WJC - 2026

[nascar99]

Canada doesn't have the same eye of the tiger they had in years past to absolutely pummel inferior squads. The 2021 team (who choked in the Final) mauled bad teams in the bubble

[Godsmack]

In reading Schlossman’s piece about Zellers and his inclusion on the roster, if you didn’t know any better you’d walk away thinking Motzko wanted him on the team all along based on his quotes. Were those just face saving comments or did he really not want him on the team? Clearly, it was the absolute right call by Vanbiesbrouck to make that executive decision to include him on the roster.

[nascar99]

Martone has been borderline dominant at State but underwhelming in the World Junior. So weird

[nascar99]

Just now, nascar99 said:

Martone has been borderline dominant at State but underwhelming in the World Junior. So weird

Just as I say that, he puts one in lmao

[tnt]

11 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Even you'd have to admit (as a Gopher fan) that Mooney is not the best forward option on the WJC team to be throwing out in short-handed or defensive shutdown situations.
Mooney has elite stickhandling which can be great on the PP, but is easily tossed off the puck and has shown to turn it over when pressured. 

…and to be clear, I wouldn’t have Zellers in that situation either, but it seems Spellacy and McMorrow should be out there in those situations.

[Blackheart]

25 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Even you'd have to admit (as a Gopher fan) that Mooney is not the best forward option on the WJC team to be throwing out in short-handed or defensive shutdown situations.
Mooney has elite stickhandling which can be great on the PP, but is easily tossed off the puck and has shown to turn it over when pressured. 

Jayden Perron holding on line one for you...

[MafiaMan]

2 hours ago, tnt said:

You notice who was out trying for the empty net goal — Mooney and Ziemer.

Bingo!  Overzealous at that too - and their desire to spring free from the defensive zone for a chance at an ENG almost cost them!

[Blackheart]

7 minutes ago, MafiaMan said:

Bingo!  Overzealous at that too - and their desire to spring free from the defensive zone for a chance at an ENG almost cost them!

Typical gofer behavior.

[.357]

 

#20 Keaton Verhoff, D (2026 NHL Draft "I know it was against Denmark, but… maybe Canada should keep Verhoeff in for another game. He looked confident, and while his positioning was a bit suspect at times, I thought he made a positive impact just about every time he hit the ice. He kept playing more and more as the game wore on and I feel like he was Canada’s best defenseman in the third period. It’s not easy stepping into game action midway through and thriving, so I liked him today."

________________________

If anyone knows his TOI tonight, please post it. 

 

 

[.357]

 

 

[brianvf]

16 minutes ago, .357 said:

If anyone knows his TOI tonight, please post it. 

According to the IIHF boxscore, Keaton played 14:58 against Denmark.
Reschny played 10:59.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/wm20/gamecenter/statistics/68811/14-can-vs-den

[Johnny Five]

8 hours ago, brianvf said:

Even you'd have to admit (as a Gopher fan) that Mooney is not the best forward option on the WJC team to be throwing out in short-handed or defensive shutdown situations.
Mooney has elite stickhandling which can be great on the PP, but is easily tossed off the puck and has shown to turn it over when pressured. 

Highly skilled player as we all know, elite skating as he showed the burst on the breakaway when he split the D.  Had a rancid turnover early in the game for sure and a bit on the small side but skating and hockey IQ can eliminate that 6 on 5, would've liked to see him possess that one a bit longer.  But yeah you're correct, he's a bit light, all in good natured fun...

 

[Johnny Five]

8 hours ago, Godsmack said:

In reading Schlossman’s piece about Zellers and his inclusion on the roster, if you didn’t know any better you’d walk away thinking Motzko wanted him on the team all along based on his quotes. Were those just face saving comments or did he really not want him on the team? Clearly, it was the absolute right call by Vanbiesbrouck to make that executive decision to include him on the roster.

No matter who makes the final decisions, the important thing is that they got it right with Will.  

[MafiaMan]

4 hours ago, Johnny Five said:

Highly skilled player as we all know, elite skating as he showed the burst on the breakaway when he split the D.  Had a rancid turnover early in the game for sure and a bit on the small side but skating and hockey IQ can eliminate that 6 on 5, would've liked to see him possess that one a bit longer.  But yeah you're correct, he's a bit light, all in good natured fun...

Mooney busy dreaming of an ENG that entire last shift…no worries, defensive lapses probably won’t cost him or team USA against lightweights like Finland, Sweden, and Canada though. 

[Dustin]

A little off topic, but have there been North Dakota-born (or claimed a ND hometown) players on the WJC Team?

[Dustin]

13 minutes ago, Dustin said:

A little off topic, but have there been North Dakota-born (or claimed a ND hometown) players on the WJC Team?

Found what I was looking for here: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/page/show/721947-world-junior-championship-all-time-roster

[The Sicatoka]

Why do I think Brekke played ND HS for G-PR? 

[Blackheart]

3 hours ago, MafiaMan said:

Mooney busy dreaming of an ENG that entire last shift…no worries, defensive lapses probably won’t cost him or team USA against lightweights like Finland, Sweden, and Canada though. 

Picking up a hint of sarcasm from the MafiaMan...in Mooney's defense, he really wanted to score a goal.😁

[DL Sioux]

24 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Why do I think Brekke played ND HS for G-PR? 

Youth hockey in Devils Lake and HS for Jamestown. 

[Dustin]

I had not heard of Brent Brekke before today.  Bio says he was born in Minot.  He's been coaching at the collegiate level since 1999, currently head coach of St. Lawrence.