The end of December not only signifies the Holiday season, but it also brings one of the best events that the word of hockey has to offer: the World Junior Championships.
Structure
This year’s iteration of the event will take place in Canada, across three different locations: Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick. The group stage and playoffs span December 26 through January 5. All games can be seen on NHL Network.
In total, 10 teams will be participating. These 10 teams are split into two groups. These groups are below:
| Group A | Group B |
| Canada | United States |
| Sweden | Finland |
| Czechia | Switzerland |
| Germany | Slovakia |
| Austria | Latvia |
The preliminary-round games between Group A teams will take place at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. Meanwhile, Group B games will take place at the Avenir Centre in Moncton.
Four of the top five teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals phase of the tournament. Meanwhile, the bottom team in each group will face-off in a best-of-three matchup in hope to avoid relegation.
Devils’ Representation
The New Jersey Devils will have five prospects in the tournament. These five will represent four different countries.
Defensemen Luke Hughes and Seamus Casey each are representing Team USA. Hughes, the fourth-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, was named Team USA’s captain. He has 18 points (three goals and 15 assists) in 20 games with the University of Michigan this season. Casey, the Devils’ second-round pick (46th overall) in last year’s draft, like Hughes, plays at Michigan. He has 16 points (four goals and 12 assists) in 20 games this season.
The second-overall pick in last year’s draft, Simon Nemec, will be with Team Slovakia. Nemec has played 24 games with the Uitca Comets (AHL) this season, tallying 11 points (three goals and eight assists). His play has picked up as the season has gone along as he has been arguably playing as the Comets’ best defenseman.
Lastly, forward Petr Hauser will be representing Team Czechia and defenseman Topias Vilen will represent Team Finland. The six-foot-four Hauser was the Devils’ fifth-round pick in 2022 and has split time across three different levels in the Czechia hockey system this year. Vilen was a fifth-round pick in 2021 and has 10 points in 21 Liiga (top professional league in Finland) games this year. He also impressed in camp and preseason with the Devils.
Other Representation
In total, 30 of 32 teams in the league have prospects going to the tournament. The two teams without representation are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Leading the pack is the Montreal Canadiens, who have six representatives at the tournament. Several teams have five.
Brief Team-By-Team Breakdowns
Canada
Odds To Win Tournament: -130 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
Canada, always a juggernaut in these tournaments, come in as the hands-down favorites (-130). Led by captain Shane Wright (Kraken) and generational talent Connor Bedard (2023 eligible), the forward group is deep. Other contributors up front will be Dylan Guenther (Coyotes), Brennan Othmann (Rangers), Logan Stankoven (Stars), and Adam Fantilli (2023 eligible).
Defensively, Brandt Clarke (Kings), Olen Zellwegar (Ducks), and Kevin Korchinski (Blackhawks) lead the way. The starting goaltender, to start the tournament at least, will be Sharks’ prospect Benjamin Gaudreau.
United States
Odds To Win Tournament: +310 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
Team USA is led up front by Logan Cooley (Coyotes), Cutter Gauthier (Flyers), Chaz Lucius (Jets), and Jimmy Snuggerud (Blues). Defensively, captain and Devils’ prospect Luke Hughes leads the way. Jack Peart (Wild) and Lane Hutson (Canadiens) will also be playing top defensive minutes for the United States. In net, Team USA is very young, as three non-NHL prospects are on the roster: Trey Augustine (USHL), Kaidan Mbereko (NCHC), and Andrew Oke (OHL).
Finland
Odds To Win Tournament: +450 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
Team Finland, who were runners up in the 2022 edition of the tournament, have the third-best odds to win it all. Up front, they are led by Oliver Kapanen (Canadiens), Brad Lambert (Jets), Joakim Kemell (Predators), and Ville Koivunen (Hurricanes).
Defensively, Aleksi Heimosalmi (Hurricanes) and Ville Ruotsalainen (undrafted) should be the main contributors. In net, expect Niklas Kokko, a second-round pick of the Seattle Kraken in 2022.
Sweden
Odds To Win Tournament: +800 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
Sweden won the Bronze medal in the 2022 tournament, and always seem to factor in at the end of these events. This year, up front, the Swedes will rely upon Fabian Lysell (Bruins), Isak Rosen (Sabres), and Oskar Pettersson (Senators). Four of their defensemen are on NHL rosters, the most important being Calle Odelius (Islanders), Adam Engstrom (Canadiens), and Ludvig Jansson (Panthers). In net, expect Carl Lindbom (Golden Knights) and Iam Blomquist (HockeyAllsvenskan).
Czechia
Odds To Win Tournament: +2000 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
The forwards to keep on eye on for Czechia are Jan Mysak (Canadiens), Jiri Kulich (Sabres), and Jakub Kos (Panthers). They also are set to have a projected top-20 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft in forward Eduard Sale.
The strength of the team will be on the blue line as it includes several intriguing prospects. Headlining the group are a pair of Blue Jacket prospects in David Jiricek and Stanislav Svozil. Goaltenders on the Czechia roster include Tomas Suchanek, who the Sabres had at their prospect camp, as well as Oliver Satny (QMJHL) and Daniel Kral (Czechia).
Slovakia
Odds To Win Tournament: +5000 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
The forward group will be led by Montreal Canadiens’ draftee Filip Mesar, as well as three other draftees in Servac Petrovsky (Wild), Adam Zinka (Coyotes), and Adam Sykora (Rangers). Defensively, Devils’ second-overall pick Simon Nemec is the squad’s best player. Other contributors on the blueline should be Viliam Kmec (WHL) and Simon Groch (Slovakia). Expect Matej Marinov (USHL) to be in net.
A must-watch aspect of Team Slovakia is the squad has five players – two projected first rounders – that are expected to be taken in the 2023 NHL Draft. You can see who these guys are specifically further below.
Switzerland
Odds To Win Tournament: +10000 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
The Swiss are pretty lackluster up front as they will rely on some undrafted players in Attilio Biasca (captain of Halifax in the QMJHL), Jonas Taibel (QMJHL), and Louis Robin (QMJHL). The defensive core features two NHL prospects in Stars’ draftee Lian Bichsel and Flyers’ prospect Brian Zanetti. Dario Sidler (SL) is also a returnee to the group. In net will likely be Kevin Pasche (USHL).
Austria
Odds To Win Tournament: +25000 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
After the loss of Marco Kasper the Austrians are a little light up front. Two notable forwards is NHL prospect Vinzenz Rohrer (Senators) and 2023 NHL Draft eligible Ian Scherzer. Three returnees on defense are Lorenz Lindner (AlpsHL), David Reinbacher (NL), and Christoph Tialler (AlpsHL). In net should be Thomas Pfarrmaier (AlpsHL).
Germany
Odds To Win Tournament: +25000 (per FanDuel)
Who To Watch:
Along with Austria and Latvia, the Germans will be looking to stave off relegation. The team projects to not feature any NHL draftees offensively or defensively. They will rely on Bennet Rossmy (DEL), Yannick Proske (DEL), and Hakon Hanelt (QMJHL) up front.
The defensive core features three returnees in Adrian Klein (DEL), Nils Elten (Germany 3), and Leon van de Linde (DNL U20). Defenseman David Reinbacher is a projected first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The team’s only NHL prospect, Nikita Quapp (Hurricanes), will be in net once again.
Latvia
Odds To Win Tournament: +25000
Who To Watch:
The Latvians, unsurprisingly, have one of the worst odds at this tournament. Latvia has a decent forward group, as it is projected to be headlined by three NHL prospects: Sandis Vilmanis (Panthers), Klavs Veinberg (Lightning), and Dans Locmelis (Bruins).
Defensively, there are no NHL draftees, as the Latvians will likely feature Niks Fenenko (QMJHL), Bogdans Hodass (WHL), and Dario Mackevics (Latvia) on defense. Patriks Berzins (NAHL) is the returnee in net.
Notable Draft Eligible Players
One of the best parts of this tournament is the number of future draft eligible players it usually features. Below are the several names you will likely hear selected in the 2023 NHL Draft, sorted by country with current draft projections:
Canada: Connor Bedard, C/W (first overall), Adam Fantilli, C/W (top three),
USA: Charlie Stramel, C (first round), Gavin Brindley, RW (first round), Trey Augustine, G (middle-to-late round)
Finland: Lenni Hameeaho, LW (third round)
Sweden: Leo Carlsson, C/W (top 10), Axel Sandin Pellikka, D (first round)
Czechia: Eduard Sale, RW (top 20)
Slovakia: Dalibor Dvorsky RW (top 15), Samuel Honzek, C (first round), Maxim Strbak, D (early-to-middle rounds), Alex Ciernik, LW (second round), Martin Misiak, C (late rounds/undrafted)
Switzerland: None.
Austria: David Reinbacher, D (first round)
Germany: None.
Latvia: None.
Predictions
What is a preview article without making some predictions? Below are my predictions for this year’s World Junior Championships:
Group A Order: 1.) Canada 2.) Czechia 3.) Sweden 4.) Germany 5.) Austria
Group B Order: 1.) United States 2.) Finland 3.) Slovakia 4.) Switzerland 5.) Latvia
Playoffs:
- Quarterfinals: Canada defeats Switzerland, USA defeats Germany, Czechia defeats Slovakia, Finland defeats Sweden
- Semifinals: Canada defeats Finland, USA defeats Czechia
- Relegation: Latvia defeats Austria
Medals:
- Gold: Canada
- Silver: United States
- Bronze: Finland
Final Thoughts
As always, the World Junior Championships are a terrific time. Add in the fact this year’s tournament features five of the New Jersey Devils’ own, and several 2023 NHL Draft eligible prospects, it should be a fantastic watch. We will have all updates concerning Devils’ prospects and Team USA on our social media pages.