Americans Confident They are Rounding Into Form in Time to Face Canada
It’s Day 5 of the world junior championship, about 20 hours before Team USA’s date with Team Canada on New Year’s Eve, and Jim Johannson seems satisfied.
At 3-0, the U.S. squad Johannson assembled for the 2017 under-20 worlds is marching through Group B with little resistance. Under the tutelage of head coach Bob Motzko, the team is trending in the right direction, making progress game over game.
“Right from (selection) camp through here, the goal has always been to just keep putting yourself in a good position but also get better as a team,” Johannson, Team USA’s general manager said yesterday.
“I think parts of our game, we’re getting better. More continuity (and) guys are starting to identify with their roles. There’s obviously still some areas we hope to improve upon.”
The margin of error will be very thin Saturday afternoon versus powerhouse Canada. Top seed in the Toronto bracket is on the line and, hypothetically, the winner will draw a more favourable quarterfinal matchup.
