LA Kings: Cal Petersen Among Team USA’s Top 3 Players at Worlds

Following his country’s semi-final loss, LA Kings goaltender Cal Petersen got some consolation, named as one of Team USA’s Top 3 players at the 2021 Worlds.

His quest for gold may have ended but LA Kings netminder Cal Petersen was nonetheless acknowledged for his outstanding efforts at the 2021 World Championship. Team USA honored Petersen by naming him as one of his country’s top three players at the tournament.

Joining forward Connor Garland and defenseman Zac Jones, Cal Petersen was chosen as one of the best players for his native country at the 2021 Worlds in Latvia. The news was bittersweet, though, as it came just moments after Team USA’s semi-final defeat to Team Canada.

Still, it is an honor that is well-deserved.

Despite opening the tournament with a loss to Finland, Team USA rolled to seven straight victories and Petersen was a major reason for his country’s resurgence.

In six games at the 2021 Worlds, Petersen posted stellar numbers. In addition to earning four wins, those numbers included a minuscule 1.34 goals-against average, a stellar 94.97 save percentage — both good enough for second among all tournament goaltenders — and also tied for a tournament-leading two shutouts.

While it may not result in a championship, Cal Petersen nonetheless finishes the season on a high note as the 26-year-old hopes to enter the 2021-22 season on the right foot when he returns to the LA Kings.

Petersen and Team USA will now await the end result of the Finland-Germany semi-final later on Saturday. Whichever team loses that matchup plays the United States in Sunday’s bronze-medal game. It is unknown at this time whether Petersen will play or sit in favor of Jake Oettinger.

The game starts at 8:15 at ET (5:15 am PT).