As the 2021 World Junior Championships head into day three, and inch our way towards the NHL season, we were reminded last night that another league is playing games right now: the ECHL (acronym stands for nothing).

Updated with official ECHL statement: Newfoundland Growlers to sit out the 2020-2021 season

Several other former Growlers are spread out around the active ECHL teams; Giorgio Estephan is with the Kansas City Mavericks, Aaron Luchuk is with the Orlando Solar Bears, Matt Bradley is in Greenville with the Swamp Rabbits, and others have gone off to Europe to play while the Growlers are inactive.

In yesterdays World Juniors games:

Canada ravaged the COVID-19 riddled Germans 16-2 in the annual round robin blowout.

Team Canada kicks off title defence with rout of undermanned Germany

Sweden defeated the Czech Republic 7-2

Sweden beats Czech Republic in World Juniors opener to extend winning streak - TSN.ca

And the Americans put down the Austrians 11-0

USA vs. Austria final: Americans bounce back with dominating 11-0 win

There was some great news in the American victory as well:

And this is the best World Juniors content I saw yesterday:

Todays World Juniors schedule:

Finland @ Switzerland - 2:00PM ET
Slovakia @ Canada - 6:00PM ET
Czech Republic @ Russia - 9:30PM

If you want to know how the Leafs did on day one, check here:

Maple Leafs prospects at the WJC: Day one recap

In NHL News a trade broke at 11:30 PM!

Last season in Arizona, Stepan played 70 games, scored 10 goals and added 18 assists for 28 points. He carries a $6.5 million cap hit ($2 million in salary). This deal leaves the Senators with $6 million in cap space.

It’s a Sunday on the week between Christmas and New Years, I don’t expect more news to happen. Enjoy your day everyone!

From The Branches