0:7 defeat against defending cham­pions USA

Just 24 hours after the opening face-off of the game against Sweden, which was lost 0:6, defending champions USA awaited Austria's team. The US boys had demonstrated their offensive power in their previous games against Germany (5:1) and Switzerland (7:1).

Head Coach Philipp Pinter this time named Leon Sommer in goal, giving first-choice netminder Sebastian Wraneschitz a well-deserved rest, with Thomas Pfarrmaier in the line-up as backup. In attack, Nico Kramer played in place of Janick Wernicke, while Tobias Sablattnig came into the defence instead of Lukas Necesany.

USA started the game at a high tempo and with enormous offensive power, and after just 54 seconds, a wrist shot from Wyatt Kaiser from the blue line found the net for 1:0 (1.). Matthew Coronato made it 2:0 for the US boys just under a minute and a half later (3.).

The outstanding Wyatt Kaiser made it 3:0 for USA (12.) with another powerful wrist shot. Austria were fortunate to see three shots hit the post in the first period. Shortly before the end of the first period, Red Savage appeared to send the puck off the crossbar following a powerful burst, and the game was stopped shortly afterwards by the siren. Following a video review, the 4:0 for USA was confirmed (19.).

Little changed in the second period. The defending champions were dominant but took a little pace out of the game early on. Goalie Leon Sommer had some good moments and made some fine saves. Austria were able to make the game a little more open, but clear-cut chances remained scarce.

Following a strong backcheck, Carter Mazur suddenly found himself one-on-one with netminder Sommer and made it 5:0 for USA (28.). 57 seconds later, it was Mazur again, scoring from close range on the power play to make it 6:0 (28.). In the 38th minute, USA scored an apparent shorthanded goal, but Head Coach Philipp Pinter called a video challenge and was proved right. The goal had been preceded by an offside.

In the final period, the US players already had their next important game against Sweden in mind, with victory in Group B at stake for Head Coach Nate Leaman's team 24 hours after the start of this game.

Austria kept the game more open but had to concede another goal shortly before the end. With 41 seconds remaining, Sasha Pastujov scored from a tight angle to seal a 7:0 final score for USA (60.). Netminder Leon Sommer, who faced 56 shots in total, was named Austria's best player.

Switzerland await on Monday

Austria's ÖEHV team continue their World Championship campaign on Monday, 15 August at 20:00 Central European Time (Monday, 15 August, 12:00 local time) against Switzerland in their final preliminary-round game.

Head Coach Philipp Pinter after the game: "The start was very subdued, very passive, very cautious. But the lads recovered, and we improved again from period to period. As the game went on, the boys skated more and engaged in, and won, more of the battles, especially in front of our own goal. We then worked better against the puck and were also a little more effective on the forecheck. In the final period, we spent significantly less time in our own zone, were more solid defensively and moved the puck more quickly. USA play at a high tempo, so it is difficult to maintain concentration for 60 minutes. We made a few errors of concentration and, in the end, those are the little things, the details we always talk about, that have to work."

Preview of the game against Switzerland: "Now comes the decisive game against Switzerland. Depending on the result of the Germany game, we have to beat the Swiss, either after 60 minutes or in overtime. We have to play perfect ice hockey from the start in this game, especially by being very good defensively again. We need a superb goaltending performance and have to play with discipline. The special teams will be important, and when we have scoring chances, we have to take one or two of them. Switzerland are favourites, but there is nothing better than a decisive game like this. Now it is time to recharge the batteries on Sunday and then focus fully on tactical preparation for Switzerland!"

Switzerland lost their game against Germany 2:3 and, like Austria, have zero points from three games. That means Monday's head-to-head clash is for a place in the quarter-finals. The winner after 60 minutes or overtime progresses.

Result U20 IIHF World Junior Championship

Austria vs. USA 0:7 (0:4,0:2,0:1)
Sat, 13 August 2022, 20:00 (Sat, 13 August 2022, 12:00), Edmonton, Rogers Place
USA goalscorers: Wyatt Kaiser (1st, 12th), Matthew Coronato (3rd), Red Savage (19th), Carter Mazur (28th, 28th/PP1), Sasha Pastujov (60th)

Group B standings (IIHF)

2022 IIHF World Junior Championship – fixtures

9. - 20 August 2022, Edmonton (CAN)

Group A: Slovakia, Canada, Finland, Czechia, Latvia
Group B: USA, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Austria

Remaining fixtures
Dates and times refer to our local time zone, with local time shown in brackets.

Switzerland vs. Austria
Mon, 15 August 2022, 20:00 (Mon, 15 August 2022, 12:00)

Austria vs. Sweden 0:6 (0:1,0:3,0:2)
Fri, 12 August 2022, 20:00 (Fri, 12 August 2022, 12:00), Edmonton, Rogers Place
Sweden goalscorers: Simon Edvinsson (13'), Isak Rosen (21' (PP 1)), Emil Andrae (35', 36' PP 1), Fabian Lysell (50'/PP 1), Theodor Niederbach (60')

Germany vs. Austria 4:2 (1:1,3:1,0:0)
Thu, 11 August 2022, 04:00 (local time: Wed, 10 August 2022, 20:00), Edmonton, Rogers Place
Germany goalscorers: Josef Eham (9 min), Alexander Blank (24 min, 29/PP1, 32/PP1)
Austria scorers: Senna Peeters (3/PP1), Jonas Dobnig (22 min)