By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
Yesterday, the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament kicked off in the state of Minnesota, with several games on the schedule from the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and the 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. The United States team, with Boston Bruins forward prospects James Hagens and Will Zellers, got off on the right foot in their tournament game one action from the Grand Casino Arena against team Germany in front of 14,276 in attendance.
The United States team beat Germany by scoring three goals in the first period and three in the second, for a 6-3 victory in this tournament’s preliminary round. For Bruins prospect forwards Hagens and Zellers, it was a great start for the two collegiate athletes, as the B’s 2025 first-round selection Hagens had an assist while Zellers led the way on the United States team with a three-point effort.
Hagens, a 19-year-old Boston College forward, got his first point of this U-20 tournament at the 15:55 mark with a secondary assist on the first-period goal going to the University of Michigan’s Will Horcoff. Hagens played well in this game, aside from getting an assist. The 5’-11”, 194-pound versatile forward was effective on the forechecking effort all night and showed his hockey intelligence throughout the game in all three zones. Hagens has appeared in 16 games so far this season as a sophomore for Boston College and has contributed with 10-8-18 numbers until the start of this holiday and WJC tournament break.
Zellers, a 19-year-old forward from the state of Minnesota, was the player of the game in my opinion and didn’t look out of place as a late addition for the United States team. The University of North Dakota freshman had two goals and one assist in the victory over Team Germany last night and led all players on both sides with a three-point game. Will’s first point of the game came when Team USA went up 2-0 at the 10:53 mark of the first period via Chase Reid’s first of the tourney. In the second period, it was the Zellers show as the B’s prospect scored at the 30:31 mark, notching his first of the tournament and adding his second of the game at the 34:58 mark, capping off a three-point night in his home state.
Zellers is in his first season with North Dakota and, before this tournament, had appeared in 18 games, posting 10-5-15 for the NCAA Fighting Hawks. Last season, the former third-round selection of the Colorado Avalanche was acquired by Boston in the Charlie Coyle trade. Before heading to the bright lights of the NCAA, Zellers led the United States Hockey League (USHL) in goals, posting 44-27-71 numbers in 52 games for his former Green Bay Gamblers team.
The next game on the schedule for Hagens, Zellers, and the entire United States team is set for this afternoon at the Grand Casino Arena. Today’s Group “A” matchup is against Team Switzerland, which has yet to play a game in this tournament. Puck drop between the US team and the Swiss is set for 6 pm EDT, as the red, white, and blue look to go 2-0 to start the 2026 World Junior Championship. Today’s game can be seen on the NHL Network, TSN in Canada, and on the official IIHF.tv website for international game streaming.
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