Czechia Upsets Canada on WJC’s First Day

Good morning and happy Tuesday, December 26th.

NHL action resumes tonight with 11 games on deck, with the Sabres-Blue Jackets game postponed due to weather.

Please enjoy this special World Junior Championship edition of the Hockey Recap.

NHL teams don’t need a crystal ball to see their future. They just have to send scouts to the World Junior Championships.

The tournament, showcasing the world’s best hockey-playing teenagers, has long been a preview of NHL coming attractions. Wayne Gretzky. Sidney Crosby. Pavel Bure. Eric Lindros. Mike Modano. Brian Leetch. Peter Forsberg. They all played at the WJC. The list goes on and on and on. It’s the Who’s Who of NHL royalty.

This year’s tournament started Monday in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick. Per tradition, it is overflowing with future NHL stars, including some who will be drafted this summer.

Defending champion Canada and USA were considered the favorites for the tournament. But some may be rethinking pre-tournament projections after Czechia took down Canada 5-2 on the opening day.

But as long as Canada qualifies for the medal round, the country has a chance to win the gold. Finland and Sweden are usually in the hunt for medals. However, Switzerland upset Finland 3-2 on Monday.

New Jersey Devils’ prospect Luke Hughes, younger brother of Jack and Quinn Hughes, scored to help USA beat Latvia, 5-2. Vancouver Canucks’ 2022 first-round pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki also found the net in Sweden’s 11-0 thrashing thrashing Austria. Seattle Kraken first rounder Shane Wright had a goal and an assist in Canada’s loss.

Canada boasts forwards Connor Bedard (Regina, Western Hockey League) and Adam Fantilli (University of Michigan) who could land first and second in the 2023 NHL draft. Sweden will use center Leo Carlsson (Orebro, Sweden). He will likely be picked in the top five.

Bedard, 17, is anointed as a future NHL superstar. He's smallish, dynamic and often dazzling. Some media members predict Bedard will lead the WJC in scoring even at his young age. He scored against Czechia.

TRIVIA: Who is the World Junior Championship all-time leading scorer with 42 points? (Hint: he recently appeared on Spittin Chiclets)

• Bystedt, Rosen score twice as Sweden cruises past Austria 11-0

• Switzerland opens World Juniors with OT win over Finland

• USA scores three times in final frame to beat Latvia

• Six Canadian NHL team prospects to watch at World Juniors

• Rookie Watch: McTavish, Kochetkov among best to play in World Juniors

• Bold predictions for 2023: McDavid or Thompson scores 50 goals in 50 games

• Winter Classic great chance to experience best of Boston, Grzelcyk says

• Capitals' Carlson released from hospital after being hit in the head by slapshot

• Wild F Mason Shaw suspended two games for kneeing

• 🎯 Bedard with the top glove snipe off the turnover

• 🚨 Chaz Lucius' backhand gives USA a 3-2 lead

• 🚫 Thomas Pfarrmaier with the early save of the tournament candidate

• 🎉 Team Switzerland's celebration after beating Finland 3-2 in OT

• 💥 Zach Dean receives match penalty for this check to the head

• 🇨🇿 Czechia vs. 🇨🇦 Canada

• 🇱🇻 Latvia vs. 🇺🇸 United States

• 🇸🇪 Sweden vs. 🇦🇹 Austria

• 🇫🇮 Finland vs.🇨🇭 Switzerland

• 3 on 0, 3 on 1, 3 on 2 drill

• 4 drills to do linear crossovers like McDavid

• 3 core exercises for a harder shot

TRIVIA ANSWER:

Peter Forsberg is the World Junior Championship all-time leading scorer with 42 points in only two tournaments.