Holiday tradition for many began Boxing Day. Photo Credit: IIHF World Junior Championship
It’s a holiday tradition for many across Niagara and the entire country of Canada for that matter.
The World Junior Hockey Championship or as its officially known – the International Ice Hockey Federations (IIHF) World Junior Championship.
It began unofficially in 1974, and officially three years later, and features players under the age of 20 representing countries from around the world.
Canada leads the way with 20 championships, having last won gold in 2023, and 35 medals overall.
A number of former Niagara IceDogs have played for many countries over the years, the most memorable recently being former IceDogs captain Akil Thomas scoring the golden goal for Canada back in 2020.
What makes the World Juniors an interesting spectacle for those in the media or sports (hockey) world is that families will gather around their televisions for hours at a time from December 26 to early January every holiday, not realizing they can watch many of these same players two times a week at the Meridian Centre in downtown St/ Catharines at IceDogs games.
Fourteen players alone from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) are on Canada’s roster.
This year’s tournament is being played in the nation’s capital, Ottawa.
With that being said, here’s a breakdown of all the players taking part in the World Juniors that are either drafted or signed to National Hockey League (NHL) contracts.
We’ll start with the two closest teams surrounding Niagara in the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres.
The Boston Bruins are the only NHL team without a single prospect playing in this year’s tournament.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Easton Cowan, LW (Canada)
Miroslav Holinka, C (Czechia)
Buffalo Sabres
Norwin Panocha, D (Germany)
Maxim Strbak, D (Slovakia)
Adam Kleber, D (USA)
Brodie Ziemer, RW (USA)
Konsta Helenius, C (Finland)
Anaheim Ducks
Vojtech Port, D (Czechia)
Carey Terrance, LW (USA)
Austin Burnevik, RW (USA)
Darels Uljanskis, D (Latvia)
Boston Bruins
N/A
Calgary Flames
Axel Hurtig, D (Sweden)
Carolina Hurricanes
Felix Unger Sorum, RW (Sweden)
Bradly Nadeau, C (Canada)
Oskar Vuolett, C (Sweden)
Chicago Blackhawks
Oliver Moore, C (USA)
Jiri Felcman, C (Czechia)
Colorado Avalanche
Cal Ritchie, C (Canada)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Melvin Strahl, G (Sweden)
Luca Pinelli, RW (Canada)
Dallas Stars
Aram Minnetian, D (USA)
Emil Hemming, RW (Finland)
Detroit Red Wings
Axel Sandin Pellikka, D (Sweden)
Trey Augustine, G (USA)
Jesse Kiiskinen, RW (Finland)
Edmonton Oilers
Beau Akey, D (Canada)
Paul Fischer, D (USA)
Florida Panthers
Linus Eriksson, C (Sweden)
Los Angeles Kings
Jakub Dvorak, D (Czech)
Carter George, G (Canada)
Hampton Slukynsky, G (USA)
Minnesota Wild
Zeev Buium, D (USA)
Rasmus Kumpulainen, C (Finland)
Sebastian Soini, D (Finland)
Aron Kiviharju, D (Finland)
Montreal Canadiens
Rasmus Bergqvist, D (Sweden)
Nashville Predators
Tanner Molendyk, D (Canada)
David Edstrom, C (Sweden)
Teddy Stiga, RW (Nashville)
Joey Willis, C (USA)
Felix Nilsson, C (Sweden)
Andrew Gibson, D (Canada)
Viggo Gustafsson, D (Sweden)
Jakub Milota, G (Czechia)
New Jersey Devils
Herman Traff, RW (Sweden)
New York Islanders
Cole Eiserman, RW (USA)
Danny Nelson, RW (USA)
Jesse Nurmi, C (USA)
Marcus Gidlof, G (Sweden)
New York Rangers
Drew Fortescue, D (USA)
Gabe Perreault, RW (USA)
Rico Gredig, LW (Switzerland)
Ottawa Senators
Vladimir Nikitin, G (Kazakhstan)
Philadelphia Flyers
Oliver Bonk, D (Canada)
Heikki Ruohonen, C (Finland)
Jett Luchanko, C (Canada)
Carson Bjarnsson, G (Canada)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Kalle Kangas, D (Finland)
Emil Pienniemi, D (Finland)
Tanner Howe, LW (Canada)
San Jose Sharks
Sam Dickinson, D (Canada)
Brandon Svoboda, C (USA)
Christian Kirsch, G (Switzerland)
Seattle Kraken
Carson Rehkopf, LW (Canada)
Zeb Forsfjall, C (Sweden)
Eduard Sale, RW (Czechia)
Berkly Catton, C (Canada)
Caden Price, D (Canada)
Jakub Fibigr, D (Czechia)
Kasper Halttunen, RW (Finland)
Julius Miettinen, C (Finland)
Kim Saarinen, G (Finland)
St. Louis Blues
Otto Stenberg, LW (Sweden)
Dalibor Dvorsky, C (Slovakia)
Juraj Pekarick, LW (Slovakia)
Jakub Stancl, LW (Czechia)
Theo Lindstein, D (Sweden)
Colin Ralph, D (USA)
Adam Jecho, RW (Czech)
Adam Jiricek, D (Czechia)
Ondrej Kos, LW (Czechia)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Ethan Gauthier, RW (Canada)
Joona Saarelainen, C (Finland)
Utah Hockey Club
Vojtech Hradec, D (Czech)
Cole Beaudoin, C (Canada)
Veeti Vaisanen, D (Finland)
Michael Hrabal, G (Czechia)
Melker Thelin, G (Sweden)
Vancouver Canucks
Tom Willander, D (Sweden)
Sawyer Mynio, D (Canada)
Basile Sansonnens, D (Switzerland)
Vegas Golden Knights
Tuomas Uronen, C, (Finland)
Trevor Connelly, LW, (USA)
Mathieu Cataford, RW, (Canada)
Washington Capitals
Ryan Leonard, LW (USA)
Cole Hutson, D (USA)
Eriks Mateiko, LW (Latvia)
Leon Muggli, D (Switzerland)
Miroslav Satan, C (Slovakia)
Petr Sikora, C (Czechia)
Winnipeg Jets
Brayden Yager, C, (Canada)
Canada opened the round robin portion of its tournament Thursday night with a 4-0 victory over Finland.
The hosts play Latvia Friday evening, Germany Sunday night and the United States Tuesday evening before the medal round begins Thursday.
The Gold and Bronze medal games will take place on Sunday January 5.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
