Czarnik Update at the World Junior Championship
1/2/2012 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
EDMONTON, Alta. - Despite being the shortest player on Team USA and one of just two undrafted players on the team, Miami freshman forward Austin Czarnik has taken advantage of his opportunity to represent the United States on the National Junior Team at the 2012 World Junior Championship.
Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) played in all four games for Team USA in Group B preliminary round play. He helped the Stars and Stripes to a victory in their first game as he dished out a pair of assists in an 11-3 win over Denmark on Dec. 26 with both helpers coming in the second period.
The U.S. dropped their next three games however, falling, 4-1, to Finland Dec. 28, losing, 5-2, to the Czech Republic Dec. 30 and rounded out Group B play with a loss to host Canada, 3-2, Dec. 31. Czarnik did not record a point in the losses. By finishing pool play with a 1-3-0 record and just three points, Team USA did not qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament and instead plays in the relegation round.
Czarnik next suits up for the U.S. on Tuesday when they take on Latvia at 1 p.m. ET in Calgary, Alta. He then rounds out his stint on the U.S. National Junior Team Wednesday against Switzerland at 5 p.m. ET, also in Calgary. The bottom two teams in both Group A (Switzerland and Latvia) and Group B (USA and Denmark) are sent to the relegation round with the team that finishes last of those four teams demoted to Division I and will not be eligible for the 2013 World Junior Championship in Russia. Team USA's win over Denmark counts in the relegation standings meaning the U.S. needs just one point in its final two games to assure itself a ticket to next year's tournament, which could come in the form of a win or an overtime loss. Both games can be watched live via a free stream on NHL.com.
Czarnik also had a goal and an assist in Team USA's 7-3 exhibition win over Switzerland on Dec. 21. He scored unassisted just 23 seconds into the game and also assisted on a goal in the second period.
Following the World Junior Championship, Czarnik will rejoin the RedHawks in East Lansing, Mich. and return to his red and white jersey as he'll suit up for the RedHawks this weekend against No. 15 Michigan State Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
--MURedHawks.com--
