Huskie Pietila makes USA Junior Team
Courtesy of MTU Athletics
HELSINKI, Finland — Michigan Tech forward Blake Pietila <http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2012-13/bios/pietila%20blake00.html> (Milford, Mich.) has earned a spot on Team USA’s final roster for the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia, Dec. 27, 2012-Jan. 5, 2013.
USA Hockey announced the roster today in Helsinki, where it had played preliminary games vs. Sweden last Thursday (Dec. 20) and Finland last Saturday (Dec. 22).
Pietila will try to help the U.S. earn its third medal in four years at the 2013 World Junior Championship. Team USA captured the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask., and the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y.
Team USA flies to Ufa, Russia, tonight. The first game for the U.S. at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship is Thursday, Dec. 27, vs. Germany. Game time is 8 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) with NHL Network (DirectTV 215, Dish 403) broadcasting live and NHL.com streaming live.
Below is the full schedule for Team USA at the event. All games will be broadcast on NHL Network and streamed on NHL.com.
*2013 IIHF World Junior Championship Schedule*
Date . Matchup . Time (EST)/Result
Thurs., Dec. 20 . USA vs. Sweden* . W, 3-2 OT
Sat., Dec. 22 . Finland vs. USA* . L, 1-5
Thurs., Dec. 27 . USA vs. Germany . 9:00 a.m.
Fri., Dec. 28 . USA vs. Russia . 9:00 a.m.
Sun., Dec. 30 . USA vs. Canada . 4:30 a.m.
Mon., Dec. 31 . USA vs. Slovakia . 5:00 a.m.
Wed., Jan. 2 . Quarterfinal #1/2 . 4:00 a.m./8:00 a.m.
Thurs., Jan. 3 . Semifinal #1/2 . 4:00 a.m./8:00 a.m.
Sat., Jan. 5 . Bronze Medal Game/Gold Medal Game . 4:00 a.m./8:00 a.m.