World Juniors Update: Four Wolverines Claim Gold for Team USA
1/5/2024 8:19:00 PM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Four members of the University of Michigan ice hockey team have been named to the U.S. national team for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Gavin Brindley, Seamus Casey, Rutger McGroarty and Frank Nazar III were named to the final roster on Dec. 16 following a three-day training camp. Brindley, McGroarty and Casey were members of the bronze-medal team last year.
The WJC will be held Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
• IIHF World Junior Championship Site
• Michigan at World Juniors History (PDF)
Schedule
Times EST; All games on NHL Network in the U.S. and TSN in Canada
Thursday, Dec. 21 -- Pre-Tournament - USA vs. Sweden | W, 5-3
Saturday, Dec. 23 -- Pre-Tournament – USA vs. Canada | W, 6-5 (OT)
Tuesday. Dec. 26 -- Preliminary Round – USA vs. Norway | W, 4-1
Thursday, Dec. 28 -- Preliminary Round – USA vs. Switzerland | W, 11-3
Friday, Dec. 29 -- Preliminary Round – USA vs. Czechia | W, 4-3 (SOW)
Sunday, Dec. 31 -- Preliminary Round – USA vs. Slovakia | W, 10-2
Tuesday, Jan. 2 -- Quarterfinals - USA vs. Latvia | W, 7-2
Thursday, Jan. 4 -- Semifinals - USA vs. Finland | W, 3-2
Friday, Jan. 5 -- Gold Medal Game - USA vs. Sweden | W, 6-2
Final Stats
Gavin Brindley - 7 GP 6-4-10, +7, 16 SOG, 16:47 TOI
Rutger McGroarty - 7Â GP 5-4-9, +8, 22Â SOG, 16:58Â TOI
Frank Nazar III - 7Â GP - 0-8-8, +9, 11Â SOG, 15:34Â TOI
Seamus Casey - 6Â GP 0-6-6, +8, 7Â SOG, 17:08Â TOI
Jan. 5: USA 6, Sweden 2
The U.S. scored three goals in the third period to clinch a 6-2 win over Sweden to capture the gold medal. This is just the second American team to go through the tournament undefeated, joining the 2017 team, and is the sixth gold medal for USA. Captain Rutger McGroarty had a goal and an assist and Gavin Brindley had one assist. Frank Nazar III set the record for most assists in a tournament by a Michigan player with eight. Brindley's 10 points are the second most by a Wolverine, only behind MIke Cammalleri's 11 for Canada in 2002. McGroarty closed out his WJC experience with 16 points, the second most by a Wolverine in his WJC career.
Jan. 4: USA 3, Finland 2
The U.S. battled back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Finland 3-2 in the semifinal and advanced to the gold-medal game against host Sweden. Seamus Casey added his sixth assist with the primary helper on Team USA's first goal in the second period. Gavin Brindley collected his ninth point with an assist on the game winner in the third, a goal on the power play. Rutger McGroarty did not register a point but was a huge reason for the game winning goal with a screen of the Swedish goaltender. Frank Nazar III won 10 of 16 draws. At the conclusion of the game, the top three players of the team were recognized with Brindley among the trio.
Jan. 2: USA 7, Latvia 2
Seamus Casey guided the USA to a 7-2 win over Latvia in the quarterfinals with a three-point game. He had a seam pass to Gabe Perrault for the second goal and had his shot deflect off a teammate to make it 3-1 in response to Latvia scoring 13 seconds earlier. Casey set up Perrault again in the second period for his third helper. Rutger McGroarty scored his fourth goal of the tournament to make the score 4-1 USA in the second period. USA's two leaders in points after prelim play, Gavin Brindley and Frank Nazar III, were held off the scoresheet. Brindley logged 17:03 of ice time, while Nazar played 13:57 and took two shots.
Dec. 31: USA 10, Slovakia 2
Captain Rutger McGroarty tallied a hat trick as Team USA defeated Slovakia 10-2 to claim Group B. McGroarty was named the Player of the Game scoring his first three goals of the tournament in a game that decided the group winner as Slovakia entered it with a one-point edge over the U.S. McGroarty set the tone with the game's first goal and put the game out of reach in the second as he made it 5-2 then 6-2. Gavin Brindley had a three-point game, scoring twice and adding an assist while Frank Nazar III potted two assists. Both now are tied as the team leaders in points with eight apiece. Seamus Casey returned to the lineup after missing Friday's game with an illness and was a +2. After preliminary play, Brindley leads all skaters at the WJC in goals with six, while Nazar leads all skaters in assists with eight.
Dec. 29: USA 4, Czechia 3
The United States earned a 4-3 shootout win over Czechia on Friday. The game got started with Frank Nazar III picking up his sixth assist of the tournament, which set up linemate Isaac Howard to make it 1-0. Gavin Brindley drew all three penalties in the game but the Americans went 0-for-3 on the power play, including one in overtime. No Wolverines were selected in the seven-round shootout. Seamus Casey was noticeably absent after he did not dress due to an illness. Sunday's early morning game likely will decide the winner of Group B, as the U.S. faces Slovakia, a team that has a one-point edge in the standings (Slovakia owns three regulation wins versus USA's two regulation wins paired with today's shootout win).
Dec. 28: USA 11, Switzerland 3
The USA squad dominated the Swiss 11-3 and is now in first place in Group B with two wins. Though Slovakia also has two wins, goal numbers count in group play and USA has a 15-4 differential while the Slovaks have a 9-2 differential. All four Wolverines made their way onto the score sheet -- Frank Nazar III led the Americans with four points all coming on primary assists, while Gavin Brindley had a three-point game, scoring twice for the second straight game. Nazar and Brindley showed their Maize and Blue chemistry as Nazar set up both of Brindley's goals. Nazar also assisted on the team's 10th and 11th goals. Brindley and Seamus Casey teamed up for the helpers on the team's sixth goal. Captain Rutger McGroarty picked up his first point of the tournament, with the primary assist on USA's second goal.
Dec. 26: USA 4, Norway 1
Gavin Brindley was named the Player of the Game as the USA defeated Norway 4-1 in the opening game of the preliminary round. The Wolverines factored into three of the game's four goals. Seamus Casey had the primary assist on the first goal, slotting a pass for Jimmy Snuggerud. Brindley scored twice within 2:33, scoring a power-play goal followed by an even-strength tally set up by Frank Nazar III. Casey drew a penalty to put USA back on the power play in the second, which the Americans converted on, but not before allowing a short-handed goal.
Dec. 20: McGroarty Named Captain of Team USA
University of Michigan forward Rutger McGroarty was selected as captain of the 2024 United State National Junior Team, it was announced by USA Hockey.
In addition, four alternate captains were named, including Gavin Brindley.
This is the third time in the last four years the captain of the U.S. National Junior Team is from U-M. McGroarty is the sixth American and seventh Wolverine to earn the prestigious international honor. He joins Luke Hughes (2023), Cam York (2021), Zach Werenski (2016), Kevin Porter (2006), Eric Nystrom (2003) and Mike Van Ryn (1999), who was captain of Canada's squad.
The U.S. will play two pre-tournament games, the first on Thursday (Dec. 21) against host Sweden and Saturday (Dec. 23) against Canada. At this time neither game will be televised. NHL Network will televise the tournament games beginning on Dec. 26.
