Though the presents were all unwrapped and the turkey cleaned up, hockey fans had a reason to continue their celebrations on Dec. 26th — Boxing Day signals the start of the world junior championship, where the best under-20 talent can showcase their abilities on the international stage.
With a full slate of games featuring the tournament’s biggest and brightest, Day 1 sure did not disappoint.
First on the docket was 2023 silver medalists Czechia taking on Slovakia, with the Slovaks determined to cement their status as a hockey country in Europe. Though Czechia struck first, Slovakia answered with a monster second half, beating its WJC rivals 6-2.
Next up, Canada began defending their back-to-back championships by taking on Finland. Though not equipped with the star power of years past, Canada proved it’s still a force to be reckoned with after a gritty 5-2 win over the Fins.
Looking to bounce back from disappointing early exits from the previous two tournaments, the United States began its quest for gold against Norway, which hadn’t participated in the World Juniors since 2014. While this wasn’t the thrashing many expected by the star-studded Americans, the red, white and blue were able to pull out the victory with the help of their returning roster.
In the day’s final contest, the host team Sweden took on Latvia in a game that surely brought the home crowd to their feet. Scoring three power-play goals and three at even-strength, the Swedes flexed their muscles as the perennial contenders appear poised to redeem themselves after failing to medal at last year’s tournament.
Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Czechia, Latvia and Canada all return to the ice tomorrow as the round-robin stage continues.
Here’s a look at some of the top performances from Day 1:
3rd Star: Jimmy Snuggerud, USA
With 10 returning members of their 2023 squad and 10 first-round NHL draft picks on its roster, most expected the United States’ first game against the recently-promoted Norway squad to reach blowout territory.
The United States did take the win, but the scoreless first period with high-danger chances at both ends of the ice meant that the victory was anything but a foregone conclusion.
Though Gavin Brindley’s two goals — including the game-winner — certainly sealed the win for the United States, neither was more important than Jimmy Snuggerud’s marker halfway through the second to open the scoring.
Until that point, it seemed that the United States’ highly-touted offence couldn’t buy a goal and Norway’s defence stymied each opportunity for the U.S. to break the scoreless tie.
Then, halfway through the second period, the puck ended up on Snuggerud’s stick in the slot following an impressive passing play and the 19-year-old sent a wrist shot short side to beat Norway’s goaltender.
That first goal of the tournament for the United States seemed to light a fire underneath the gold medal favourites, cleaning up the second period with two more goals in less than 10 minutes, and scoring an insurance marker in the third.
The United States surrendered just one goal to Norway, but by that point, the red, white and blue had already found its groove.
That groove doesn’t start without Snuggerud’s first of the tournament.
2nd Star: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Sweden
If there is anybody looking for a big tournament this year, it’s Jonathan Lekkerimaki. After struggling to score last tournament (one goal, three assists in seven games), the Vancouver Canucks prospect certainly hopes this year, in front of home fans, will be different.
If his first game was any indication, he’s well on his way to making his mark.
His marker in the second period came just eight seconds into the man-advantage — a Latvia penalty that Lekkerimaki himself drew. Sweden won the draw and after the 19-year-old shovelled the puck to teammate Liam Ohgren, the favour was returned and Lekkerimaki was able to skate right into the slot, using his quick release to stun the Latvian netminder for the 3-0 goal.
That quick release was on display once more in the third period, as Lekkerimaki came down the wing on the rush, snapping it five-hole to cap off the home team’s six-goal affair.
Starting the tournament on the top line and on the first power play unit, the Swedish coaching staff trusts Lekkerimaki to provide offence and, clearly, that trust is paying dividends.
1st Star: Nate Danielson, Canada
Canada is used to having an elite roster, with the skill and name-recognition to back up the hype. With just one of last year’s gold medal-winning roster returning to the tournament — the likes of Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli are cemented in their spots amongst the pros — Canada has an underdog status attached to them for the first time in recent memory.
Absent those big names, Canada’s shifted their strategy this year, aiming to be “relentless” and relying on contributions from up and down the lineup.
Nobody embodied that strategy better on Day 1 than Nate Danielson.
The Detroit Red Wings prospect, who went ninth overall in 2023, potted a goal and an assist in Canada’s victory over Finland, coming up clutch in the first period to net Canada’s first of the tournament.
Danielson’s goal came as the 19-year-old deftly tipped a shot from defenceman Maveric Lamoreux to beat the Finnish goaltender through the five-hole. Danielson was perseverant as he battled in front of the net to get his stick free for the tip, indicative of the compete his line showed through all three frames.
His next point on the afternoon came when he found linemate Owen Allard backdoor on a smooth pass through the crease.
Though the Danielson-Owen Beck-Allard line was deployed in a bottom-six role, they combined for two goals and pumped energy into the lineup, showcasing the depth that Canada believes can win them the gold for the third straight year.
Honourable mentions: Presumptive first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini potted his first goal of the tournament by jamming at the loose puck until it finally crossed the line and was confirmed upon video review. To that point, we’d also like to give an honourable mention to Daniel Eriksson, whose flair on the Celebrini’s goal call rivalled only the dramatics of NHL referee Wes McCauley.
Slovakia’s Servac Petrovsky deserves a nod as his two goals and one assist in his squad’s beat-down of Czechia landed him a spot atop the tournament scoring leaders.
NEW YORK – Toronto Blue Jays reliever Chad Green and Canadian slugger Tyler O’Neill of the Boston Red Sox were named finalists for the Major League Baseball Players’ Association’s American League comeback player award on Monday.
Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet was the other nominee.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. were named player of the year finalists.
The award winners, selected via player voting, will be named Saturday before Game 2 of the World Series.
Green, who missed most of the 2022 and ’23 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was a high-leverage option for the Blue Jays this past season and filled in at closer over the second half of the campaign.
The right-hander converted his first 16 save opportunities and finished the year with a 4-6 record, 17 saves and a 3.21 earned-run average over 53 appearances.
O’Neill, a native of Burnaby, B.C., also endured back-to-back injury-plagued seasons in ’22 and ’23.
After being traded to the Red Sox in the off-season, O’Neill set an MLB record by hitting a homer in his fifth straight Opening Day. He finished with 31 homers on the year and had an OPS of .847.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
Alabama’s Mark Sears and North Carolina‘s RJ Davis looked into the possibility of leaving for the NBA before deciding to return for another college season.
Their decisions helped their teams earn top-10 rankings in the AP Top 25 and earned both players some preseason honors, too.
Sears was a near-unanimous selection for The Associated Press preseason All-America men’s basketball team released Monday, earning all but one vote from a 55-person national media panel. Davis was right behind him, nabbing 51 votes.
They were joined by Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson, Auburn forward Johni Broome, Arizona guard Caleb Love and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. Love and Flagg tied for the final spot, creating a six-man team that includes only the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.
Alabama twin bill
Sears was a key cog in the Crimson Tide’s first trip to the Final Four a year ago, orchestrating one of college basketball’s highest-scoring teams.
The 6-foot-1 guard was named a second-team AP All-America after averaging 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He was the first Division I player in 31 years to have 795 points, 150 rebounds, 145 assists and 95 three-pointers in a single season while breaking the Alabama single-season record with 26 games with at least 20 points.
Sears worked out for NBA scouts during the offseason before deciding to return to Alabama, earning the Crimson Tide a No. 2 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25.
“I saw the team that we had and I wanted to be a part of it, and bring home Alabama’s first national championship in basketball,” Sears said.
Across the state at rival Auburn, Broome made a quick decision about his future, announcing in April that he would be back for a fifth season.
The 6-10 forward was a third-team AP All-American last season after averaging 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting nearly 55% from the floor. With an eye on an NBA future, Broome worked hard on his perimeter shooting during the offseason and his return earned Auburn a No. 11 preseason ranking.
“My main goal is a team goal, which is to win the national championship, to make it as far as I can in March Madness,” Broome said. “When a team shines, everyone shines individually.”
Along Tobacco Road
Like Sears, Davis has similar aspirations after opting to return for his fifth season at North Carolina.
The 6-foot guard was an AP All-American last season and the ACC player of the year after averaging 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists on a team that reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Davis enters this year within reach of former North Carolina big man Tyler Hansbrough’s all-time ACC scoring record.
“I know there’s more work to be done,” Davis said. “I know my jersey’s not going up until I leave. So there’s some more records to break and some more work to be done. I’m satisfied but I’m not satisfied, if that makes sense.”
Up the road at Duke, Flagg was the only underclassman on the preseason All-America team after arriving with tons of hype. The 6-9 swingman was the No. 1-rated high school recruit out of Newport, Maine and has been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
Flagg has the skills of a guard, but can also play inside and has worked hard on his perimeter shooting, giving him the potential to be one of college basketball’s most versatile players. He’s part of a stellar recruiting class that has No. 7 Duke eyeing a deep March run.
Big 12 duo
Dickinson was the biggest move in the transfer portal last spring after leaving Michigan for Kansas. The 7-2 center lived up to the billing, averaging 17.9 points and 10.9 rebounds while leading the Jayhawks back to the NCAA Tournament.
Love’s decision to return for a second season at No. 10 Arizona has ratcheted up expectations in the desert for the Big 12 rival of Kansas.
The athletic 6-4 guard had a high-scoring career at North Carolina and continued it after transferring to Arizona last season. He was the Pac-12 player of the year and a third-team All-American after averaging 18 points per game and making 92 3-pointers.
Love tested the NBA waters this summer before deciding to return.
“He’s had a very successful college career thus far,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “He’s kind of this last generation of player that’s going to get better with this extra year, and so I just encourage him to take advantage of it.”
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of Cleveland‘s season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon on Sunday against Cincinnati, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.
Watson will soon undergo surgery, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the results of imaging tests taken on his leg.
It’s the second significant injury in two seasons for Watson, who broke the glenoid (socket) bone in his throwing shoulder last year.
The 29-year-old Watson went down without being touched on a draw play late in the first half. His right leg buckled and Watson collapsed to the turf. TV replays showed his calf rippling, consistent with an Achilles injury.
As he laid on the ground, there was cheering by some Cleveland fans, leading to some of Watson’s teammates criticizing that behavior during the team’s fifth straight loss.
The injury is yet another twist in Watson’s divisive stay with the Browns.
Cleveland traded three first-round draft picks to Houston and signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million in 2022. The deal came amid Watson being accused by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and harassment during massage therapy sessions. He settled civil lawsuits in all but one of those cases.
Watson was suspended by the NFL for his first 11 games with the Browns and then made just six starts last season before hurting his shoulder.
