United States gears up for outdoor matchup against Canada

By Jim Christopher

Posted 12/27/17

As the stadium crew was putting the final touches on the ice rink and surrounding area, the United States took the ice for the first time at the recently constructed rink at New Era Field in preparation for their preliminary round matchup against Canada on Friday. It will be the first ever outdoor game in the history of the IIHF World Junior Championship.

 

The highly anticipated match between the two long-standing rivals will be a rematch of last year’s gold medal game, in which the United States won 5-4 in a shootout.

 

“There are certain games where you come through, where you don’t have to say a word to your players. This is one of them,” USA head coach Bob Motzko said. “You walk into the locker room and there’s a different feel. It’s amped up. That's what rivalries are all about. There’s juice in the air.”

 

Once the players for the United States hit the ice for practice on a brisk Wednesday afternoon that saw the temperature drop to single digits at points, it seemed reminiscent of their younger days when they played on outdoor ponds and rinks.

 

“It was great. They were acting like kids again. We all were,” Motzko said. “You just get a feel it will be a great environment. It was a little bit of a ‘Wow’ moment.”

 

For most players, it will be the first time they will experience high-level competition in an outdoor setting. For forward Casey Mittelstadt a first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, this will be familiar territory.

 

He played in an outdoor game last season in Minnesota with his high school, Eden Prairie, when they defeated the then top-ranked Stillwater Ponies, 4-1. Mittelstadt scored twice in that game and gained an experience he would put up against any other in his hockey career.

 

“That was one of my favorite games I ever played in,” Mittelstadt said. “It honestly ended up being a perfect day and a perfect atmosphere.”

 

After scoring two goals in Tuesday’s 9-0 victory over Denmark, Mittelstadt hopes to make a similar mark on the game against Canada on Friday. The United States still has another hurdle to clear before the big matchup with a game against Slovakia on Thursday night. Motzko is taking every precaution to make sure his team doesn’t lose sight of their next opponent.

 

“We have two questions we keep asking them,” Motzko said. “’Who do we play next?’ And they got the answer. And ‘How are we going to be?’ And they have the answer.”

 

This game will not be the first outdoor hockey game in the history of New Era Field. Ten years ago, a tradition was born when the NHL Winter Classic first took place in Buffalo, a matchup that broke in the favor of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who defeated the hometown Sabres 2-1 in a shootout.

 

Being the second time an ice rink will be at the 50-yard line of the stadium doesn’t make it any less impressive and awe-inspiring upon seeing an ice rink where the Buffalo Bills logo usually sits.

“The way that they can put an ice surface on a football field like that and for it to be that good is something pretty crazy,” forward Max Jones said.

 

Once the puck is dropped on Friday afternoon, the glitz and glamor of the atmosphere will take a backseat to a very important game for both countries and historically the World Junior Championship.

 

Since 2010, both teams have combined for four gold medals while the Canadians hold a 6-5 record advantage over the United States during tournament play. The United States, however, has defeated Canada twice in that time period in gold medal games on Canadian soil (in 2010 and 2017). This game expects to have a similar impact on this year’s tournament and will be a crucial test for both sides.

 

“You need all four lines,” said Motzko. ”Those are games you play your entire lineup.”

 

Canada will get their first chance to experience the outdoor atmosphere when they practice at New Era Field on Thursday afternoon.