The United States national junior team earned its first preliminary-round victory against rival Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship in 17 years with a 4-2 win Saturday at Helsinki Ice Hall in Finland.

Finland and Sweden also had regulation wins against Belarus and Switzerland, respectively, and Russia survived a scare from the Czech Republic in a shootout on the first day of tournament competition.

The United States received goals from defenseman Louis Belpedio, a third-round selection in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild, and Auston Matthews, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's November players to watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft, late in the third period to snap a 2-2 tie. Colin White (Ottawa Senators), who was named U.S. player of the game, and defenseman Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets) also scored and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina Hurricanes) made 25 saves, including 11 in the third.

"[The win] gives us a feather in our cap because we've beaten Canada but now we have to settle in and take care of the other teams," U.S. coach Ron Wilson told NHL Network. "For me, personally, it's the first game I've won in four years and that means a lot actually."

HELSINKI -- Louis Belpedio, a Minnesota Wild draft choice, scored the go-ahead goal and Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, added an insurance goal late in the third period as the United States beat Canada 4-2 on Saturday in each team's first preliminary game of the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Colin White (Ottawa Senators) and Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets) also scored for the United States (1-0-0), while Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina Hurricanes) made 25 saves for the win.

Matt Barzal (New York Islanders) and Dylan Strome (Arizona Coyotes) supplied the offense as Canada (0-1-0) began its defense of the 2015 World Junior title. Mason McDonald (Calgary Flames) stopped 21 shots in net.

The Arizona Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers lead the NHL with seven prospects each playing in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Among those taking part for the Coyotes are their past two first-round draft picks, right wing Brendan Perlini (No. 12, 2014) and center Dylan Strome (No. 3, 2015). They'll both play for Canada.

The Coyotes' first four picks from the 2014 draft will be at the WJC: Perlini; second-round picks center Ryan MacInnis (No. 43) and left wing Christian Dvorak (No. 58), who will play for the United States; and third-round pick (No. 87) right wing Anton Karlsson of Sweden.

Parity never has been greater at the World Junior Championship.

The past five tournaments have been won by five teams; in the previous 18 years only five teams won gold.

To further exemplify the level of unpredictability, NHL.com writers Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale were asked to make predictions in 10 categories, and they had two similar answers.

Each writer believes 2015 WJC champion Canada will win a medal, but they differ on the color; Kimelman predicts a second consecutive gold medal, while Morreale believes they'll take silver.

Center Brayden Point was named captain for Canada for the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship on Thursday.

Point, a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, is one of four players from Canada's 2015 WJC championship team returning for the 2016 tournament. He had two goals and two assists in seven games at the 2015 WJC.

"I was kind of shocked," Point told TSN. "I almost didn’t believe it. But I'm very happy and excited."

Point's availability for the tournament had been in question. He had been out of the lineup for Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League because of a shoulder injury sustained Nov. 17. He sat out two of Canada's three pre-tournament exhibition games, a 7-6 defeat of Sweden on Wednesday and a 1-0 defeat of the Czech Republic on Sunday. He had a goal and an assist Saturday in a 7-1 defeat of Belarus.

The 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship figures to be another compelling 11-day journey for 10 countries seeking national pride.

The 2015 WJC in Toronto offered plenty of high drama, but Canada came away dominant, winning seven straight games while outscoring the opposition 39-9. The Canadians possessed the depth, speed, shutdown defense and chemistry required in any international tournament run.

It was a long time coming for Canada too. After a two-year hiatus on the medal stand and questions about the selection process for its national junior team, Canadians were able to celebrate the first gold medal-winning effort in six years following a 5-4 victory against Russia in the championship game.

It was the 16th gold medal in the country's history at the tournament and first since 2009.

Former NHL player Dave Lowry will look to maintain the level of excellence as coach for Canada at the 2016 WJC in Helsinki, Finland. Lowry was an assistant under coach Benoit Groulx for the 2015 WJC, so he's familiar with building a national power.

More than a dozen years have passed since Hockey Hall of Fame member Roger Neilson died after a lengthy fight against cancer. But his coaching tentacles remain alive and well at all levels, including Dave Lowry, who will coach Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff learned his trade as an assistant under Neilson with the Florida Panthers two decades ago. Three-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks had Neilson on his staff with the St. Louis Blues in the late 1990s.

Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau played for Neilson with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970s. Neilson protégé Craig Ramsay is a consultant for the Montreal Canadiens coaching staff, as is Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, who was a player for Neilson while he was an assistant coach in Chicago and St. Louis.

Luke Richardson (Binghamton Senators) and Dallas Eakins (San Diego Gulls) have gone from playing for Neilson to coaches in the American Hockey League.

United States forward Auston Matthews will be in the spotlight when the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship starts Saturday in Helsinki, Finland.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound left-shot center is expected to lead the U.S. team at the WJC as well as set in stone his status as the top player available for the 2016 NHL Draft.

Matthews opened eyes last season when he broke records for goals (55) and points (117) held by Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team.

This season Matthews is starring for Zurich in Switzerland's top professional league, National League A. He leads Zurich with 14 goals in 22 games, and had four goals and six points in eight games after missing six games because of an upper-body injury.

"His skating always stands out. His changing gears and directions plus his small dekes with his feet that allow him to win split seconds of time," said NHL Central Scouting's Thomas Roost, who evaluates prospects in Switzerland and Germany. "His positioning in the offensive zone is also really good as he tries to be open whenever entering the zone without the puck."

Forward Clayton Keller and defenseman Ryan Collins were the final two players released from the United States National Junior Team that will compete in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland.

The final roster features two goaltenders, seven defensemen and 13 forwards.

Defenseman Zachary Werenski on Tuesday was named captain of the United States National Junior Team that will play in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland.

Werenski (6-foot-2, 221 pounds), selected in the first round (No. 8) of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, is in his second season at the University of Michigan. He is the second-youngest player named captain of the U.S. National Junior Team.

Defenseman Louis Belpedio (Minnesota Wild) and forwards Colin White (Ottawa Senators) and Auston Matthews, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's November players to watch list, will serve as alternates. White will be an alternate when the team wears blue jerseys and Matthews will be alternate when the team wears white.