Red Deers Group B loaded with future NHL talent at 2022 World Juniors – Red Deer Advocate
Russia’s goalkeeper Yaroslav Askarov (1) saves Finnish Santeri Hatakka (28) during the first period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal game in Edmonton on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. CANADIAN PRESS / Jason Franson
It has been years on the road for hockey fans in central Alberta and the wait for the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship 2022 is almost over.
Given that it’s not exactly what fans had been hoping for, with two of Canada’s two Red Deer Tournament matches being thrown away earlier this week due to the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant and on-site capacity constraints at the Peavey Mart Centrium for round-robin -game.
This means that about half of the people who had hoped to enjoy the event live will still have a chance to watch the 2022 World Juniors, albeit without food or drink available inside the arena.
When the round robin game begins on the second day of Christmas, some of the most exciting young hockey talents around the world will be on display for the next 11 days.
Group B, which will be played at Centrium, has three talented teams in Sweden, the USA and Russia, as well as a darkhorse in Slovakia, while Switzerland rounds out the group.
Sweden has not won gold since 2012 and any combination of Canada, Finland and the USA has won every tournament since. Sweden can become the favorite outside Canada to return to the top of the U20 hockey world.
“It’s a bit of a strange year for Russia and the USA where they have weaker teams than they have usually included in recent years and I would probably argue that the Swedes are at the other end, with a stronger team than they have had in recent years. “Said Scott Wheeler, who is a national reporter covering the NHL prospects for The Athletic.
“I think Sweden has the best case outside Canada to break that drought. To have Sweden as a convincing team, a team that could compete for a gold medal is exciting, a nice change, it will be a fascinating group. You have a lot of NHL talent and a lot of action lines to draw on. ”
Sweden’s first line by William Eklund, Alexander Holtz and Oskar Olausson may be one of the best trios in recent times. Holtz was selected a total of seven in the 2020 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils and Eklund played nine games with the San Jose Sharks earlier this year, after being selected as seventh in the 2021 draft.
“It has an opportunity to be the best line in the tournament. Holtz and Eklund are two of the best players in the tournament and Olausson is a phenomenal talent who I think will get a bit of a come-out party when he plays on the left wing with the two guys, Wheeler says.
It should not count on the Russians, who could have the best goalkeeper in the tournament in Yaroslav Askarov or the Americans’ dynamic defense combination of Jake Sanderson and Luke Hughes.
“This is Askarov’s third net tournament for the Russians, I think they have included a weaker team in part because they left four North American prospects that I thought belonged in the team,” Wheeler said.
“They will ask a lot of Askarov. He will carry them as far as he can. If he is the best player in the tournament, which is a possibility, then they have the chance to win a medal. If not, they will have problems. . “
Of course, not all discussions about the Russians are complete without mentioning Matvei Michkov, one of the most exciting opportunities in hockey outside of North America. The 17-year-old winger may be the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, although Canada’s Connor Bedard will have a say.
“Michkov will develop into the history of the tournament. It will be this natural conversation between Michkov and Bedard, but Bedard will not play as big or as important a role as Matvei Michkov,” said Wheeler.
“If he lights it up – say he puts up six points in seven games, it will be the story of the tournament and I think he is more than capable of doing so. Would not be surprised if he leads Russia in points if he get the right use. “
Sanderson, the fifth overall pick of Ottawa 2020, will play big minutes with Hughes, the Devils’ fourth total pick of 2021. The defense will determine how far the United States will go in the tournament.
Of course, Calgary Flames fans will want to keep an eye on Matt Coronato with the American group. Coronato was selected as the 13th overall by the Flames last year and should play in all situations in the World Juniors.
“He will play among the top six for the Americans, he may even be their first right winger,” Wheeler said.
“He’s had a great year at Havard.”
The Pesky Slovak group should also not be discounted. Wheeler said they could make some noise this year.
Defender Šimon Nemec along with strikers Filip Mesar and Juraj Slafkovský can all be top 10 picks in the 2022 draft and Dalibor Dvorsky is a top prospect for the 2023 draft.
“Slovakia has been struggling to produce NHL talent for the last decade or so and has certainly not done so since Zdeno Chára, the Marian Gaborik era,” Wheeler said.
“Having three top 10 prospects in the upcoming draft on his team plus Martin Chromiak who is a top prospect for the LA Kings … they are everyone’s dark horse, the team that can upset anyone and do some damage.”
The group game for 2022 World Juniors begins on December 26, where Russia meets Sweden at 14:30 at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
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