not have been in a position to win the game had it not been for the offensive contributions of Bruins draft pick James Hagens.
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Hagens plays at Boston College and was the Bruins’ seventh-overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The 19-year-old centers the first line winged by Zellers and scored two of the United States’ six goals, including this one from the point to tie the game at four heading into the second intermission.
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Team USA is back in action on Wednesday against undefeated Sweden in the final game of the preliminary round.
All games are airing on the NHL Network.
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Featured image via Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
