USA stops Latvia to start World Junior Championship

It was a bit closer than they likely expected, but the United States opened Group B action with a 5-2 win over Latvia in Moncton.

The first period didn’t have anything to show for, although USA’s Tyler Boucher came close late in the frame. The Americans still took the 1-0 lead with an early second-period goal, with Jimmy Snuggerud knocking in a loose puck to end the deadlock.

But just four minutes later, the Latvians answered back. Rainers Rullers was able to sucker Luke Hughes out of position before finding Anri Ravinskis, who knocked in the shot past 2023 draft prospect Trey Augustine for the 1-1 goal.

The Americans regained their advantage five minutes later when Sean Behrens’ shot from the point went through traffic and beat Patriks Berzins, giving USA its advantage back in a game that definitely felt close.

Latvia didn’t shoot much, but they at least made their shots count. On the team’s second shot of the middle stanza, 2023 NHL Draft prospect Nils Fenenko used a heavy screen in front of the American net to tie it up at 34:24.

Another early period gave the Americans another advantage. This time, Chaz Lucius, a Winnipeg Jets prospect, took a feed from Jackson Blake and backhanded the puck over Berzins to make it 3-2, restoring the team’s one-goal advantage. A goal for Red Savage a few minutes later gave USA its first two-goal lead of the game, making it 4-2. Hughes scored a far-out shot from the blueline later on to finish the game, giving USA a bit of relief after a close start.