GOTHENBURG, Sweden — The world junior hockey championship gets going Tuesday. While there’s no Connor Bedard this year following his record-breaking performance at the 2023 tournament in Halifax, the annual under-20 showcase still has plenty of talent on offer.
The Canadian press takes a look at 10 players to watch.
DALIBOR DVORSKY (SLOVAKIA)
DALIBOR DVORSKI (SLOVAKIA)
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Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 10th overall pick last June, Dvorsky is playing in his third World Junior Championship. The 18-year-old had three problems in five games in 2023 and has 18 goals and 16 assists for OHL’s Sudbury Wolves. this season.
. The 18-year-old had three game problems in 2023 and has 18 goals and 16 assists for OHL’s Sudbury Wolves this season.
MACKLIN CELEBRINI (CANADA)
Slated to be the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft in June, the 17-year-old forward from Vancouver came to the team after dominating the NCAA as a freshman before turning heads at variety camp this month. Celebrini has 25 numbers in 15 games for Boston University this season after being named USHL Player of the Year in 2022-2023 with 46 goals and 40 assists in 50 games.
RUTGER MCGROARTY (USA)
The U. S. captain appeared to be on the verge of missing his chance when he was injured when he crashed on the forums at a University of Michigan game last month. Selected 14th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft via the Winnipeg Jets, McGroarty rebounded. in time for the tournament after scoring six goals and 18 goals in thirteen NCAA games in 2023-2024. The 19-year-old winger from Lincoln, Nebraska, scored one goal and six assists for the United States in a bronze medal at the 2023 tournament. .
JONATHAN LEKKERIMAKI (SWEDEN)
Selected after McGroarty by the Vancouver Canucks, the forward will play his third World Junior Cup. Lekkerimaki scored a goal and three assists for Sweden last year as the 2024 hosts finished fourth. The 19-year-old has 10 goals and 16 problems in 24 games this season as he plays professionally in his country’s most sensible department, with Orebro HK.
DENTON MATEYCHUK (CANADA)
The defenceman had a 23-game point streak in the Western Hockey League this season with the Moose Jaw Warriors snapped just before joining up with his national team. The 19-year-old, selected 12th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022, has six goals and 35 points in 24 WHL contests this season, and should be relied on heavily by Canada after Anaheim Ducks prospect Tristan Luneau was ruled out with an illness.
GAUTHIER CUTTER (UNITED STATES)
The fifth pick in 2022 by the Philadelphia Flyers figures to play big minutes for his country in Sweden. Gauthier, who had 10 points in seven games at last year’s world juniors, has 13 goals and 10 assists in 17 contests with Boston College in 2023-24.
FILIP MESAR (SLOVAKIA)
Selected with the 26th pick in 2022 by the Montreal Canadiens, the winger has played three games in the American Hockey League over the past two seasons. Mesar competed at the 2021 and 2023 World Juniors, recording six numbers in five games in Halifax. The 19-year-old has thirteen goals and 32 problems in 20 games in 2023-2024 with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League.
AXEL SANDIN PELLIKKA (SWEDEN)
The No. 17 pick in the Detroit Red Wings’ 2023 draft has played professionally in Sweden for the past two seasons with Skelleftea AIK. The 18-year-old defender has nine goals and thirteen problems in 2023-2024. He also had one He lent a hand in seven matches at the 2023 World Youth Cup when he was 17 years old.
LANE HUTSON (UNITED STATES)
A second-round pick by Montreal in 2022, the 19-year-old scored the overtime winner against Canada in a pre-tournament game. Hutson, who had four points at the 2023 world juniors, has eight goals and 12 assists in 15 games as Celebrini’s teammate this season at Boston University.
MATTHIEU SAVOY (CANADA)
One of the few players in the tournament with NHL experience, the 19-year-old middle played one game with the Buffalo Sabres this season and six more in the AHL before being sent back to the youth ranks. The St. Albert, Alta. , product, which finished ninth overall in 2022, has 11 goals and 24 problems in 11 games with WHL’s Wenatchee Wild in 2023-2024.
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