2021 IIHF WJC

Byfield won't join Kings until after playing for Canada at World Juniors
Forward would stay at tournament scheduled through Jan. 5

Quinton Byfield said he will not join the Los Angeles Kings until he is finished playing for Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The forward, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is one of 46 players invited to the Hockey Canada national junior team selection camp in Red Deer, Alberta, which runs through Dec. 13.

"The situation is I'm going to stay [with Canada] and hopefully make the team," Byfield said Thursday. "That's the plan I talked about with the [Kings general manager] Rob Blake, and I think that's the best option for us. I'll head over (to the Kings) after I'm done [with Canada]."

The 2021 WJC is scheduled for Dec. 25-Jan. 5. It would be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton without fans in a secure-zone bubble, similar to what the NHL used for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.

The NHL season is targeted to begin Jan. 1.

Byfield and forward Kirby Dach (Chicago Blackhawks, No. 3, 2019 NHL Draft), and defenseman Bowen Byram (Colorado Avalanche, No. 4, 2019) are among the players in Canada camp with an NHL contract. Byfield signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings on Oct. 16; Byram signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche on July 19, 2019.

Hockey Canada contacted Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and agreed that Dach would be returned to Chicago when the NHL season starts. Dach scored 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 64 regular-season games and six points (one goal, five assists) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games as a rookie last season.

"We don't know when the NHL is going to start, but it would be tough if I had one game left and it was a gold medal game (for Canada) and I had to go back and miss that," Dach said. "At the same time, I'm just focused on my time [with Canada] and if I get called, then I know I got to go back [to Chicago] and find that same level I had."

Byfield is one of six returning players who helped Canada win the 2020 WJC, with Byram and defenseman Jamie Drysdale (Anaheim Ducks, 2020, No. 6), and forwards Dylan Cozens (Buffalo Sabres, 2019, No. 7), Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals, 2019, No. 25) and Dawson Mercer (New Jersey Devils, 2020, No. 18).

"Last year was a good experience," Byfield said. "I learned how the older guys prepared themselves and what it takes to win a gold medal, so hopefully with a couple other [returning players] who have that veteran presence, we can carry it on to the other guys and hopefully win back to back."

There was no update on the availability to Canada of forward Alexis Lafreniere, who was selected No. 1 by the New York Rangers in the 2020 draft. The forward, who was voted the most valuable player and best forward at the 2020 WJC after he scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five games, signed his three-year, entry-level contract Oct. 12. He is expected to play a top-nine role for the Rangers this season.

"I'm pretty sure if we have news (on Lafreniere), someone will tell me really quickly," Canada coach Andre Tourigny said Wednesday. "That's the way I see it. If something changed, I hope I will be one of the first guys in the loop and I assume that will be the case. But we have no news on [Lafreniere] right now."

Tim Stuetzle (Ottawa Senators, 2020, No. 3) will be loaned to Germany for possible participation. The forward had surgery Oct. 15 for an arm injury sustained while training with Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the top professional league in Germany. His recovery time was expected to be 6-8 weeks, but Senators owner Eugene Melnyk told The Bob McCown Podcast on Sunday that he is encouraged by Stuetzle's progress.

Canada and Germany will be in Group A with Finland, Switzerland and Slovakia. Group B consists of the United States, Russia, Sweden, Austria and the Czech Republic. Canada plays its opening game of the round-robin portion against Germany on Dec. 26.

The top four teams in each group are scheduled to play in the quarterfinals Jan. 2. The semifinals are Jan. 4, with the championship and third-place games Jan. 5.

NHL.com

 

Stuetzle, No. 3 pick in 2020 Draft by Senators, named to Germany WJC team
Forward recovering from arm surgery, had five assists in tournament last year

Tim Stuetzle, chosen by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is one of 27 players named to Germany for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The tournament is scheduled for Dec. 25-Jan. 5 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. No fans are permitted to attend.

Stuetzle had surgery Oct. 15 for an arm injury sustained while training with Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the top professional league in Germany, and recovery time was expected to be 6-8 weeks. Senators owner Eugene Melnyk told The Bob McCown Podcast on Sunday that he is encouraged by Stuetzle's progress.

The 18-year-old left wing had five assists in five games for Germany at the 2020 WJC.

Two other players selected in the 2020 Draft will return from the 2020 WJC, forwards Lukas Reichel and John-Jason Peterka.

Reichel, chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks with the No. 17 pick, scored five points (three goals, two assists) in seven games at the tournament last year.

Peterka, a second-round selection (No. 34) by the Buffalo Sabres, scored six points (four goals, two assists).

Defenseman Moritz Seider, who had six assists in seven games and was Germany's captain at the 2020 WJC, is eligible for the tournament but was not released by the Detroit Red Wings. The No. 6 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft is playing for Rogle in the Swedish Hockey League.

Germany is scheduled to play in Group A in the preliminary round, starting with a game against Finland on Dec. 25, and against Canada (Dec. 26), Slovakia (Dec. 28) and Switzerland (Dec. 30).

Group B consists of Russia, Sweden, the United States, the Czech Republic and Austria.



GERMANY WJC ROSTER
GOALIES: Tobias Ancicka, Eisbaren Berlin, GER (2021 draft eligible); Florian Bugl, RB Hockey Akademia, CZREP-JR (2021 draft eligible); Arno Tiefensee, Mannheim Jr., GER-JR (2021 draft eligible)

DEFENSEMEN: Lucas Flade, Dresden, GER-2 (2021 draft eligible); Maximillian Glotzl, Koln, GER (2021 draft eligible); Simon Gnyp, Koln, GER (2021 draft eligible); Niklas Langer, Augsburg, GER (2021 draft eligible); Luca Munzenberger, Koln Jr., GER-JR (2021 draft eligible); Tommy Pasanen, Clarkson, ECAC (2021 draft eligible); Steven Raabe, Wolfsburg, GER (2021 draft eligible); Maksymilian Szuber, RB Hockey Akademia, CZREP-JR (2021 draft eligible); Mario Zimmermann, Landshut, GER-2 (2021 draft eligible)

FORWARDS: Manuel Alberg, Des Moines, USHL (2021 draft eligible); Jakub Bozecki, RB Hockey Akademia, CZREP-JR (2021 draft eligible); Julian Chrobot, Koln, GER (2021 draft eligible); Samuel Dube, RB Hockey Akademia, CZREP-JR (2021 draft eligible); Florian Elias, Mannheim, GER (2021 draft eligible); Nino Kinder, Winnipeg, WHL (2021 draft eligible); Elias Lindner, RB Hockey Akademia, CZREP-JR (2021 draft eligible); Jan Nijenhuis, Wolfsburg, GER (2021 draft eligible); John-Jason Peterka, Munchen, GER (Buffalo Sabres); Lukas Reichel, Eisbaren Berlin, GER (Chicago Blackhawks); Filip Reisnecker, Bremerhaven, GER (2021 draft eligible); Joshua Samanski, Owen Sound, OHL (2021 draft eligible); Markus Schweiger, Kaufbeuren, GER-2 (2021 draft eligible); Tim Stuetzle, Mannheim, GER (Ottawa Senators); Justin Volek, Ravensburg, GER-2 (2021 draft eligible)

NHL.com

 

2021 World Juniors taking shape



The IIHF Council has approved a proposal from Hockey Canada to hold the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship to a single-venue format at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada.

In order to maintain the safety of players and officials, and in compliance with Canadian government guidelines related to COVID-19, the IIHF Council also approved a proposal to hold the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship without spectators.

“This is a tough decision to have to take, but ultimately we did not have a choice,” said IIHF President René Fasel. “The health and safety of players, officials, and fans is our top priority. We were impressed with the presentation from the local organizing committee outlining how a potential “bubble” scenario would operate within Edmonton, and we are confident that we can follow the NHL’s great example in creating a safe environment for teams to compete.”

The move to a single venue in Edmonton will necessitate a review of the tournament schedule, which will be announced at a later date.

Fans that have purchased tickets to the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship and do not receive an e-mail from the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG & Rogers Place) with their current ticketing options can contact tickets@hockeycanada.ca for information.

Competition “bubble” in place for Edmonton

During a briefing with the participating teams last week, the Local Organizing Committee for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship shared a set of initial proposals concerning travel to Edmonton, COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, and a plan for a competition bubble that would isolate both teams and tournament officials within the Edmonton Ice District, currently playing host to the NHL’s playoff bubble.

Canada and Sweden to switch hosting duties for ‘22, ‘24

In order to help mitigate the costs associated with organizing a competition bubble for the tournament, the IIHF Council together with Hockey Canada and the Swedish Ice Hockey Association have agreed that the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship will be hosted in Edmonton and Red Deer, with the expectation that the 2022 World Juniors would be held with spectators in both venues.

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship was scheduled to be hosted in Gothenburg, Sweden. Under the new agreement, Sweden will host the 2024 World Juniors.

“I sincerely thank the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and the City of Gothenburg for their understanding and cooperation which enabled us to come to this agreement,” said IIHF President René Fasel. “This solution will allow for the IIHF together with Hockey Canada to reduce the overall costs associated with putting on the 2021 tournament in a bubble environment.

“We asked a lot of our Swedish partners to make this adjustment in a short amount of time, but we needed their cooperation to save this tournament and make it possible for the World Juniors to be delivered this year.”

“It was not a favourable position for us to be placed in as we have started preparations together with the city of Gothenburg to host next year,” said Swedish Ice Hockey Association President Anders Larsson. “But we had constructive discussions with Hockey Canada and the IIHF. We understood that this switch was necessary to preserve Canada’s capability to host the Juniors this season, especially considering all the additional investment that they must make now to ensure the tournament can be played in a safe environment. We are confident that together with the IIHF we will find a solution to cover the already-invested costs.”

No promotion/relegation in 2021

Following the cancellation of the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division I Group A, the IIHF Council confirmed that there will not be any team relegated from the 2021 World Juniors.

The relegation round of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship will therefore be removed from the new tournament schedule.

The IIHF continues to receive updates on all active 2020/21 tournaments via its COVID-19 Event Status Tracker. The IIHF’s COVID-19 Expert Group will continue to monitor all events and provide health and safety recommendations to the Council in the leadup to the 2020/21 season.

IIHF.com

 

Thanks, Will!

 

Askarov named to Russia World Junior Championship selection camp
Goalie, No. 11 pick by Predators, one of four first-rounders from 2020 Draft on roster

Iaroslav Askarov is one of four players selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft named to the Russia selection camp for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The camp will start Nov. 29 in Moscow and continue after Russia arrives in Edmonton on Dec. 13.

Askarov became the highest-drafted Russia-born goalie in NHL history when the Nashville Predators selected him with the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy had been the highest-drafted Russia-born goalie; he was selected with the No. 19 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Joining Askarov will be forwards Rodion Amirov (No. 15, Toronto Maple Leafs) and Yegor Chinakhov (No. 21, Columbus Blue Jackets), and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (No. 20, New Jersey Devils).

Askarov is one of three players returning from the team that lost 4-3 to Canada in the championship game of the 2020 WJC, along with Vasily Podkolzin (Vancouver Canucks) and Maxim Groshev (Lightning).

Askarov was 2-1-0 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .876 save percentage in five games but was pulled from two of his four starts. Podkolzin scored five points (one goal, four assists) in seven games; Groshev had two shots on goal in seven games.

This season, Askarov is 4-3-0 with a 0.96 goals-against average and .962 save percentage in seven games with SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League. Askarov also helped Russia win the Karjala Cup, a four-team tournament with the Czech Republic, Sweden and Finland held Nov. 5-8, going 3-0-0 with a 0.98 GAA and a .962 save percentage.

Defenseman Daniil Chayka, who received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting for the 2021 NHL Draft, will be at the camp. Chayka (6-foot-3, 187 pounds) scored 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 56 games with Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League last season.

The 2021 WJC will be held at Rogers Place in Edmonton from Dec. 25-Jan. 5 with no fans in attendance. Russia will play in Group B in the preliminary round, starting with the United States on Dec. 25. It also plays the Czech Republic (Dec. 27), Austria (Dec. 29) and Sweden (Dec. 30). Group A consists of Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Germany.



RUSSIA WJC SELECTION CAMP ROSTER
GOALIES: Artur Akhtyamov, Irbis Kazan, RUS-JR. (Toronto Maple Leafs), Iaroslav Askarov, SKA St. Petersburg, KHL (Predators); Vsevolod Skotnikov, Zvezda Moscow, RUS-2 (2021 draft eligible)

DEFENSEMEN: Roman Bychkov, Yaroslavl 2, RUS-JR (Boston Bruins); Daniil Chayka, Guelph, OHL (2021 draft eligible); Semyon Chystyakov, Omsk, KHL (Predators); Alexander Kirpichnikov, Chelyabinsk, KHL (2021 draft eligible); Kirill Kirsanov, SKA St. Petersburg, KHL (2021 draft eligible); Yan Kuznetsov, UConn, HE (Calgary Flames); Shakir Mukhamadullin, Ufa, KHL (New Jersey Devils); Ivan Rogov, Cherepovets, KHL (2021 draft eligible); Nikita Sedov, Sochi, KHL (2021 draft eligible); Yegor Shekhovtsov, Neva St. Petersburg, RUS-2 (2021 draft eligible)

FORWARDS: Mikhail Abramov, Victoriaville, QMJHL (Maple Leafs); Egor Afanasyev, CSKA, KHL (Predators); Rodion Amirov, Ufa, KHL (Maple Leafs); Danil Bashkirov, Ufa, KHL (2021 draft eligible); Zakhar Bardakov, Podolsk, KHL (2021 draft eligible); Yegor Chinakhov, Omsk, KHL (Blue Jackets); Vladislav Firstov, UConn, HE (Minnesota Wild); Arseny Gritsyuk, Omsk, KHL (Devils); Maxim Groshev, SKA St. Petersburg, KHL (Lightning); Marat Khusnutdinov, SKA St. Petersburg 2, RUS-JR (Wild); Takhir Mingachyov, Zvezda Moscow, RUS-2 (2021 draft eligible); Vasily Podkolzin, SKA St. Petersburg, KHL (Canucks); Vasiliy Ponomarev, Shawinigan, QMJHL (Carolina Hurricanes); Ilya Safonov, Kazan, KHL (2021 draft eligible); Yegor Spiridonov, SKA St. Petersburg 2, RUS-JR. (San Jose Sharks)

NHL.com

 

indeed, thanks Will

 

was gonna post this on the beauty play or ncaa thread but this will do just fine.
i dont like the Wolverines but theyre a must watch team this season.

 

He had that puck on a string... good stuff.

And yes, Michigan sucks!

(had to say that or lose my Buckeye Fan Club card)

 

Lafreniere remains option for Hockey Canada at WJC
Rangers' No. 1 pick in 2020 Draft 'not out of the question' despite pause in selection camp

Alexis Lafreniere, who was selected by the New York Rangers with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, remains a possibility to play for Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, according to Hockey Canada.

Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada senior vice president of national teams, said Thursday that the 19-year-old forward could join the group despite its WJC selection camp in Red Deer, Alberta, pausing all activities Tuesday after two players tested positive for the coronavirus.

All players and staff members are going through a 14-day isolation period at a hotel in Red Deer.

"There are precautions that you can put in place, in terms of that person and their quarantine responsibilities, in particular Alexis as he is in New York currently so there would be some quarantine restrictions on him to arrive into Canada," Salmond said. "But we're going to keep that conversation going and we're going to look at all the different options still. I would say it's not out of the question."

The Rangers said they won't make a decision on Lafreniere's availability for the WJC until the NHL announces a schedule for this season. The NHL has targeted Jan. 1, 2021, as a start date.

Hockey Canada's deadline to include Lafreniere on its roster is Dec. 6. The IIHF has ruled that a team must be together for one week before arriving in Edmonton for the WJC on Dec. 13, and each member of the 40-person traveling party must have three negative tests for the coronavirus.

The WJC will be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton from Dec. 25-Jan. 5. No fans will be in attendance for the games, and the teams will be placed in a secure zone similar to the one used by the NHL during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Defensemen Bowen Byram (Colorado Avalanche) and Jamie Drysdale (Anaheim Ducks), and forwards Quinton Byfield (Los Angeles Kings), Dylan Cozens (Buffalo Sabres), Kirby Dach (Chicago Blackhawks), Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals), Dawson Mercer (New Jersey Devils) and Jack Quinn (Sabres) are among the players at camp.

Lafreniere helped Canada win the 2020 WJC, when he scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five games and was named the tournament's most valuable player. He scored one goal in five games at the 2019 WJC.

Lafreniere signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on Oct. 12 and is expected to play a top-nine role for New York this season.

"We're talking about those scenarios and what's going to happen," Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said Oct. 14. "Right now our focus is get him here as soon as we can and have him start training and be here and start focusing in the NHL season, and we'll take it as it comes as far as the World Junior or any other situation that might come up."

NHL.com

 

Nate Leaman, who has led the Providence College men’s ice hockey team to six straight NCAA berths, including the 2015 NCAA championship, has been named head coach of the 2021 U.S. National Junior Team, it was announced by USA Hockey.
______
_______________

Andre Tourigny (Nicolet, Que./Ottawa, OHL) has been named the head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team for the upcoming season. Tourigny returns to the team after helping Canada to a gold medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant coach.

(IIHF.com)

 

Jake Sanderson, selected by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is one of 10 first-round NHL Draft picks invited to the United States National Junior Team selection camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, from Dec. 6-13.

The camp is the final stage of the evaluation process for picking the team that will play for the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, which is scheduled to be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton from Dec. 25 through Jan. 5 without fans in attendance in a secure-zone bubble similar to what the NHL used for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.

There are 29 players invited to the U.S. selection camp, and four players will be cut before the team travels to Edmonton.

"The World Juniors is something that I have watched every year since I was little and now that I have the opportunity to play in this tournament [it] is very exciting," Sanderson said. "There are some great players that will be on the team, so getting to know everyone is also something I am looking forward to as well."

Sanderson (6-foot-2, 185 pounds), a left-shot defenseman, scored 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 47 games with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team last season and is a freshman at the University of North Dakota of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference this season.

North Dakota is scheduled to begin its season Wednesday.

"Obviously, I'm excited about the tournament but my main focus right now is with my team at North Dakota," Sanderson said. "We have a strong team that has put in a lot of work over the past couple months, so finally showcasing our talents in the next couple days will be exciting."

In addition to Sanderson, there is one other player selected in the first round of the 2020 draft invited to camp, forward Brendan Brisson (No. 29, Vegas Golden Knights), and eight selected in the 2019 NHL Draft: goalie Spencer Knight (No. 13, Florida Panthers), defensemen Cameron York (No. 14, Philadelphia Flyers) and Ryan Johnson (No. 31, Buffalo Sabres), and forwards Alex Turcotte (No. 5, Los Angeles Kings), Trevor Zegras (No. 9, Anaheim Ducks), Matthew Boldy (No. 12, Minnesota Wild), Cole Caufield (No. 15, Montreal Canadiens) and John Beecher (No. 30, Boston Bruins).

The camp includes two players eligible for the 2021 NHL Draft: forward Matthew Beniers of the University of Michigan in the Big Ten and defenseman Cam McDonald of Providence in Hockey East. Beniers (6-1, 174) is an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list. Players with an A rating are considered potential first-round picks.

"We have a talented group and we'll have some tough decisions to make," United States general manager John Vanbiesbrouck said. "We continue to benefit from a deep player pool, and that's credit to all of the organizations and volunteers developing the next wave of American talent."

The United States finished sixth at the 2020 WJC, ending a run of four straight tournaments with a top-three finish that included the 2017 tournament championship.

The United States will play in Group B with Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic and Austria. Group A will consist of 2020 WJC winner Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Germany. The United States will open the tournament against Russia on Dec. 25.

The top four teams in each group will play in the quarterfinals Jan. 2. The semifinals are Jan. 4, and the championship and third-place games are Jan. 5.

Providence College coach Nate Leaman will coach the United States.



UNITED STATES NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM SELECT CAMP ROSTER

GOALIES: Drew Commesso, Boston University, HE (Chicago Blackhawks); *Spencer Knight, Boston College, HE (Florida Panthers); *Dustin Wolf, Everett, WHL (Calgary Flames)

DEFENSEMEN: Brock Faber, Minnesota, Big Ten (Los Angeles Kings); Drew Helleson, Boston College, HE (Colorado Avalanche); Ryan Johnson, Minnesota, Big Ten (Buffalo Sabres); Jackson LaCombe, Minnesota, Big Ten (Anaheim Ducks); Cam McDonald, Providence, HE (2021 draft eligible); Jake Sanderson, North Dakota, NCHC (Ottawa Senators); Henry Thrun, Dubuque, USHL (Anaheim Ducks); Alex Vlasic, Boston University, HE (Chicago Blackhawks); *Cameron York, Michigan, Big Ten (Philadelphia Flyers)

FORWARDS: *John Beecher, Michigan, Big Ten (Boston Bruins); Matthew Beniers, Michigan, Big Ten (2021 draft eligible); Brett Berard, Providence, HE (New York Rangers); Matthew Boldy, Boston College, HE (Minnesota Wild); Thomas Bordeleau, Michigan, Big Ten (San Jose Sharks); *Bobby Brink, Denver, NCHC (Philadelphia Flyers); Brendan Brisson, Michigan, Big Ten (Vegas Golden Knights); *Cole Caufield, Wisconsin, Big Ten (Montreal Canadiens); Sam Colangelo, Northeastern, HE (Anaheim Ducks); John Farinacci, Muskegon, USHL (Arizona Coyotes); *Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton, OHL (Los Angeles Kings); Robert Mastrosimone, Boston University, HE (Detroit Red Wings); Patrick Moynihan, Providence, HE (New Jersey Devils); *Nick Robertson, Toronto, NHL; Landon Slaggert, Notre Dame, CCHA (Chicago Blackhawks); *Alex Turcotte, Eisbaren Berlin, DEL (Los Angeles Kings); *Trevor Zegras, San Diego, AHL (Anaheim Ducks)

 

from an NHL prospect point of view I dont remember a US WJC team this loaded.

G- Starting with Knight and Wolf in net. Wolf was the CHL Goalie of the year and he's probably the backup on this team. Everyone here knows my thoughts on Spencer Knight. Drew Commesso (2/46- Chi '20) aint so bad either, still green Im sure he's the #3 and being groomed for next year's WJC.

D- could be the achilles heel but they're still pretty stacked. I cant say that I know much about how these guys will mesh, and I think that is ultimately what will make or break the team, but just looking at draft spots they're pretty impressive- Jake Sanderson (1/5- Ott '20), Cam York (1/14- Phi '19), Ryan Johnson (1/31- Buff '19), then you have 4- 2nd rounders- Faber (2/45- LA '20), Helleson (2/47 -Col '19) , Lacombe (2/39- Ana '19) and Vlasic (2/43- Chi '19). Odd man out here is Henry Thrun (4/101- Ana '19)), who I believe will be (at least) a solid NHL defenseman from seeing him play in the past and talking with his coaches.

F- Up front you have 6- 1st rounders in Beecher (1/30 -Bos'19), Boldy (1/12- Minn '19), Brisson (1/29, -LV'20), Caufield (1/15- Mtl '19), Turcotte (1/5, LA '19) and Zegras (1/9- Ana'19).
Then you have Beniers who has been sky rocketing up prospect rankings for the 2021 draft and looks like a top 10, or higher, pick. Nick Robertson (2/53- Tor '19) has already played in the NHL for the Leafs and is available. Then there are 8 Fs that are 2nd/3rd round picks. I believe Jack Hughes is eligible but highly unlikely to play. Highly unlikely might even be a stretch.

Again I'm not insinuating that this will be a special team just that from an NHL prospect standpoint I dont think there has ever been a stronger and deeper US squad.
Hopefully Leaman can get em going and he gets a good look this weekend at Boldy, Helleson and Knight. Boldy has been a force, such an interesting case that kid has been over the past year+, looked lost out there but has now become the man-child Minny picked so high.

*still nervous this tourney won't happen

 

Wolf is short. Otherwise he would have been drafted 2 or 3 rounds higher after what he did in Everett. BTW, he replaced some goalie named Hart for the Silvertips. He’s a SoCal kid, just like Demko Thatcher.

He’ll be a great backup and Knight could steal this tourney. (I remain obstinately optimistic.) Since Canada is LOADED, it may require thievery for the USA to take home glory.

 

Raymond, No. 4 pick of 2020 Draft by Red Wings, on Sweden WJC camp roster
Forward prospect one of 34 players invited, scored four points in last year's tournament
_________
______________________

I like the added experience he will achieve.

 

this is probably true every year for every tourney that Canada enters.
this is the first year that I can recall where the US was in the conversation (pre-tourney) as having the strongest/deepest roster. lately they've just been in the mix.
anyone (of the top 5-6 teams) can take the short tourney of course, but based on a roster speculation point of view this is the first time where i'd say the US might just be stronger than Canada.

as for Wolf, what a steal he's quickly become. he might just be the 2nd or 3rd best goalie in the entire tournament.

 

while it's always great to have as much talent as possible at the WJC, i'm certainly not mad about this news.

 

Hockey Canada has released the following players-

- Goaltenders Brett Brochu (Belle River, Ont./London, OHL) and Tristan Lennox (Cambridge, Ont./Saginaw, OHL)
- Forwards Adam Beckman (Saskatoon, Sask./Spokane, WHL), Tyson Foerster (Alliston, Ont./Barrie, OHL), Hendrix Lapierre (Gatineau, Que./Chicoutimi, QMJHL), Cole Schwindt (Breslau, Ont./Mississauga, OHL) and Shane Wright (Burlington, Ont./Kingston, OHL)

The big name here is Shane Wright, probable #1 pick in the 2022 draft that has already gained exceptional status in the CHL. 16 years old is really young for this tourney, even for these types of players, and especially for Canada.

https://hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2020-21-njt-dec-10-sport-chek-selection-camp-update

 

World Junior Championship rosters


Austria
Goalies

Jakob Brandner, Titaanit, Finland 3rd division (2021 draft eligible)

Leonhard Sommer, Linz 2, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Sebastian Wraneschitz, Vienna, AUT (2021 draft eligible)

Defensemen

Jonas Kutzer, Dornbirn, AUT (2021 draft eligible)

Luis Lindner, Boston Jr. Bruins, NCDC (2021 draft eligible)

Moritz Molls, Okanagan Jr., Austria Jr. league (2021 draft eligible)

Lukas Necesany, RB Hockey Akademia, Czech Jr. league (2021 draft eligible)

Timo Pallierer, Vienna, AUT (2021 draft eligible)

Jacob Pfeffer, Graz, AUT (2021 draft eligible)

Bernhard Posch, Bregenzerwald, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Niklas Wetzl, Tuto Jr., Finland Jr. league (2021 draft eligible)

Philipp Wimmer, RB Hockey Juniors, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Forwards

Mathias Bohm, Vienna Jr., Austria Jr. league (2021 draft eligible)

Tim Harnisch, RB Hockey Juniors, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Maximillian Hengelmuller, RB Hockey Juniors, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Fabian Hochegger, Klagenfurt 2, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Marco Kasper, Rogle Jr., Sweden Jr. league (2022 draft eligible)

Clemens Krainz, Graz, AUT (2021 draft eligible)

Julian Pauschenwein, Graz, AUT (2021 draft eligible)

Senna Peeters, Rogle Jr., Sweden Jr. league (2021 draft eligible)

Marco Rossi, Ottawa, OHL (Minnesota Wild)

Lucas Thaler, Mora Jr., Sweden Jr. league (2021 draft eligible)

Maximilian Theirich, Klagenfurt 2, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Marlon Tschofen, Kloten Jr., Swiss Jr. league (2021 draft eligible)

Dominik Unterweger, Feldkirch, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Finn van Ee, Klagenfurt 2, Austria 2nd division (2021 draft eligible)

Leon Wallner, Sodertalje Jr., Sweden Jr. league (2021 draft eligible)

* -- need to cut one player to reach 25-man roster limit