OTTAWA - You can't let Trey Augustine get locked in.
There's a reason they called him "The Closer" during his time with the U.S. National Team Development Program: he knows how to see out victories.
Here's a glance at his career highlights in tournament play:
- 2021 USA Hockey Tier I National Championship (2005 Detroit Honeybaked 15U AAA)
- 2023 World U18 gold
- 6-0-0, 1.61, .934%
- 2024 World Juniors gold
- 4-0-0, 1.75, .936%
- 2024 Men's World Championship
- made his senior international debut in relief of Alex Lyon in a 6-1 win over Germany, stopped 20/21 shots in his first start: a 5-1 victory over Poland
Augustine had a few mishaps in his first two starts in Ottawa, but bounced back against a floundering Canadian offence, turning aside 38 of the 39 shots in a player-of-the-game performance.
It was a marked return to form for the 19-year-old, McKeen's Hockey's near-unanimous selection for the top goaltender in our tournament preview.
"He was lights out," said USA head coach David Carle after the game. "I'm proud of his effort and ability to respond from the first two games. He's his own hardest critic and for him to bounce back like that was big-time."
Augustine's teammates spoke candidly about their confidence playing in front of him.
"We know who we have back there, and we trust him fully," said forward Danny Nelson.
Cole Hutson was asked how his netminder compared to Canada's Carter George:
"It definitely varies night-to-night, but I'm taking Trey any day of the week," said the 18-year-old defender.
Hutson enjoyed another stellar performance on the night, scoring the opening goal in the first period and assisting Nelson's game-winner early in the final frame.
COLE HUTSON DOES IT HIMSELF 🔥
1-0 USA.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/1xn9B2lDgq
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2025
The Boston College freshman has emerged as an early-tournament favourite for MVP with two goals, eight assists and a plus-seven rating in four games. He has done so while deployed on the American's second defensive pairing and powerplay unit.
Though Hutson doesn't mind playing second fiddle to the USA's returning 1D, Zeev Buium.
"We have our No. 1 guy and that’s Zeev," he explained. "Maybe pucks haven’t been bouncing his way but I’m here to push him and support him through it all.”
Hutson's success in a supporting role mirrors how well Notre Dame's Danny Nelson is performing behind James Hagens as the team's second-line center.
The New York Islanders prospect scored twice and was named player of the game in the Americans' 5-1 win over Latvia. His third of the tournament was perhaps his nicest and certainly the most important.
With Hutson dancing around the net, Nelson was left wide open in the slot. He utilized the screen well and snapped one over George's blocker, effectively sealing the win.
USA TAKES THE LEAD 😱
Danny Nelson strikes on the power-play.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/nFRPRf0999
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2025
With the Canadians on their heels, Team USA knew they just had to ensure their goaltender saw every shot: protecting a lead isn't exactly unfamiliar territory for Trey Augustine.
The game-winner symbolized the ideals David Carle instilled in his players. Hutson is thriving on the second pairing knowing he'll likely get more time in the limelight next year. After centring the fourth line and killing penalties last year in Gothenburg, Nelson is blossoming as a secondary scorer here in Ottawa.
They know that with team success comes the success of the individual:
“I was a lesser role last year and now I want to help the young guys learn that everyone will be successful if they buy into their role,” explained Nelson.
Sweden, Finland cruise to comfortable victories
Petterri Rimpinen turned aside all 28 shots he faced as Team Finland bested Latvia 3-0 earlier in the day.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius was back to his best after a quiet start to the tournament. The 2024 14th-overall pick dangled through the Latvian defence to set up the game's first goal and finished with four shots on goal.
WHAT A DANGLE.
Konsta Helenius sets up Benjamin Rautiainen to give Finland the early lead. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/jT8IIxU0XQ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2024
London Knights sharpshooter Kasper Halttunen reminded fans what one of the best shots in junior hockey looks like:
Kasper Halttunen finds the back of the net to put Finland up 3-0! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/regsfx77of
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2024
The San Jose Sharks prospect holds the record for the most goals by an import player in a single OHL playoff run, scoring 17 goals to help lead the Knights to an OHL Championship last spring. It was only a matter of time before he found the back of the net.
Team Sweden doubled up Czechia 4-2 and finished as the only team with a perfect record in round-robin play (4-0-0-0).
On his 19th birthday, New Jersey Devils prospect Herman Träff set the tone for the Juniorkronorna, striking twice 5:26 apart to open the game's scoring.
As the team's 13th forward, he managed to do so on three shots in just 5:57 of ice time. It truly has been a team effort for Sweden.
Watching this edition of Team Canada play, you wonder, "Who will score for them?"
Watching Sweden or the USA play, you wonder, "Who will score next?"
That's been the difference.
On tap next
Friday, January 2nd (all times are local)
- Germany vs. Kazakhstan (Relegation) - 11 a.m. @ Canadian Tire Centre
- Sweden vs. Latvia Noon @ TD Plac
- USA vs. Switzerland - 2:30 p.m. @ Canadian Tire Centre
- Finland vs. Slovakia - 5 p.m. @ TD Place
- Czechia vs Canada - 7:30 p.m. @ Canadian Tire Centre
Preliminary round stats
- ATOI leaders, preliminary round
- D Peteris Bulans, Latvia - 25:11
- D Zeev Buium, USA - 24:53
- D Maxim Strbak, Slovakia - 25:35
- ATOI leaders, (forwards only)
- Dalibor Dvorsky, Slovakia - 22:35
- Juraj Pekarcik, Slovakia - 21:47
- Daniel Jencko, Slovakia - 21:47
- FO% leaders (min. 10 FO)
- Cole Beaudoin, Canada - 76%
- Brayden Yager, Canada - 70%
- Oliver Moore, USA - 65%
- Dalibor Dvorsky, Slovakia - 65%
- Team scoring efficiency
- Czechia - 19.7%
- Sweden - 14.7%
- USA - 13.9%
- Kazakhstan - 12.7%
- Slovakia - 9.6%
- Switzerland - 8%
- Latvia - 7.8%
- Germany - 6.8%
- Finland - 6.4%
- Canada - 5.8%
- Team goaltending
- Finland - .940%
- Canada - .937%
- Latvia - .926%
- USA - .924%
- Czechia - .920%
- Sweden - .898%
- Germany - .872%
- Slovakia - .868%
- Switzerland - .866%
- Kazakhstan - .818%
- Team PIM
- Czechia - 67
- Kazakhstan - 61
- Canada - 58
- USA - 44
- Switzerland - 40
- Latvia - 36
- Sweden - 34
- Finland - 32
- Germany - 28
- Slovakia - 28