Finland's Kaapo Kakko (#24) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal on USA goalie Cayden Primeau.
photo: Minas Panagiotakis / HHOF-IIHF Images
If you want a snapshot of how fast time goes by and how small our hockey world is, take 5th January 2001. That’s the day the Czech Republic won its last IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal. (Pavel Brendl of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen was the top scorer in Moscow.) That’s also the birthdate of budding star U.S. defenceman Cam York, who hopes to celebrate turning 19 with gold at the 2020 World Juniors.
So who’ll rule the U20 scene as the Czechs host the World Juniors for the fourth time as an independent nation?
Heading into Ostrava and Trinec, we’ve come full circle. There are no more dynasties like the back-to-back Czech victories in 2000 and 2001 or the Canadian five-peat from 2005 to 2009. Figuring out what’ll happen this time is about as simple as holding both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl pointless on any given night. Still, let’s take a shot.
In Trinec, Sweden and Finland will renew hockey’s classic Nordic rivalry on Day One. That game at the 5,400-capacity Werk Arena could determine first place in Group A.
The Finns enter as the defending champs. Led by stud Lukko blueliner Ville Heinola, who began 2019/20 with the Winnipeg Jets, potential 2021 #1 overall NHL draft pick Aatu Raty, and speedy 19-year-old forward Rasmus Kupari, they’ll be tough to dethrone. Yet their marquee talent isn’t quite on par with the 2019 winners, let alone 2016’s all-stars (Sebastian Aho, Patrik Laine, etc.). Losing Anton Lundell to injury is a blow for new head coach Raimo Helminen. The 55-year-old IIHF Hall of Famer brings invaluable know-how as a six-time Olympian.
Swedish coach Tomas Monten wants to end a gold-medal drought, dating back to Mika Zibanejad’s 2012 overtime winner against Russia in Calgary. Will the Juniorkronorna extend their record preliminary-round winning streak (now at 48 games)? Truthfully, the Swedes would prefer playoff wins sparked by the “Terror Twins,” Lucas Raymond (Frolunda) and Alexander Holtz (Djurgarden). Their fireworks earned Sweden its first U18 world title ever in April. With NHL-experienced defenders like Rasmus Sandin and Tobias Bjornfot, the Swedes, who last medaled in 2018 (silver), will present a consistent two-way threat.
Switzerland, which upset Sweden 2-0 in last year’s quarter-final, will be hard-pressed to match its fourth-place finish. Coach Thierry Paterlini will need his NHL-drafted returnees from Canadian major junior hockey to overachieve. Third-time World Junior participant Valentin Nussbaumer must improve on his three-point outing in Vancouver and Victoria. Big 19-year-old defenceman Nico Gross will tie an IIHF record with his fourth straight World Juniors.
The Slovaks are a darkhorse squad, especially with no forwards back from Victoria. After totalling 18 points in 12 U18 World Championship games, forward Maxim Cajkovic (Saint John Sea Dogs) will need to contribute. Netminder Samuel Hlavaj (Sherbrooke Phoenix) sparkled with 32 saves in last year’s opening 2-1 loss to the U.S.
Slovakia’s 11-2 thrashing of Kazakhstan – the last Group A team – in 2019 provides some reassurance that they’re unlikely to get relegated. The plucky Kazakhs, highlighted by returning forward Andrei Buyalski, are just dreaming of surviving again.
In Group B, the U.S. and Canada, who face off on Boxing Day in Ostrava, are both hungry to win gold for the first time since 2017 and 2018 respectively.
On paper, the Americans are probably the favourites, coming off 2019’s silver. They feature top Florida Panthers prospect Spencer Knight in net, plus the finesse of Cam York and power of K’Andre Miller on the blue line. Diminutive sniper Cole Caufield tied Alexander Ovechkin’s single-tournament U18 goals mark (14) in 2019, and Trevor Zegras, Alex Turcotte, and others can fill the net too.
Canada’s coach is named Hunter for the second straight year, but more is expected out of Dale Hunter, who runs the OHL’s London Knights, than Tim Hunter’s stunning 2019 quarter-final exit versus Finland. Gold is attainable for this youthful squad. Not only did NHL teams loan top-flight attackers like Joe Veleno (Detroit) and Barrett Hayton (Arizona), but Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield, both vying to be the top pick in 2020, are set to strut their stuff. Defencemen like Ty Smith and Bowen Byram bring mobility and offensive savvy. If the goaltending holds up, the sky’s the limit.
Could goalie Yaroslav Askarov take Russia to the Promised Land for the first time since 2011? It’s a distinct possibility after the 17-year-old SKA St. Petersburg prospect’s Best Goalie performance at the 2019 U18 Worlds, where the Russians came second. Coach Valeri Bragin will lean on second-year KHLer Alexander Romanov (CSKA Moscow), whose 8 points earned him Best Defenceman honours as Russia took bronze at last year’s World Juniors. Up front, the power and creativity of Vasili Podkolzin and Grigori Denisenko will be key.
The host Czechs are projected to battle newly promoted Germany for the last playoff berth. What happens after that is anyone’s guess. If returning goalie Lukas Dostal (Ilves Tampere) shines again, playoff aspirations will grow, and it’ll get loud at Ostravar Arena. Jan Jenik, 19, is enjoying a breakthrough OHL season (Hamilton Bulldogs), and fellow forwards Jakub Lauko (Providence Bruins) and Matej Pekar (Barrie Colts) bring the grit and persistence it’ll take to generate a medal surprise.
Don’t count out the Germans. Anchored by Detroit’s first-round pick, defenceman Moritz Seider, and buoyed by a remarkable 17-year-old Adler Mannheim scoring star, forward Tim Stutzle, this group remains an underdog. But hard work and team defence could take new coach Tobias Abstreiter’s boys further than expected.
Bottom line? This tournament happens in a heartbeat. Whether you’re on the ice, in the stands, or watching at home, make sure you cherish every twist and turn at the 2020 World Juniors.
Note: This story was originally published in the IIHF’s bi-monthly newsletter Ice Times. Click here to download the December edition.
So who’ll rule the U20 scene as the Czechs host the World Juniors for the fourth time as an independent nation?
Heading into Ostrava and Trinec, we’ve come full circle. There are no more dynasties like the back-to-back Czech victories in 2000 and 2001 or the Canadian five-peat from 2005 to 2009. Figuring out what’ll happen this time is about as simple as holding both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl pointless on any given night. Still, let’s take a shot.
In Trinec, Sweden and Finland will renew hockey’s classic Nordic rivalry on Day One. That game at the 5,400-capacity Werk Arena could determine first place in Group A.
The Finns enter as the defending champs. Led by stud Lukko blueliner Ville Heinola, who began 2019/20 with the Winnipeg Jets, potential 2021 #1 overall NHL draft pick Aatu Raty, and speedy 19-year-old forward Rasmus Kupari, they’ll be tough to dethrone. Yet their marquee talent isn’t quite on par with the 2019 winners, let alone 2016’s all-stars (Sebastian Aho, Patrik Laine, etc.). Losing Anton Lundell to injury is a blow for new head coach Raimo Helminen. The 55-year-old IIHF Hall of Famer brings invaluable know-how as a six-time Olympian.
Swedish coach Tomas Monten wants to end a gold-medal drought, dating back to Mika Zibanejad’s 2012 overtime winner against Russia in Calgary. Will the Juniorkronorna extend their record preliminary-round winning streak (now at 48 games)? Truthfully, the Swedes would prefer playoff wins sparked by the “Terror Twins,” Lucas Raymond (Frolunda) and Alexander Holtz (Djurgarden). Their fireworks earned Sweden its first U18 world title ever in April. With NHL-experienced defenders like Rasmus Sandin and Tobias Bjornfot, the Swedes, who last medaled in 2018 (silver), will present a consistent two-way threat.
Switzerland, which upset Sweden 2-0 in last year’s quarter-final, will be hard-pressed to match its fourth-place finish. Coach Thierry Paterlini will need his NHL-drafted returnees from Canadian major junior hockey to overachieve. Third-time World Junior participant Valentin Nussbaumer must improve on his three-point outing in Vancouver and Victoria. Big 19-year-old defenceman Nico Gross will tie an IIHF record with his fourth straight World Juniors.
The Slovaks are a darkhorse squad, especially with no forwards back from Victoria. After totalling 18 points in 12 U18 World Championship games, forward Maxim Cajkovic (Saint John Sea Dogs) will need to contribute. Netminder Samuel Hlavaj (Sherbrooke Phoenix) sparkled with 32 saves in last year’s opening 2-1 loss to the U.S.
Slovakia’s 11-2 thrashing of Kazakhstan – the last Group A team – in 2019 provides some reassurance that they’re unlikely to get relegated. The plucky Kazakhs, highlighted by returning forward Andrei Buyalski, are just dreaming of surviving again.
In Group B, the U.S. and Canada, who face off on Boxing Day in Ostrava, are both hungry to win gold for the first time since 2017 and 2018 respectively.
On paper, the Americans are probably the favourites, coming off 2019’s silver. They feature top Florida Panthers prospect Spencer Knight in net, plus the finesse of Cam York and power of K’Andre Miller on the blue line. Diminutive sniper Cole Caufield tied Alexander Ovechkin’s single-tournament U18 goals mark (14) in 2019, and Trevor Zegras, Alex Turcotte, and others can fill the net too.
Canada’s coach is named Hunter for the second straight year, but more is expected out of Dale Hunter, who runs the OHL’s London Knights, than Tim Hunter’s stunning 2019 quarter-final exit versus Finland. Gold is attainable for this youthful squad. Not only did NHL teams loan top-flight attackers like Joe Veleno (Detroit) and Barrett Hayton (Arizona), but Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield, both vying to be the top pick in 2020, are set to strut their stuff. Defencemen like Ty Smith and Bowen Byram bring mobility and offensive savvy. If the goaltending holds up, the sky’s the limit.
Could goalie Yaroslav Askarov take Russia to the Promised Land for the first time since 2011? It’s a distinct possibility after the 17-year-old SKA St. Petersburg prospect’s Best Goalie performance at the 2019 U18 Worlds, where the Russians came second. Coach Valeri Bragin will lean on second-year KHLer Alexander Romanov (CSKA Moscow), whose 8 points earned him Best Defenceman honours as Russia took bronze at last year’s World Juniors. Up front, the power and creativity of Vasili Podkolzin and Grigori Denisenko will be key.
The host Czechs are projected to battle newly promoted Germany for the last playoff berth. What happens after that is anyone’s guess. If returning goalie Lukas Dostal (Ilves Tampere) shines again, playoff aspirations will grow, and it’ll get loud at Ostravar Arena. Jan Jenik, 19, is enjoying a breakthrough OHL season (Hamilton Bulldogs), and fellow forwards Jakub Lauko (Providence Bruins) and Matej Pekar (Barrie Colts) bring the grit and persistence it’ll take to generate a medal surprise.
Don’t count out the Germans. Anchored by Detroit’s first-round pick, defenceman Moritz Seider, and buoyed by a remarkable 17-year-old Adler Mannheim scoring star, forward Tim Stutzle, this group remains an underdog. But hard work and team defence could take new coach Tobias Abstreiter’s boys further than expected.
Bottom line? This tournament happens in a heartbeat. Whether you’re on the ice, in the stands, or watching at home, make sure you cherish every twist and turn at the 2020 World Juniors.
Note: This story was originally published in the IIHF’s bi-monthly newsletter Ice Times. Click here to download the December edition.