2021 World Junior Hockey Championships set to begin play amid COVID-19, other challenges
There were legitimate doubts about whether the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships would even be played, but here we are.
Despite COVID-19 outbreaks and other challenges, the tournament is scheduled to open in Edmonton with three games on Christmas Day, beginning with Slovakia vs. Switzerland at 2 p.m.
The United States will play later on Friday, facing off against Russia at 9:30 p.m.
New York Rangers' fans will have additional rooting interest in Team U.S.A., with Blueshirts prospects Brett Berard and Hunter Skinner both suiting up for the red, white and blue.
The U.S. team also has preliminary games scheduled against Austria on Saturday at 9:30 p.m., the Czech Republic on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and Sweden on New Year's Eve at 9:30 p.m.
This will mark the second consecutive year in which the Rangers have two prospects playing for the Americans. Defensemen K'Andre Miller and Zac Jones both played last year, becoming the first Rangers' duo on Team U.S.A. since Chris Kreider and Ryan Bourque in 2011.
When the U.S. team isn't playing, Rangers' fans will turn their attention to Team Canada, where defenseman Braden Schneider and goalie Dylan Garand will be representing the New York prospect pool.
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Canada will open against Germany on Saturday at 6 p.m., then play Slovakia on Sunday at 6 p.m., Switzerland on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Finland on New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.
The last time the Rangers had two prospects or more play for Team Canada was 2007 with Marc Staal, Tom Pyatt and Marc-Andre Cliche.
Following the preliminary round, qualifying teams will play in the quarterfinals on Jan. 2. The semifinals are scheduled for Jan. 4, with the championship and third-place games on Jan. 5.
All of this year's games will air on NHL Network.
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the Paste BN Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.