NASHVILLE (The Draft Analyst) — Chaz Lucius scored the go-ahead at 1:57 of the third period to lift the United States to a 5-2 win over Latvia in a preliminary-round game on Monday in the under-20 world junior hockey championship.
The United States (1-0-0) never trailed in their opening game of group play and held a decided edge in shots but saw the Latvians (0-1-0) rally from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to tie the game at 2 entering the third period. Lucius, a 2021 first-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets, broke the deadlock by rushing the net and lifting backhander over the left shoulder of Latvian goalie Patriks Berzins.
Red Savage, a center prospect for the Detroit Red Wings, and New Jersey Devils’ 2021 first-round pick Luke Hughes would add insurance markers for the United States, which has won eight straight in the preliminary round since 2020. They meet Slovakia on Wednesday and the Swiss on Thursday before wrapping up group play on Dec. 31 against Finland.
After a scoreless first period, St. Louis Blues’ 2022 first-rounder Jimmy Snuggerud scored a rebound goal 24 seconds into the middle frame to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Latvia responded at the 4:59 mark when Anri Ravinskis converted a 2-on-1 break by rifling a shot past the outstretched glove of goalie Trey Augustine.
The Americans would reclaim the lead when Colorado Avalanche prospect Sean Behrens’ point shot beat Berzins at 9:17 of the second. Latvia wouldn’t go away, however, as defenseman Niks Fenenko’s point wrister sailed past a screened Augustine at 14:24.
Behrens also had an assist to earn best-player honors and Tampa Bay Lightning prospects Dylan Duke chipped in two assists. Augustine picked up the win by stopping 15 of 17 shots. Berzins made 41 saves in defeat.
2023 draft eligibles
C Charlie Stramel (U.S.) | 6’3, 216 | 10/15/04 | Wisconsin (Big-10)
Stramel is a throwback who plays a calculated yet spirited 200-foot game. He’s been considered a near-lock for the first round of the deep 2023 draft as far back as his pre-NTDP days for the way he took over games and showed more than just having a significant size advantage over the opposition. Stramel’s addition to the U.S. WJC roster was expected, albeit as a fourth-liner and penalty killer and one with room for promotion once games became more physical and required his size and strength to win key battles. We got a glimpse of that against Latvia since the game was close for almost 45 minutes, but Stramel also held his own at the faceoff dot (7-for-13) and picked up a secondary assist on Luke Hughes’ insurance tally. He finished with four shots in 13:35 of ice time and kept a regualr shift from start to finish.
RW Gavin Brindley (U.S.) | 5’9, 170 | 10/5/04 | Michigan (Big-10)
If in November you asked anyone familiar with USA Hockey to name a first-year 2023 draft eligible not named Charlie Stramel who could crack the American WJC roster, chances are you would have heard NTDP center Will Smith mentioned more than anyone else. Brindley is no slouch, however, and his inclusion can be justified in several ways, beginning with his above-average speed, elite edgework, dog-on-a-bone attitude, net-crashing ability, and strong puck control. He made a couple of individualist plays when the game was tied but did a good job in coverage in the third period and used his stick to break up several opposing pass attempts.
G Trey Augustine (U.S.) | 6’1, 183 | 2/23/05 | U.S. U18 (NTDP)
Augustine is the youngest player on the U.S. roster but he may end up being the goalie they call on to backstop them through the medal round. He wasn’t all that busy against the Latvians on Monday night, and the two goals he allowed on 17 shots — a blast off a 2-on-1 and a seeing-eyed wrister through a screen — won’t classify as shots he should have stopped. It was Augustine who had a nightmarish gold-medal-game loss during last season’s under-18 world championship in which the heavily-favored NTDP fell to Sweden, so redemption should be on his mind, even if he’s only 17 and likely has two more opportunities to earn WJC gold. Stylistically, Augustine’s M.O.’s are quickness and flexibility, but the Latvians rarely put him in a position to make a tough save. He had an issues with a couple of long-distance shots by putting the rebounds into the low slot, but his lateral pushes were quick and concise, and he sealed up the near post with his head up when dropping into the RVH.
NHL Prospects
United States
C Logan Cooley (ARI 1st/2022)
Cooley is far and away the most talented forward on the U.S. roster and deserving of a top-line role. He entered the tournament with very little to prove at the international level, as he’s been the driving force behind many of the 2004 year group’s victories. But Cooley on Monday was one of several Americans who were guilty of trying to do too much while the optics gave off a “burn-the-tape” vibe. There were forced passes, inaccurate deliveries, and sloppy exchanges, and some of his decisions with the puck bordered on hot-dogging. Nonetheless, great players usually find a way to break through, which is what Cooley did when he hooked up with Jimmy Snuggerud for the critical opening tally of what was an ugly game for two full periods. But another takeaway is that his ice time in a close game decreased by almost a minute and a half from the second period to the third, which may have been a message from the coaching staff rather than something planned. Playing under control and slowing down the pace when appropriate are two areas you’d like to Cooley address once the competition stiffens, but it was only the first game and his team won, so consider his mistakes nothing more than teaching points.
LHD Luke Hughes (NJD 1st/2021)
It’s only one game and he scored an insurance goal, but Hughes himself would probably admit that Monday night was far from his best game and possibly one of his worst performances at a major tournament. He was guilty of multiple over-commitments and played shoddy defense againt several rushes, including a matador-esque stick wave that resulted in Latvia’s 2-on-1 goal in the second period. His body language didn’t look great either, and Hughes seemed frustrated at himself after a handful of shifts. There also was a minor collision in the early going that forced him to the bench while the Americans still had possession, so it’s possible that he wasn’t 100 percent thereafter. All that said, the U.S. were in a dog fight for 3/4 of the game and players as important as Hughes must assume significant risk in their attempts to generate offense. The staff also cut his ice time in the final period in favor of the Sean Behrens-Ryan Ufko tandem, but Hughes still played nearly 20 minutes and put the game out of reach with an accurate wrister from the point.
LW Cutter Gauthier (PHI 1st/2022)
Gauthier had a strong game on and off the puck and was one of the Americans’ most dangerous forwards despite having a struggling Cooley as his pivot. He’s having a promising freshman season as a center for Boston College, but Team USA on Monday reunited him with 2022 NTDP linemates Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud, with Gauthier playing left wing. Although he didn’t play a menacing game like he did during pre-tournament action, Gauthier looked smooth and poised when controlling the puck under pressure (no surprise there) and came close to scoring several times, albeit without registering a single point in 19:21 of ice time.
LHD Sean Behrens (COL 2nd/2021)
There was talk before the tournament that the U.S. blue line was too small, citing Behrens, Lane Hutson, Ryan Ufko, Luke Mittelstatdt, and Jack Peart all listing under six feet tall, and how it may come back to hurt the Americans. But anyone who’s followed Behrens’ junior and college career would know that his measurements are just numbers and there are few blueliners in the NCAA who pack as hard a punch as the Colorado Avalanche second-round pick. He also was Denver’s No. 1 defenseman during their Frozen Four title run last March, so playing a key role in a short do-or-die tournament comes naturally for the Illinois native. Although he was partly responsible for the events which precipitated Latvia’s 2-2 goal in the second period, Behrens and Ukfo became the top shutdown pairing for the Americans the rest of the way. He scored a clutch goal from the point that made in 2-1 and finished second to Ufko in ice time with 19:23. Behrens was named Team USA’s best player and deservedly so.
C Red Savage (DET 2nd/2022)
The eye test provided ample evidence that the hard-working Savage and linemates Dylan Duke and Tyler Boucher were the Americans’ best trio in a match were pure skill wasn’t enough to solve a pesky adversary. When it comes to the defensive side of things, few 19-year-old centers do it better than Savage. But his Johnny-on-the-spot insurance goal in the third period came off of hard work and linemate chemistry deep inside the Latvian end. In fact, Savage received nearly as much third-period ice time (5:02) as top-liner Logan Cooley (5:30), except Savage actually hit the scoresheet and registered three shots to Cooley’s zero.
Latvia
C Dans Locmelis (BOS 4th/2022)
Locmelis has the distinction of being Mr. Everything for both the Latvian junior team and Lulea J20’s squad in Sweden’s Nationell. He’s an intelligent player with a gamer’s attitude who is capable of delivering momentum-changing plays in addition to looking flashy when it’s necessary. I normally hate doing this, but factor in his J20 domination with his strong IIHF showings, and you’d probably see him crack the second of third round if a 2022 re-draft was required. Locmelis looked the least bit intimidated against the high-profile Americans, even if being held without a point and only one shot says otherwise.
LW Sandis Vilmanis (FLA 5th/2022)
Vilmanis is a fun player to watch when he’s suiting up for the OHL’s Sarnia Sting because his ability to stickhandle himself into prime scoring areas and attack the net with extreme control and confidence causes all sorts of issues for the opposition. On Monday night in Moncton, the Florida Panthers’ prospect was completely neutralized by the Americans and his touches were mostly to the outside or in the neutral zone. He didn’t register a single shot on goal in 15:23, but he’s still their top-line talent who will be counted on as a one-timer option on the power play and drive the offense once Latvia’s WJC schedule eases up.