Zegras, Knight discuss United States' chances at 2022 WJC
Will try to win first back-to-back titles in U.S. tournament history
The Anaheim Ducks center should know. He helped the United States win the 2021 World Junior Championship after leading all players with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in seven games and was voted the tournament's most valuable player.
"I thought it was the perfect storm," Zegras said. "I mean we had goalie] Spencer Knight, who kind of shut the door in the gold medal game, which was incredible. But we had great [defensemen], great forwards, and a great coaching staff. There wasn't really anything I could pinpoint as the reason we were able to win it."
The United States celebrated its fifth championship with a 2-0 win against Canada in the final game of the 2021 WJC at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Jan. 5. It was the first championship for the United States since 2017, when it defeated Canada 5-4 in a shootout, and the first shutout by the United States in the semifinal round or championship game in its history.
"We kind of came together really quickly, and obviously a majority of the team kind of came from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program so we clicked right away," Zegras said. "I had a gut feeling that we were going to win that thing."
Knight, who's played 13 games with the Florida Panthers this season, came through when it mattered most, making 34 saves in the shutout against Canada in the championship game.
He believes the United States has a chance to win back-to-back titles for the first time, so long as the group remains focused.
"There's always going to be pressure at that tournament, wherever it's coming from," Knight said. "But you just got to remember why you're there. You just got to play hockey; that's what you're there to do. You can't worry about what everyone else is saying, just dial it in, block out the noise, and have fun and play hockey. You're there for a reason."
Knight was 5-0-0-1 with a 1.63 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and three shutouts in the 2021 WJC. He set the United States WJC single-tournament shutout record.
Zegras said the returning players for the United States this year should be able to play a big role. They include defensemen
[Jake Sanderson
(Ottawa Senators), Brock Faber (Los Angeles Kings), and
Tyler Kleven
(Ottawa Senators), and forwards
Matty Beniers
(Seattle Kraken),
Brett Berard
(New York Rangers) and
Landon Slaggert
(Chicago Blackhawks).
Coach Nate Leaman also returns for 2022, along with assistant coaches Ted Donato, Kris Mayotte and Steve Miller, and video coach Theresa Feaster.
"I feel pretty good entering this tournament," Sanderson said. "Having the same coaching staff back, we know what they want and what they're expecting. I entered camp knowing pretty much all the guys, so I'll be comfortable around them, comfortable saying things to them too. I hope they're comfortable taking it in and saying things back to me, but we have a really good group and I feel we're tight already."
Zegras' 18 points rank second on the United States all-time list for points in a single WJC (Doug Weight, 19 points, 1991) and second on the single tournament assists list (Weight, 14, 1991). The 20-year-old also is tied for most career points (27, 12 games) with Jordan Schroeder (19 games, 2008-10) and career assists (Schroeder, 20).
"Beniers] and those guys ... they're such good leaders," Zegras said. "They'll be able to carry the bus for the group this year, and I think they're going to have a good mix. I think they got great goaltending, too. I know what [goalie]
[Drew Commesso
(Chicago Blackhawks) can do. I'm looking forward to watching and know those guys will do great. It's the same coaching staff so it should be the same message. I'm really looking forward to watching them."
The United States opens the 2022 WJC against Slovakia on Dec. 26, and will play preliminary-round games at WP Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta, in Group B along with Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.
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