Kazakhstan's 2019 World Junior run illustrates how this tournament can be a magical, once-in-a-life time experience for players.
photo: Minas Panagiotakis / HHOF-IIHF Images
Edmonton was a special place for the NHL stars that battled here for the 2020 Stanley Cup. It’ll be equally special for U20 players at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
As the 45th consecutive edition of this tournament takes place, it can be easy to forget something amid the frenzy of fan expectations, federation plans, media coverage, TV ratings, NHL draft rankings, and (this year) health protocols.
That something is just how much it means for every World Junior player to take part – not just the well-known ones who will soon chase Cups and Olympic and World Championship gold medals.
Case in point: Germany’s Julian Chrobot. This is the one and only chance for the undrafted 19-year-old forward from Augsburg to test himself against the world’s best U20 talent. A member of the Kolner Haie organization, he’s scored four goals while on loan to EC Bad Nauheim of the German second division this season.
As the 45th consecutive edition of this tournament takes place, it can be easy to forget something amid the frenzy of fan expectations, federation plans, media coverage, TV ratings, NHL draft rankings, and (this year) health protocols.
That something is just how much it means for every World Junior player to take part – not just the well-known ones who will soon chase Cups and Olympic and World Championship gold medals.
Case in point: Germany’s Julian Chrobot. This is the one and only chance for the undrafted 19-year-old forward from Augsburg to test himself against the world’s best U20 talent. A member of the Kolner Haie organization, he’s scored four goals while on loan to EC Bad Nauheim of the German second division this season.
“I’ve watched a lot of U20 World Juniors the last years, and I think for every hockey kid, it’s a big dream to play this tournament one day too,” Chrobot told IIHF.com.
He’s now getting to live out his dream on the same ice where Leon Draisaitl, Germany’s first NHL scoring champion, tallied 53 of his 110 points in 2019-20. Even without fans in the stands, it’s an awe-inspiring experience to skate at Rogers Place, the state-of-the-art, 18,500-capacity home of the Oilers and the centerpiece of Edmonton’s new ICE District.
The neighbouring 346-room, 56-storey-tall JW Marriott Edmonton is home to the 10 national teams during these World Juniors. The bubble format offers an opportunity for players to bond more closely at this luxury hotel.
Switzerland’s Stefano Bottini originally hoped to make his Western Canadian debut weeks ago. The 18-year-old forward was set to join the Penticton Vees, a Junior A club that shares the name of Canada’s 1955 World Champions.
However, with the start of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) season delayed until at least January, Bottini, who finished second in scoring for Lugano’s U20 team last year (40 points), is thrilled to reunite in Edmonton with the fellow Lugano forward who finished first (43 points).
He’s now getting to live out his dream on the same ice where Leon Draisaitl, Germany’s first NHL scoring champion, tallied 53 of his 110 points in 2019-20. Even without fans in the stands, it’s an awe-inspiring experience to skate at Rogers Place, the state-of-the-art, 18,500-capacity home of the Oilers and the centerpiece of Edmonton’s new ICE District.
The neighbouring 346-room, 56-storey-tall JW Marriott Edmonton is home to the 10 national teams during these World Juniors. The bubble format offers an opportunity for players to bond more closely at this luxury hotel.
Switzerland’s Stefano Bottini originally hoped to make his Western Canadian debut weeks ago. The 18-year-old forward was set to join the Penticton Vees, a Junior A club that shares the name of Canada’s 1955 World Champions.
However, with the start of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) season delayed until at least January, Bottini, who finished second in scoring for Lugano’s U20 team last year (40 points), is thrilled to reunite in Edmonton with the fellow Lugano forward who finished first (43 points).
“As my roommate after quarantine, I’ll choose probably Lorenzo Canonica, because we’ve played together our whole lives, and I know him like my brother,” Bottini said in the pre-tournament phase.
Imagine the brotherhood that’ll be forged if Switzerland beats the odds and captures its first medal since 1998’s bronze.
Sometimes the World Juniors spawn career-defining highlights. Think about Jason Botterill, This 88-game NHLer with four clubs earned two Stanley Cup rings as the associate general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016, 2017) before his three-year run as the Buffalo Sabres GM.
Yet for Canadian fans, the memory of Botterill’s three straight World Junior gold medals (1994-96) – a record that may someday be equalled but likely never broken – likely looms larger.
Sweden’s Max Friberg hit his pro stride as an offensive catalyst in his last two seasons with Frolunda. The diligent winger helped the Gothenburg club to an SHL title with a playoff-leading eight goals (2019) and stepped up in back-to-back Championship Hockey League triumphs (2019, 2020). And Friberg, 28, will always be able to dine out on those feats in the 2024 World Junior host city.
Imagine the brotherhood that’ll be forged if Switzerland beats the odds and captures its first medal since 1998’s bronze.
Sometimes the World Juniors spawn career-defining highlights. Think about Jason Botterill, This 88-game NHLer with four clubs earned two Stanley Cup rings as the associate general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016, 2017) before his three-year run as the Buffalo Sabres GM.
Yet for Canadian fans, the memory of Botterill’s three straight World Junior gold medals (1994-96) – a record that may someday be equalled but likely never broken – likely looms larger.
Sweden’s Max Friberg hit his pro stride as an offensive catalyst in his last two seasons with Frolunda. The diligent winger helped the Gothenburg club to an SHL title with a playoff-leading eight goals (2019) and stepped up in back-to-back Championship Hockey League triumphs (2019, 2020). And Friberg, 28, will always be able to dine out on those feats in the 2024 World Junior host city.
However, there was a unique flair to his tournament-best nine goals at the 2012 World Juniors, co-hosted by Calgary and Edmonton. Without Friberg and his exuberant goal-scoring celebrations, Sweden might not have snapped its 31-year gold medal drought dating to 1981.
Even World Junior teams that don’t go deep often have the time of their lives.
In 2015, Toronto embraced an underdog Danish team featuring Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand. In 2019, Victoria fans belted out “Sweet Caroline,” Kazakhstan’s goal song, as the former Soviet republic’s U20 team first charmed the British Columbia capital and then avoided relegation in Vancouver.
Even World Junior teams that don’t go deep often have the time of their lives.
In 2015, Toronto embraced an underdog Danish team featuring Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand. In 2019, Victoria fans belted out “Sweet Caroline,” Kazakhstan’s goal song, as the former Soviet republic’s U20 team first charmed the British Columbia capital and then avoided relegation in Vancouver.
Win or lose, the young men in Edmonton are in for an unforgettable experience. In 2021, nobody’s getting relegated, but everyone who plays will have their spirits elevated.
“I knew that it’s not going to be an easy way to play for the World Juniors,” Chrobot said. “I worked hard every day, pushed myself to the limits, and did a lot of extra shifts on and off the ice. I think the thing that really helped me was the support of my coach, and now I’m here in Edmonton. And I’m really proud and happy to play for Team Germany this year.”
The magic is undeniable.
“I knew that it’s not going to be an easy way to play for the World Juniors,” Chrobot said. “I worked hard every day, pushed myself to the limits, and did a lot of extra shifts on and off the ice. I think the thing that really helped me was the support of my coach, and now I’m here in Edmonton. And I’m really proud and happy to play for Team Germany this year.”
The magic is undeniable.