The 2023 World Junior Championship begins at its traditional time on Boxing Day, in Moncton, N.B., and Halifax this year.
Here are three players – minus obvious top-notch draft-eligible prospects such as Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli, who are getting a lot of attention for Canada – to keep a close eye on for each of the 10 teams competing this year. Canada is the defending champion, having won the most recent tournament, in August, in Edmonton.
CANADA
Shane Wright, C: Nice to see him with a smile on his face for pre-tournament games. He should get himself back on the map as an elite prospect in a comfortable setting.
Olen Zellweger, D: Playing for his regular season coach, and having had success as a U18 gold medalist, he should thrive as an offensive defenceman whose defence is underrated.
Brandt Clarke, D: If the L.A. experience at the NHL level has helped him move from immature teenager to professional defenceman, he could be a massive piece for Canada on the back end.
GERMANY
Ryan Del Monte, C: This London Knight is a dual citizen who chose his birthplace where his dad Daniel played. Del Monte will look to be an offensive leader as an elder statesman with three years of OHL experience under his belt.
Julian Lutz, LW: This Arizona second-round pick from the 2022 draft has the size and skill, plus previous international experience from two U18 events, to make him an important factor.
Adrian Klein, D: A mainstay in the DEL, Klein will be part of the leadership group, having worn an “A” at the U18s two years ago. With one world juniors under his belt, he will likely face the opposition’s best from start to finish.
AUSTRIA
Jack Linton, C: He was lighting it up with Des Moines’ U18 team before moving on to the NAHL to play with El Paso. He’s a right-shot D who will be leaned on to use his six-foot-two, 190-pound frame
Vinzenz Rohrer, RW: Good for over a point per game for Dave Cameron’s Ottawa 67’s, he can turn on a dime and is quick off the mark. The Montreal Canadiens’ third-rounder is the only player on Austria to have been drafted by an NHL team.
Maximilian Preiml, D: In his second world juniors, this big right-shooting defenceman will lean on opponents.
LATVIA
Sandis Vilmanis, LW: After spending three seasons in Sweden, the Florida fifth-round pick has 11 goals and is just under a point per game through 29 OHL games. He left the Sting on a five-game heater.
Dans Locmelis, C: The Boston Bruins fourth-round pick from 2022 has had a banner year with Lulea’s U20 team, leading the way with 12 goals and 33 points through 27 games. He will make his third world juniors appearance having helped Latvia move into the A pool, and participating in his first tournament in the summer.
Niks Fenenko, D: After a rookie season in Baie-Comeau that saw him net 40 points in 62 games, Fenenko went undrafted. He has once again proved he can produce in the QMJHL, with 18 points through 27 games on a mediocre Drakkar team.
CZECHIA
David Jiricek, D: Off to a tremendous start to his North American pro career, Jiricek is scoring a point per game in the AHL. The sixth-overall pick by Columbus has also made his NHL debut. With good size, this right shot should lead the way for an upstart Czechia team.
Jiri Kulich, C: The third of three first-round picks for Buffalo in the 2022 draft is highly skilled and continues to progress through the AHL, where he has half of his points over the last 10 games.
Gabriel Szturc, C: In his second year in WHL Kelowna, Szturc comes into the tournament as the club’s top-scoring player, with 37 points through 26 games. He has provided great value to the Rockets as the 44th CHL Import pick in 2021. He is in his third and final year of draft eligibility.
SLOVAKIA
Simon Nemec, D: The second-overall pick by New Jersey in last year’s draft had a wild ride in 2021-22, playing in the world juniors, the Olympics and the men’s worlds. He’s settled into AHL Utica, where he sits second among rookie defenceman scoring, with 18 points.
Filip Mesar, RW: After a one-game pit stop in AHL Laval, the Canadiens urged Mesar to take his act to OHL Kitchener. Clearly it’s been a good move, as his skill level has him playing in all situations and producing as a dual threat at more than a point per game.
Adam Sykora, LW/C: As pesky as they come, his motor never stops. He will irritate the opponent and when the attention turns to retribution, he will bite with his skill. A favourite of coach Craig Ramsay for his work ethic and compete.
SWITZERLAND
Lian Bichsel, D: A six-foot-five monster of a man who really appreciates the physical element of the game. Opponents will be acutely aware of when he’s on the ice. The 18th pick in the 2022 draft by Dallas hasn’t played a ton in the SHL, but that will change as he’s expected to be Switzerland’s top defenceman.
Brian Zanetti, D: The Swiss’ only other NHL drafted player, the 19-year-old Flyers prospect is a slick puck-moving defenceman who has spent the last two seasons with OHL Peterborough.
Attilio Biasca, C/LW: Biasca will play in his third world juniors after spending the last two seasons going undrafted while with the Halifax Mooseheads. It’s not often a European player is the captain of a CHL team, a testament to the leadership skills of this 19-year-old.
SWEDEN
Fabian Lysell, RW: Somewhat of an enigma in his draft year, the first-round pick by Boston in 2021 spent last season with WHL Vancouver and showed off his brilliant playmaking skills. He controls the puck with silky smooth hands and possesses great vision. He’s transitioned to the AHL game and scored three of his eight goals in three games before departing for the Maritimes.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW: Another enigma, this time from the 2022 draft, Lekkerimaki made his mark as a deft scorer with an NHL-ready shot. Others lauded him for his underrated playmaking ability. The Canucks selected him with the 15th pick with the hopes of going back and having another successful SHL season. Instead, his production has dipped with Djurgardens in the Allsvenskan.
Simon Robertsson, RW: One of my favourite picks from the 2021 draft, Robertsson is a complete player who played SHL games in both his 16- and 17-year-old seasons. The St. Louis prospect plays roughly 10 minutes a night for SHL Skelleftea, yet still puts up about a half a point per game.
FINLAND
Joakim Kemell, RW: His draft season could not have started any better, having led Liiga in scoring through the first 18 games of the season. Unfortunately, injuries took a toll on that pace and Kemell slipped from a potential top-five pick to 17th overall, where he was chosen by Nashville. He went off-the-charts in the 2021
Brad Lambert, C: The most fascinating player to watch from the 2022 draft, Lambert has the potential of being the best player on the ice each and every shift. His inconsistent play, however, almost cost him a chance to be taken in Round 1. Winnipeg took him with the 30th pick, looking for top 10 value. A post-WJC move to WHL Seattle would do him wonders.
Aleksi Heimosalmi, D: He has shown well at both the U18 and U20 worlds. With that experience and the fact he plays roughly 16 minutes per night in Liiga, Heimosalmi should excel in this event as a point producer on Finland’s defence. Carolina selected him in the second round of the 2021 draft.
USA
Lane Hutson, D: Hutson continues to prove doubters wrong. A first-round talent with seventh-round size (he’s listed at five-foot-eight, 148 pounds), Hutson thinks the game well and makes plays all over the ice. He has torn it up as a freshman at BU, where he’s scored seven goals and added 11 assists in his first 16 games. This event provides yet another proving ground for the Montreal second-rounder.
Luke Hughes, D: If he’s to become the first of the Hughes trio to win WJC gold, Luke will have to play a major role on and off the ice. This powerful-skating defenceman doesn’t have much left to accomplish at the amateur level. Enjoy his all-around game and get ready for him to join his brother Jack in New Jersey next season.
Logan Cooley, C: The third-overall pick from last year’s draft truly believed he was the best player available in 2022. Arizona saw a gifted dual-threat offensive player who can pace the game and use his elite vision to find teammates in unexpected fashion. Don’t sleep on his shot, either.
