Mattias Samuelsson is back for more with Team USA. (Getty)
It’s the most wonderful time of year. And we apologize, Santa; this has nothing to do with you.
The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, one of ice hockey’s grandest tournaments, is set to start this week on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, where it will commence on Dec. 26 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic. It will culminate with the gold-medal game on Jan. 5.
The United States fell just short of capturing the title at the 2019 WJC when it was defeated by Finland in the gold-medal game, rendering the Americans to a silver-medal finish. Despite the setback, the U.S. is on a special run, having earned a medal at the WJC in four consecutive years. The Americans won the gold in 2017 and finished with bronze in 2016 and 2018.
