Bellows Reflects on 'Special' Moments at World Juniors

When looking back at Kieffer Bellows' World Juniors exploits, it's almost hard to pick a starting point.
Is it the gold medal in 2017, where he scored a pair of goals in the final against Canada? Is it setting Team USA's single-tournament goals record with nine tallies in 2018? Perhaps it's scoring vs Canada on a snowy afternoon in an outdoor game? Maybe it's spotting his dad's jersey in the crowd after scoring vs Russia?
With a World Junior career as decorated as his, there's no surprise that the annual junior showcase brings up a host of good memories.

"My time at World Juniors was something special and something I'll never forget," Bellows said.
For Bellows, the gold medal in 2017 tops all, as he and Team USA won the gold against Canada on Canadian soil at Montreal's Bell Centre. Mathew Barzal was a member of the Canadian squad, taking home a silver medal, and while Bellows doesn't bring it up often, he may have skated up to Barzal during a morning skate in Montreal this season and joked "a lot of great memories here."

Bellows played a large role in the gold medal game, scoring a pair of goals in Team USA's 5-4 shootout win, helping the Americans dig out of a pair of two-goal deficits. As much as the medal is a tangible takeaway from the tournament, Bellows cherishes the bond he formed with the championship squad, which included Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy and Troy Terry.
"Anytime you win a gold medal you feel a brotherhood with those guys," Bellows said. "[Head Coach] Bob Motzko said 'champions walk together forever.'"
Returning the next year, Bellows assumed a leadership position on Team USA, serving as one of the three alternate captains. That team took home a bronze medal with Bellows delivering some marquee moments along the way.
The first was on Dec. 29, 2017, as Canada and Team USA faced off in an outdoor game at New Era Field, home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills. For the Edina, MN native, playing in the middle of a snowstorm felt like being back on the pond.

"You could see on the guy's faces, how special that moment was just walking out and seeing a football stadium full of fans and getting to play outdoors," Bellows said. "Ninety percent of guys have played pond or lake hockey at some point growing up and that's some of the most fun hockey that you ever play. For us to get to do that at such a high level against Team Canada and for it to go to a shootout, a lot of guys reminisce that it's like the 2008 Winter Classic."
Bellows scored a goal in that game to power another Team USA comeback and followed it up with the game-deciding goal in the fourth round of the shootout. The shootout winner didn't even count towards Bellows' Team USA record-setting nine goals in the tourney,

That wasn't Bellows' objective at the onset of the tournament, but it's an achievement he's proud of nonetheless.
"To break that record from an NHL legend, Jeremy Roenick, was pretty special," Bellows said. "A lot of it has to do with linemates and great players I played with that year. Also the coaches from the two years I was there having the trust in me to say 'go play your game.'"
The image of the snow falling on Bellows at New Era Field might not even be the most memorable snapshot of his 2018 tournament. After scoring a goal against Russia on Jan. 2, 2018, Bellows celebrated a goal right in front of a fan wearing a Brian Bellows Minnesota North Stars jersey. The surprise on Bellows' face made it seem serendipitous, and to an extent it was. The fan was actually Bellows' cousin and while the winger knew he'd be at the game, he didn't actually know where until that second.
"I skated behind the net and I kind of saw it and took a peek behind me and it was him and it became a pretty cool photo and pretty special moment," Bellows said. "It's a photo that I have and my dad has too."

As a product of the US National Team Development Program, Bellows relished the chance to represent the United States on the world stage. As a kid, he grew up watching the World Juniors and remembers being influenced by the 2010 squad who captured gold in Saskatchewan. That 2010 team, which featured current Islanders winger Kyle Palmieri, was only the second American team to win World Junior gold.
"To win on Canadian soil and score against Canada in OT, I think it influenced a lot of kids to be in that position one day to play for USA against Canada and to win a gold medal," Bellows said. "That 2010 team, with so many great players on it in the NHL, or who played in the NHL, it says a lot about what an influence those guys had on us."
Bellows realized that dream with his 2017 gold medal and given his World Junior resume, it's not a stretch to think he and both the 2017 and 2018 teams have made an influence on future generations of Team USA hopefuls. Either way, he's rooting for the next crop at this year's tournament and gave a "Go Team USA" shoutout in Tuesday's media availability.
"Once you're a part of that tournament, win or lose, you've represented Team USA," Bellows said. "It's just a special moment."