Each week, World Hockey Hub highlights a few of the most exciting upcoming games in youth hockey. We have some early matchups this week. Atlant Mytishchi and Spartak Moscow kick things off with an ‘09 Top-10 tilt on Monday. Toronto Marlboros and Toronto Jr. Canadiens tangle in a premier matchup between 2007s in Canada on Tuesday. The week concludes with TPS dropping the puck in an ‘08 meeting with Tappara Sininen on Saturday.
No. 1 Toronto Marlboros (54-10-0) have been one of the best 2007-born teams all season long. It is rare that they have an off night, let alone multiple ones against one particular team. The No. 10 Toronto Jr. Canadiens (42-11-4), however, have figured out a way to best the Marlboros twice this season.
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| Tuesday, February 28 @ 8:15 PM EST Herbert Carnegie Centre |
With each side in full control of all aspects of their game, this one is shaping up to be a true heavyweight battle. There must be something in the water in Toronto, because the Jr. Canadiens and Marlboros can seemingly score at will. With goal differentials of plus-226 for the Marlboros and plus-122 for the Jr. Canadiens, it’s clear goals won’t be hard to come by.
The Marlboros will be out to prove that they deserve their No. 1 status, but another loss to the Jr. Canadiens could certainly place some doubt in fans’ minds. A third win for the Jr. Canadiens would be a very nice listing on their resume and may even have World Rankings implications further down the road.
Pete’s Pick: Probably the most even matchup out of the games we’ve highlighted this week, and it honestly could go either way. I think the Jr. Canadiens will put up a heck of a fight, but the added motivation from the Marlboros to not drop another decision to their fellow Toronto foe gives them the 4-3 win.
Craig’s Pick: The Marlies’ William Moore, Matheas Stark and Jaeden Nelson, and Jr. Canadiens Nico Addy will have to shift gears quickly. Saturday, they were teammates for Team Ontario at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. Just three days later, they’re opponents in Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) play. Makes for an interesting dynamic in the fourth matchup of the season. I give the Marlies a significant edge, 5-2 to tie the season series two wins apiece.
No. 10 Atlant Mytishchi (22-11-1) will look to even up its season series against No. 4 Spartak Moscow (28-6-2) in the final regular season meeting on Monday. Each 2009-born club has alternated wins since the first game back on Oct. 2.
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| Monday, February 27 |
Atlant had no answer for Spartak in a 7-1 defeat in its most recent outing on Christmas Day. With plenty of time to regroup after that loss, they have since gone 13-4-1. Recently, however, they had a five-game win streak snapped at the hands of No. 3 CSKA Moscow. Spartak had their own five-game winning streak ended over the weekend as well with a 3-2 overtime loss to CSKA.
Leading them into this tilt will be Artemy Laskavy (35G, 45A) and Gleb Zhukov (25G, 34A). In the three prior contests, Zhukov has tallied three goals and four points with Laskavy also adding one goal. Spartak will counter with Dmitry Pavlov (22G, 20A) and Daniil Savin (17G, 25A). Perhaps most impressive is that in the series, Pavlov and Savin have been held in check by Atlant, with most of the offense coming from other areas of the lineup. The two top scorers for Spartak have only recorded a combined five points.
Pete’s Pick: If the three previous games have shown anything, it’s that even when Spartak’s top players aren’t producing, they have the depth to more than make up for it. For that reason alone they come out on top in this one, 5-2.
Craig’s Pick: Savin has 17 points in his last 10 games, and Pavlov has 15 in his last nine. If they’ve been held in check in previous meetings, I don’t see it happening this week. Spartak’s tandem is playing well heading down the stretch, and I think they run away with this one, 5-2 as well.
In yet another rematch this week, No. 5 TPS (25-8-1) will look for revenge against No. 3 Tappara Sininen (25-4-5) in a Top-10 clash of ’08 Finnish teams.
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| Saturday, March 4 |
The last time these sides laced up the skates against one another on Feb. 4, it was a long night for TPS and goaltender Sisu Timonen in a 5-1 loss. Timonen did his best in the crease, turning aside 41 shots. Surprisingly, the dynamic duo of Petteri Sakki and Miko Vatjus were not the main names on the scoresheet for Tappara. Those honors went to Benjamin Lehtinen and Oliver Raimovaara, who notched three and two points, respectively.
Despite limiting their damage, TPS will have to be wary of Vatjus (8G, 15A) and Sakki (10G, 12A), as both top the scorers list for the group. In order to combat that production, Paavo Fugleberg (11G, 9A) and Miro Aaltonen (11G, 4A) will do their best to get some pucks past Tappara’s defense. A more concentrated team effort in front of whoever tends the net for TPS will help as well.
Pete’s Pick: TPS will have to be much tighter as a unit to have any chance of coming away with a victory here. They struggled with Tappara’s depth last game, and Timonen did all he could, facing nearly 50 shots. While I don’t think it’s as big a gap as 5-1, Tappara takes another win here, 4-2. Special teams will be crucial, but watch out for Sakki and Vatjus. They have three shorthanded goals to their credit already.
Craig’s Pick: If giving up 46 shots was a rarity, I’d chalk it up as an anomaly for TPS. However, they’ve been outshot — and surrendering 30-plus in most games — in six of their last nine contests. You give a team like Tappara that many cracks at the net and they’re bound to make you pay. Petteri Saki, Miko Vatjus and company roll again for Tappara 5-1.
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The 2023 Canada Winter Games are nearing its conclusion in the province of Prince Edward Island. This bi-annual event features some of the best youth hockey players in the U16 age group. What started with one team from each of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories is now down to just eight. With pool play wrapped up, and qualification games decided on Wednesday, the quarterfinals are set to begin on Thursday afternoon.
Through game action thus far, several players have stood out as expected heading into the tournament. First overall pick in the 2022 WHL Draft, Gavin McKenna leads all skaters in goals (13) and assists (12). His Yukon Territories squad was eliminated from contention on Wednesday after a 13-3 loss to New Brunswick. Ryan Roobroeck leads first-place Team Ontario with six points in three games. Additionally, Will Sharpe has shown to be one of the best 2007-born defensemen in the country with five points in three games for Team British Columbia.
There’s been some surprises as well. Team Newfoundland dominated Group C play, with an average margin of victory of 7.0 goals per game. Forwards Jabez Seymour and Ty Peddigrew have been at the forefront of those efforts with 10 and nine points respectively. Also, Alberta’s top goaltender Ryan Grout has posted a 1.49 goals-against average and .941 save percentage in two winning efforts. He has been one of the top goalies in the tournament thus far.
They came into the Canada Winter Games as one of the favorites to win the whole thing, and through their first three games, they’ve shown just why. Only three goals allowed thus far, and they have yet to trail in a game at any point this week. They’ve gotten stellar play from Carsen Adair, Joby Baumuller and Luke Moroz, not to mention eight different skaters have contributed offensively. Names like Cole Reschny, Reese Hamilton and Brayden Smith have been relatively quiet thus far. Come the elimination rounds, Team Saskatchewan has more than enough talent to compete with anyone in the field.
Another heavy favorite, Team Ontario handled its business in pool play. One overtime loss to Team Alberta was the club’s only blemish. That game featured a lot of special teams down the stretch, and had it featured more 5-on-5 action, the result may have been different as well. Regardless, Ryan Roobroeck and William Moore have shown up as expected. The top two prospects in the province have combined for 12 points, and factored in on a third of the team’s offense. I’m not ready to call it defensive struggles, but giving up 10 goals in three games is a slight concern. It’s been against some stiff competition, though, and Ontario offensively is good enough to just outscore opponents in order to get to the championship game.
They gave up four first-period goals to Team Ontario in their matchup on Sunday. It was the first game — first period — of the Canada Winter Games for either team. Had it gone just a bit different, so too, could the outcome and the standings. BC could earn a second shot at Ontario, if it can survive a quarterfinal matchup with Manitoba. They’ve got arguably the best defenseman in the tournament in Will Sharpe. Plus, forwards Benjamin Kindel, Grant Reid and Ty Coupland are firing on all cylinders. I give Ontario a slight advantage over BC, but a potential semifinal rematch could yield a much different result in the game and the entire tournament.
It’s the toughest draw of any team remaining in the Canada Winter Games. Team Alberta shares that burden with Team Quebec, as the two go head-to-head in the quarterfinals. I favor Alberta ever so slightly in that matchup, but whoever survives will have the toughest road to gold of anyone in the field. Great goaltending always gives you a chance in elimination games. Alberta certainly has a leg up on the competition with Ryan Grout between the pipes. Offense has to get going a bit from guys like Braeden Cootes, Hayden Harsanyi and company for Team AB to make a run though.
Everything I said about Alberta, minus the goaltending. Offense has been borderline great for Team Quebec thus far. They’ve competed in every game, including out-scoring Manitoba in a 6-4 thriller and even outshot Saskatchewan 31-20 despite the 5-2 loss. If Quebec can reel it in defensively, and get some timely saves from Samuel Meloche and/or William Lacelle, it could completely change the playoff picture. Émile Guité leads the team in scoring, but it’s been a group effort with 10 different goal scorers, and all but two skaters recording at least a point.
We get into the “long shot” area here near the last teams remaining in the field. It’s not totally impossible for Manitoba to make a run, but they need to pull off an upset early to have a chance. Drawing British Columbia in the quarterfinals isn’t a great matchup. However, Ontario was able to beat them by jumping out to a quick and fast first-period lead. Can Manitoba’s Graham Jones and Cole Temple replicate that on Thursday? Get out to an early lead, and then play desperate, shot-blocking defensive hockey. Crazier things have happened in the game.
The win in Wednesday’s qualification game was Team New Brunswick’s first of the tournament. However, they’ve competed in just about every game thus far. All three of New Brunswick’s losses were within reaching distance heading into the third period, including the 7-1 loss to Quebec. Their biggest problem is offense, with just three goals in three games. Top prospect Liam Kilfoil hadn’t recorded a point until the 13-3 win over Yukon in the qualification round. If New Brunswick is to have success, the team needs to get going offensively. A blowout win on Wednesday could provide a boost of confidence.
At minus-15, Team Nova Scotia has the worst goal differential of any team remaining in the Canada Winter Games. They gave up 12 goals and nine goals in pool play to British Columbia and Ontario. Good thing is, both of those opponents are on the other half of the bracket. Bad news is, they get Saskatchewan in the quarterfinals. Cole Chandler has scored three of Nova Scotia’s six goals, and he’ll have to produce quite a few more to give his team a fighting chance.
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The Tier-1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL) held its annual playoffs at Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota from Feb. 17-20. Teams from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 birth years were in attendance to battle it out for division supremacy. First, league members competed in three pool-play games. After that, four teams advanced to the semifinals, and then championship games of their respective age groups.
No. 25 Los Angeles Jr. Kings were feeling confident in their play heading into the league playoffs. Fresh off a newly appointed position in the World Rankings, they hoped to continue to make some noise against their fellow U14 T1EHL teams. They made quick work of their first three opponents of the weekend, outscoring the Washington Little Capitals, Cleveland Barons and Nashville Jr. Predators by a combined 19-5 total. That 3-0-0 run set up a semifinals clash with the Sioux Falls Power.
Tyus Sparks and Noah Davidson, the two leading point getters for the Jr. Kings continued their playoff dominance in that game. With Davidson tallying three points and Sparks nabbing two of his own, the L.A. defeated Sioux Falls 5-2 to reach the championship. Across five playoff games, Sparks and Davidson each collected 12 points.
The final hurdle for Los Angeles was No. 23 Dallas Stars Elite. Entering the game with extra motivation, the Jr. Kings were bested by Dallas, 3-2 back on Nov. 12. Winning all four games on their schedule, the stage was set for an exciting winner-take-all tilt. Each club would find the back of the net in the first period before the Jr. Kings pulled away in the second. Tallies by Sparks, Sean Burick and Karsten Hirasawa gave their squad a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the final frame.
But Dallas was not going to go away quietly.
Jeff Turcotte led LA Jr. Kings 14U AAA team won the Tier 1 Elite League Championship in Blaine, Minnesota with a 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/XD2KQ273n7
— LA Jr. Kings (@JrKingsHockey) February 21, 2023
After two scores by Landon Amrhein and Dennis Emesibe, the Jr. Kings suddenly found their lead dwindle to just one goal. DSE proceeded to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the L.A. net, but were unable to find the equalizer. Then, Jake Brown cemented the 5-3 victory with a late shorthanded goal.
Now winners of their past nine and a fresh division championship to their name, it will be exciting to see what this Jr. Kings group does with the rest of their season.
Heading into the postseason portion of its season, Victory Honda had suffered tough defeats at the hands of two premier U.S. teams. Dropping consecutive decisions to No. 1 Little Caesars and No. 10 Compuware, VH was in search of a spark to get back into the win column. They not only found that spark but caught fire as they rolled their way to a league championship among fellow 2007-born programs.
After taking down the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals 6-1, it seemed that Victory Honda got its mojo back by rattling off two more wins to reach the semifinal round. A narrow 5-4 win over Fox Motors put VH into the title game against the Buffalo Jr. Sabres. There was some familiarity between the two teams, as they split two games during the regular season. With the score knotted at 1-1 entering the third period, the heroics of Mike Zielinski arrived just in time. He found the back of the net twice about three minutes apart to give VH some breathing room. Two more late tallies would secure the 5-1 final.
What became apparent over their run was that VH had depth that most clubs in the league lacked. Led by Luc Plante’s five goals and seven points, by the end of the weekend, 11 players had two or more points. Plante was also a menace on special teams, notching two power-play goals and a shorthanded one as well.
We have had Cullen Potter and the 2006-born Dallas Stars Elite on our radar all season long. They have shown they are capable of skating with the top-tier clubs of their birth year and can pretty much play in any game situation.
Alexander Dicker got his playoff stretch off on the right foot by backstopping Stars Elite to a 5-0 win over the Colorado Rampage. Connor Addington would take over net-minding duties in their next contest against the Jr. Admirals, a 7-1 victory. In that win, the Dallas blue line showed its strength as well, allowing only 12 shots on net. In fact, across three pool-play matchups, DSE did not give up more than 19 shots on goal in any game.
Potter collected the only hat trick of the playoffs in a come-from-behind 4-2 win against the Anaheim Jr. Ducks. Despite peppering Addington with 31 shots, the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes were unable to get more than one goal past him in a 3-1 defeat, allowing Stars Elite to move on to the title game.
Dallas Stars Elite Hockey Club…16U Tier 1 Elite Hockey League Champions!!!
— Dallas Stars Elite (@DSEHC) February 20, 2023
Congratulations to all the coaches and players!#gostarselite #elitedna #GreenHelmets #t1ehlplayoffs2023 pic.twitter.com/4Aim4ljolZ
Ready to drop the puck against them were the Cleveland Barons, and fans certainly got their money’s worth in this one. After falling into a 2-0 hole in the first period, Jackson Crowder injected some life into the Dallas lineup by cutting into the deficit. Landon Watson responded for the Barons, reinstating the two-goal lead. Shortly after, Potter deposited a sweet pass from Carter Murphy to make it a 3-2 score with his team-leading 10th point of the playoffs. Sent to a late power play, Caleb Mahar tied it up in regulation to send it to overtime.
Both sides traded chances once the extra frame began, but it was Landon Hafele with the late-game heroics for DSE. With 3:43 left in overtime, Hafele notched his first goal of the playoffs, beating Gino Texter to cement the Stars Elite’s championship.
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From Feb. 8-19, 28 2010-born AAA youth hockey teams participated in the 63rd annual Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. After a stretch of highly competitive and fast-paced action, the Czech Knights were crowned champions on Sunday with a 4-2 defeat of the Detroit Red Wings.
It was not an easy road for the Knights despite being the odds-on favorite to win their third tournament in the past five years. After opening up play with back-to-back victories over Lions Lac St-Louis and Laval Patriotes, the real tests began. The Philadelphia Flyers were on deck, armed with one of the best offenses of any club. The Flyers had outscored opponents by a combined 8-1 in their two contests heading into the tilt.
Tobias Orechovsky was chosen as the netminder to help the Czechs get past the Flyers, which he did in perfect fashion. Orechovsky turned aside every shot he faced en route to a 3-0 victory. He was also in net for their next game against No. 9 U.S.-ranked Buffalo Jr. Sabres, who he also held to no goals in a 1-0 win. Two shutout performances that set the table for a semifinal appearance against the No. 8 World-Ranked Sun County Panthers.
After taking a 2-0 deficit into the first intermission, Lucas Andrejko decided to change the script in the second period. Shortly once things got underway, Andrejko nabbed his fourth point of the tournament by cutting into the Panthers’ lead. Just 43 seconds into the third period, the Knights’ second leading scorer Nicolas Novak would knot things up at two. Robin Mach would eventually net the winning goal to advance the Knights into the championship.
Awaiting them there were the Detroit Red Wings, a squad whose roster was made up of skaters from No. 5 Little Caesars. It was the Red Wings’ first appearance in the final game since 2015, and leading point getter A.J. Moore was focused on propelling his team to a championship. However, it just so happened that Andrejko decided to have his best game of the tournament in this meeting.
With Orechovsky manning the crease once more, the Czechs kicked off the scoring just over two minutes into the opening frame before Moore equalized things just 13 seconds after. The second period would be scoreless but set the stage for a dramatic goal-filled third period. The Knights opened up a 2-1 lead thanks to a pretty passing play between Novak and Andrejko that was put home by Andrej Adamkov. Andrejko would get in on the scoring with a goal just before the halfway point of the period for a 3-1 advantage. Detroit kept things close by cutting into the deficit to make things 3-2 before Andrejko struck again. The powerhouse forward added his second goal and third point of the afternoon to restore the two-goal advantage, which the Knights would not relinquish.
After being held scoreless in the team’s first matchup, Andrejko notched at least one point in the next five, compiling six goals and two assists. Not to be outdone, Orechovsky was perfect between the pipes, going 5-0-0 with two shutouts and a 1.60 goals-against average. Without stellar goaltending, winning the Pee-Wee Quebec is almost impossible. Orechovsky and fellow goalie Matyas Novotny went above and beyond for the Czechs.
Since 2018, the Knights have played in every AAA championship game, going 3-2-0. As a reminder, there was no 2021 tournament due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19. They also were runners up at the 2016 Pee-Wee Quebec.
Head coach Adam Jonak shared words of praise and thanks to his team and to the organizers of the games on his Instagram.
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Each week, World Hockey Hub highlights a few of the most exciting upcoming games in youth hockey. It’s a full slate of games to keep an eye on this week. Djurgardens IF and AIK Hockey kick things off with an ‘08 Top-10 tilt on Wednesday. CSKA Moscow and Vityaz Podolsk tangle in a premier matchup between 2011s in Russia on Thursday. Then, we head North of the border for an ‘09 clash between Don Mills Flyers and Toronto Red Wings. The week concludes with Shattuck-St. Mary’s dropping the puck in an ‘07 meeting with Little Caesars on Saturday.
In the three times that No 2. Little Caesars (61-6-2) has faced off with No. 17 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (29-16-4) this season, they have been victorious. With one final game remaining in their season series, Shattuck looks to finally solve a club that has been a thorn in their side.
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| Saturday, February 26 @ 2 PM EST Belfor Arena |
In those three previous contests, Caesars outscored Shattuck 15-4. Despite the solid seasons of their top point getters, Shattuck’s inability to shut down the explosive attack of Caesars has been a big factor. Their blue line and goalies should prepare for another long night of wave after wave of offense. As a result, players like Aaron Obobaifo (34G, 21A) and Gavin Katz (28G, 23A) will have to do the heavy lifting for Shattuck in this one.
Pete’s Pick: I’d like to give Shattuck more credit here, but I think the depth of Caesars is just too much for them to overcome. With the first three games coming in Shattuck’s own barn, now they are heading on the road. Trying to take down one of the best teams in not only their birth year, but youth hockey this season won’t be easy. Caesars sweeps the season series with a 5-1 win.
Craig’s Pick: Caesars has not been at its best lately. If ever there was a time for Shattuck to catch ‘em, it’s now. However, I think even on an off night, Little Caesars’ good is better than most everyone else’s best. Will Horcoff, Aiden Janz and Little Caesars in a close one, 4-2.
No. 9 AIK Hockey (20-11-3) will lace up the skates against No. 2 Djurgårdens IF (29-14-10) on Wednesday. They also will not be quick to forget how they lost a 2-0 lead in the last meeting between these two squads in an eventual 3-2 loss.
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| Wednesday, February 22 Mälarhöjdens Ishall |
Back on Jan. 11, it seemed as though AIK was well on its way to a victory. However, a shorthanded goal from Nick Travergård would cut the lead in half, things were quickly tied up about three minutes later. Sebastian Von Berens would net the winning goal with minutes left in regulation to give Djurgårdens the comeback victory.
Travergård, the leading scorer on DIF with 12 goals and 24 points, will lead his squad into this matchup. Just behind him in overall group scoring is AIK’s Filip Nyberg with 11 goals and 22 points. In the meeting in January, Nyberg notched a goal and assist. Given how things played out last time these two shared a sheet of ice, special teams will be crucial.
Pete’s Pick: AIK proved they could skate with a team like Djurgårdens last time out, they just ran out of gas. A near-perfect game is needed to beat a team of Djurgårdens caliber. I believe they learned a hard lesson last time out, and will get a victory back in this one, 4-3.
Craig’s Pick: Last time out, I think it just took DIF a little while to get going. Clearly, once they did, AIK couldn’t keep up with the three unanswered goals. I like Djurgårdens to get out to a better start in this one, play with a lead, and hang onto it. DIF over AIK 4-2.
It has been quite some time since No. 7 CSKA Moscow (25-12-2) and No. 8 Vityaz Podolsk (27-6-1) have seen one another in competitive play. They will reignite their season series on Thursday before ending their 2022-23 schedules against one another in April.
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| Thursday, February 23 |
Alexei Katsuro (17G, 19A) and Darius Malyshev (24G, 25A), leaders in scoring for CSKA, only accounted for one point in the previous 4-1 loss to Vityaz. Mikhail Maltsev (47G, 44A), Petr Bedretdinov (35G, 35A) and Kirill Rodionov (36G, 33A) form the formidable trio for Vityaz. Rodionov collected four points, along with a natural hat trick against CSKA back in that April contest. Maltsev added two helpers as well.
It’s an intriguing game, as Vityaz has been the hotter team as of late but CSKA has the skill to skate with any fellow Top-10 team in Russia. Ultimately, whichever team has their top players going in this one will be coming out on top.
Pete’s Pick: I like Vityaz’s stretch of play over the past few weeks. They have been beating the teams they need to beat with little issue. CSKA has collected the wins, but some games make me wonder if they at times play up or down to their opponent. I think Vityaz skates away with the win here, 3-2.
Craig’s Pick: Much of Vityaz’ success in the last meeting stemmed from keeping CSKA’s top scorers at bay. That’s a tough task to achieve twice, and I don’t think Katsuro and Malyshev can be contained to just one point a second time. They open up the offense, and CSKA gets the 5-2 win.
No. 1 Don Mills Flyers (47-5-4) and No. 23 Toronto Red Wings (37-11-5) will meet on Friday in the third game of their season series. Don Mills won the first contest, 3-1 with the second game ending in a 3-3 tie on Jan. 6.
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| Friday, February 24 @ 8:50 PM EST Chesswood 2 |
Each club enters this contest winners of six straight, so you would be hard pressed to find another game where both teams are coming in with this much confidence. Toronto knowingly is heading into this matchup with the feeling that they have a large task ahead of them. But, given how close the previous matchups have been, it should give them some added confidence that they can pull out a win.
Pete’s Pick: Toronto can surprise in this matchup, but I think Don Mills has a bit more depth. Sometimes it can take a bounce here or there, yet just feels like Toronto would need a good amount of those. It’s another close one, with Don Mills taking a 3-2 final.
Craig’s Pick: I like DMF too. This will be a very competitive, exciting game with plenty of back and forth, I don’t doubt that. I just think when the dust settles, it’s Don Mills standing victorious, 3-2.
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The 63rd annual PeeWee Quebec is down to eight teams still in the hunt for a championship at one of youth hockey’s most iconic tournaments. An event that began last Friday with 28 teams in the AAA division is now down to the quarterfinals. Who will survive and advance their way to Sunday’s championship, and ultimately be crowned as the best U13 team in North America? Our pair of experts weigh in with complete bracketology of the remaining three rounds from the Videotron Center.
There’s still three different countries in the hunt for a championship at PeeWee Quebec. I think all three will still be in the race come Saturday evening as well.
The Czech Knights have always shown well at this tournament, finishing second in last year’s tournament and winning the championship in the one before that. Tomas Albrecht is one of five players in the tournament to record a hat trick. He did it in Tuesday’s 7-4 win over Laval Patriotes. Matyas Vik and Nicolas Novak have been a steady source of offense as well for the Czechs. I like them to get past the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the quarters, and then be in a tight one in the semifinals. More on those matchups in a minute.
The other half of the bracket features several potential rematches from contests earlier in the season. Brantford 99ers have already beaten world-ranked No. 22 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite not once, but twice this season. I like leading scorers Gavin Martin and Emry Lowe to make it a trifecta with a third win over PPE to advance to the semifinals. Martin tops all skaters with four goals and seven points through three games in Quebec.
Should the 99ers advance, it will set up yet another rematch with No. 17 Little Caesars, who competes in the tournament as the Detroit Red Wings. Those two teams met back in September, where Caesars coasted to a 6-2 win. Ryder Adams, Ben Slavick and Jack Trupiano have been the best trio in the tournament, accounting for 11 of the Red Wings’ 15 goals. I like them to roll past Brantford Saturday to get to the championship game.
That would leave Sun County Panthers as the lone Canadian representative in the field Saturday night. It’s been a fortuitous draw for the No. 8 ranked team in the world. They’ve taken care of business against three straight American-based teams with a 14-2 goal differential. Czech Knights, on the other hand, have played three games against teams that have all been ranked in their respective countries. That includes a 4-3 win against Lions Lac St-Louis and pulling away from No. 24 Patriotes Laval with three late goals in a 7-4 win. Additionally, they had to knock off the No. 1 ranked team in the U.S., Philadelphia Flyers with a 3-0 win Friday.
The Czechs have been in playoff mode since the tournament started. They’ve been battle tested all week long against top competition in close games. They are also led by a coaching staff that’s gotten multiple teams to the championship game in recent years. Not only do they eliminate Sun County — and the last remaining Canadian team — from the tournament, but they go on to win the championship on Sunday in convincing fashion as well.
You can’t ignore the past history between No. 22 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and Brantford 99ers. In two previous matchups this season, Brantford was victorious over Pens Elite by convincing scores of 3-1 and 6-2. The thing that will put the 99ers over the top is that two of the top five scorers at the PeeWee Quebec wear a Brantford jersey. As mentioned earlier, Martin (4G, 3A) and Lowe (2G, 4A) have done most of the heavy lifting for the squad, and show no signs of slowing down. Look for them to find the scoresheet once again and lead their team to the semifinals.
Meeting them in that game will be the Detroit Red Wings. Quite some time has passed since Brantford and Detroit met back on Sept. 30th. While Detroit won a lopsided game, many things have changed since then. One constant for the Wings has been the ability of Adams, Slavick and Trupiano to find the back of the net all season. Equipped with the formidable trio, the Red Wings have been able to score at will.
In order to reach the semifinals, they will have to take care of business against No. 23 Burnaby Winter Club. Burnaby has been going up against the best Canadian competition all season long and won’t be rattled by a talented Detroit contingent. Both squads have a talented top line, but the tipping point in the matchup will come down to depth; a facet that benefits the Red Wings more. Detroit will add another result to their win column and will move on to the championship game on Sunday.
The Sabres and Knights’ game will come down to goaltending. Olivia De Lisle, who has started both games for Buffalo had been a rock in the crease, and is a trustworthy last line of defense. It will take a concerted team effort from her and her defense in shutting down the Czech attack. Despite the Jr. Sabres’ best efforts, the championship pedigree of the Czechs will give them a slight edge here to take the win.
After that, Sun County and the Knights will duke it out for the chance to reach the championship game. Given the immense talent and how evenly these two teams match up, this one is going past regulation. Look to leading scorers Carter Trudell or Gianluca Mclure to nab the winning goal in overtime for the Panthers.
Sunday will be an all-out, offensive showcase between the Red Wings and Panthers. In the end, the scoring depth of Detroit will be too much for Sun County to overcome. Even if the main trio of players has a rare off day, there are plenty of other skill players in that lineup to take down even the most talented opponent. The PeeWee Quebec trophy will be taken home by a U.S. club for the first time since 2019.
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All-star youth hockey teams from 13 Canadian provinces and territories will compete in the 29th edition of the Canada Winter Games. A national event that has taken place every other year since 1967 features some of the best young athletes Canada has to offer.
The 2023 Canada Winter Games will be hosted in Prince Edward Island, where more than 3,600 athletes will compete in 20 different sports. Hockey is set to begin on Sunday, with the championship game concluding on February 25th.
Thirteen provinces and territories were divided into three pools; two pools of four teams and one pool of five teams. Manitoba, New Brunswick, Quebec and Saskatchewan make up Pool A. Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Ontario will compete in Pool B. The final group, Pool C, consists of Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, host Prince Edward Island and Yukon Territories.
There was no tournament in 2021, likely due to circumstances around COVID-19 at the time. So you’ve got to go back to 2019, where Quebec defeated Ontario for national supremacy. That tournament featured the best 2003-born youth hockey players in the country, and more than 50 that went on to be drafted into the NHL.
Now, the ‘07s enter the spotlight, and names like Caleb Desnoyers, Philippe Veilleux and Shawn Carrier will look to repeat as champions for Quebec. All three are playing U18 hockey this season, and Desnoyers has scored 23 goals and 53 points in 42 games for Saint-Hyacinthe Gaulois. Veilleux and Carrier are near point-per-game forwards for College Charles-Lemoyne and Trois-Rivieres respectively.
Saskatchewan may present the biggest obstacle in their way for pool play.
All but two players on Saskatchewan’s roster were selected last April in the 2022 WHL Draft. Top-5 picks Cole Reschny and Reese Hamilton will be a terrific tandem, and quite frankly, one of the best duos at the Canada Winter Games. Reschny and Hamilton are teammates on the U18 Saskatoon Blazers, where they’ve combined to score 96 points this season. Saskatoon is in first place in the Saskatchewan Major AAA Hockey League (SMAAHL) and sends seven players, including Reschny, Hamilton and Lee Shurgot from its club to represent the province at the Canada Winter Games.
Manitoba and New Brunswick round out the four-team field in Pool A. Every player on Manitoba’s roster was selected in last spring’s WHL Draft, headlined by the No. 5 and No. 6 overall picks, Cole Temple and Peyton Kettles. At 6-foot-5, Kettles is literally the biggest athlete on the ice at the Canada Winter Games. The big-bodied defenseman has two goals and 16 points in 22 games for RINK Hockey Winnipeg this season.
The province has never finished higher than sixth in the Canada Winter Games, but Noah Collette and Liam Kilfoil will look to reach new heights with New Brunswick. Colette is a top prospect in the upcoming 2023 QMJHL Draft. Kilfoil, on the other hand, has played the last two seasons in the United States. Most notably, Kilfoil scored 59 goals and 154 points in 75 games for Mount St. Charles last season.
PREDICTION FOR POOL PLAY:
No province has won gold in the Canada Winter Games more than Ontario. It has played in the championship game seven of the last 13 tournaments, and won gold twice in the last four.
They come loaded with highly-touted prospects like Ryan Roobroeck, William Moore, Matt Schaefer and Brady Martin. Roobroeck plays for the No. 4-ranked London Jr. Knights and Moore skates on the top-ranked Toronto Marlboros. Roobroeck has scored 58 goals and 90 points in 32 games in the ALLIANCE Hockey League.
Additionally, both Ontario goaltenders have had strong seasons. Jaeden Nelson is teammates with Moore on the No. 1 Marlies squad, while Jack Ivankovic has ben the guy for No. 10 Mississauga Senators.
With Alberta and British Columbia also in the mix, Pool B feels like the toughest of the three groups.
All but one player on Alberta’s roster was selected in the 2022 WHL Draft. Second overall pick Jackson Smith, Braeden Cootes and Nathan Behm are among ones to watch. Both Cootes and Behm are among the top 20 in scoring in the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) this season. Smith is also a standout defenseman for U18 Edge School. He’ll be joined by fellow teammates Hayden Harsanyi and Cash Koch at the Canada Winter Games.
British Columbia is a similar story. Its squad is headlined by standouts from the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). Forwards Hudson Kibblewhite, Chase Harrington, Jakob Oreskovic and defenseman Will Sharpe are among the leading scorers in the league back home for their respective teams. Not to mention Vancouver Giants first-round pick Cameron Schmidt at forward as well.
Nova Scotia wraps up Pool B, and it will have its hands full. A trio of 2023 QMJHL Draft prospects will look to keep pace with a competitive field. Cole Chandler, Owen Conrad and Lane Sim are all considered top talents in Eastern Canada. Chandler, most notably, has amass 50 points for Steele Subaru this season.
PREDICTION FOR POOL PLAY:
Only two teams from Pool C advance to the playoff rounds. Both will compete in a play-in matchup against the No. 4 seed from both Pool A and B.
Yukon Territories has one big reason why it could survive pool play and make a playoff push. It’s 5-foot-11 forward Gavin McKenna, who was the first overall pick in the 2022 WHL Draft last spring. He is an exceptional talent, and maybe one of the best prospects at the Canada Winter Games. McKenna played 11 games in the WHL this season and tallied eight assists during that stretch. He spent the rest of the ‘22-23 season with U18 South Alberta Hockey Academy, where McKenna is the team’s leading scorer with 73 points in 25 games.
Host Prince Edward Island hasn’t finished higher than fourth in the tournament, and that was back in 1979. In the last five Canada Winter Games, PEI has finished ninth three times and 10th twice. Jackson Batchilder and Carson MacKenzie will look to benefit from some home cooking from the host province. They also have a trio of underagers in 2008-born Carson Murnaghan, Derek Andrews and Ayden Mackay-Gallant. Mackay-Gallant, most notably, has scored 43 goals and 74 points in 30 games this season for U15 Prince County Warriors.
PREDICTION FOR POOL PLAY:
World Hockey Hub will have continued coverage of the 2023 Canada Winter Games. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube for the latest news, top performers and more!
Last weekend, the Northeast Pack Hockey League held its playoffs for teams in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 birth years. There were a fair share of surprises and upsets over the course of three exciting days at the Northford Ice Pavilion. No team that ended the regular season in first place went on to finish as champions.
Let’s take a look at how things shook out when all the dust settled…
When the NE Pack regular season wrapped up on Jan. 22, No. 18 New Jersey Rockets were sitting in second among 2006-born teams. An opportunity to make some noise once the playoffs rolled around, but they would have to continue clawing their way through a packed field. This division housed juggernauts such as No. 3 Long Island Gulls, No. 11 Bishop Kearney Selects, No. 21 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and No. 20 Mount St. Charles.
New Jersey handled business in their first two round-robin matchups, dispatching Mount St. Charles and Pens Elite, 5-3 and 6-4, respectively. After the play-in game, they were tasked once again to take on Pens Elite in the semifinals. Emerging as the victor once more, their lone challenge left was in the form of BK Selects for the championship. A team they had moderate success against in the regular season with a 4-2-0 record.
It would prove to be their toughest game of the postseason. Goals and chances were traded for the duration of regulation before things would end 4-4. With no winner coming in overtime, the game was settled in a shootout, where the Rockets prevailed 5-4 and secured the division.
@RocketsHC are your 2023 NE Pack 16U Champions pic.twitter.com/gcpRRPI6cv
— NE Pack Hockey (@nepackhockey) February 12, 2023
The 2007-born division also had its fair share of Top-10 U.S. teams from the World Rankings. No. 5 Long Island Gulls kicked off their run with a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Rockets. After securing a spot in the semifinals with a 4-2 victory against the No. 6 Mount St. Charles, the two sides were slated for a rematch in the semifinals. Despite Mount’s best efforts, it was a familiar script with the Gulls skating to a 5-3 victory.
The road for No. 8 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite to get to the championship game was not an easy one. After suffering an opening loss to Mount, they would need to rebound in their next game, or run the risk of having their playoff hopes dashed quite early.
And rebound they did, taking No. 9 Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers to task in a 6-2 win. With confidence restored, they took their next game against No. 2 Bishop Kearney Selects, setting the stage for a meeting against Long Island. It was also a chance at redemption for PPE, who went just 1-2-1 against the Gulls in the season series.
Despite the fireworks both clubs endured in their previous games, it was a rather subdued final. The Gulls clamped things down on defense in a tight 2-1 final.
@LIGullsHockey are your 2023 NE Pack 15O Champions pic.twitter.com/3ehU8zF1Sg
— NE Pack Hockey (@nepackhockey) February 12, 2023
When the regular season ended, the two teams that stood atop the division table were the Bishop Kearney Selects and Mount St. Charles. It was no surprise then to see both squads in the championship game for 2008-born NE Pack teams.
Ranked No. 4 and No. 9 in the U.S. rankings, both BK and Mount had undefeated runs en route to their title tilt. For Bishop Kearney, the likes of No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers and Long Island Gulls were no match for them. Mount St. Charles had to take care of the New Jersey Rockets and, coincidentally, the Gulls and Penguins as well.
With a 3-1-1 record against BK in the regular season, Mount knew it had the skill to emerge as champions with a concentrated team effort. Their depth was on full display as they cruised to a 7-2 victory for the title.
@RISaintMsHockey are your 2023 NE Pack 14U Champions pic.twitter.com/F4BtCXmgT3
— NE Pack Hockey (@nepackhockey) February 12, 2023
Check out the video below for some of the best goals from this division.
This weeks LiveBarn Top 5 features goals from the 14U @nepackhockey Tournament! Check them out! pic.twitter.com/wgPtwV4Egv
— LiveBarn (@LiveBarn) February 15, 2023
There was also a playoff round held for 18U teams of the Long Island Gulls, Mount St. Charles, Penguins Elite, BK Selects and New Jersey Rockets. The lone club standing at the end of it all was the PPE, who defeated the Rockets 6-1 in the final.
@PghPensElite are your 2023 NE Pack 18U Champions pic.twitter.com/zfSY9FYLA5
— NE Pack Hockey (@nepackhockey) February 12, 2023
Want more coverage of the top teams and top players in youth hockey? Follow WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube!
2007-born No. 16 Chicago Mission made a huge statement with a 7-0 takedown of No. 17 Shattuck-St. Mary’s, boosting them up a spot in the U.S. and World Rankings. It was the biggest deficit Shattuck has experienced yet this season, proving that no team in the Top 10 for American programs is safe. After two solid wins against No. 25 Mount St. Charles, No. 20 Long Island Gulls too enjoyed a nice bump in the Top 25 for ‘07 teams.
Two ‘09 programs raised their standing as well in the respective Top 10s of their countries.
No. 12 Boston Jr. Eagles secured victories over No. 13 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and No. 22 New Jersey Rockets. Overseas, No. 7 Dynamo St. Petersburg was led by top scorer Kiril Khristoforov into two matchups against teams directly ahead of them in the Russian standings. They passed with flying colors, defeating No. 8 SKA St. Petersburg and No. 9 SKA Strelna, 5-2 and 6-3, respectively. By passing them, Dynamo also secured the final spot in the Top 25 of ‘09 teams.
No country or birth year experienced more movement than ‘07 Finnish squads. Overall, seven teams switched positions, with the largest move from Lukko from No. 9 to No. 7. Ässät also re-entered the chat and settled into a Top-10 spot after missing out in the last rankings.
Nacka HK recorded a 3-1-0 stretch since the last rankings update, with no win proving more vital than a 6-1 romp of No. 2 Täby HC. The victory propelled Nacka as the new No. 1 among ‘07 Swedes. It was a dominating performance right from puck drop. Täby netminder Vincent Österlund was peppered with 35 shots the entire contest, and three skaters from Nacka recorded multi-point performances. Standing out were Olle Jöstedt (1G, 2A), Olle Därth (1G, 1A) and Matiss Zilitis (2A). Felix Tolke stood firm in his crease, holding back the usually explosive offense of Täby to just the one goal on 25 shots.
The Top 10 of 2011-born U.S. clubs also experienced a shift at the top with the Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers overtaking Pittsburgh Penguins Elite for the No. 1 crown. Both teams faced off against a healthy dose of Canadian competition, often against the same opponents. But when it came time to square off for U.S. bragging rights, Mid-Fairfield edged out a 3-2 win. The victory was the sixth in a row for the Jr. Rangers, while it also snapped the Penguins’ win streak at six.
Hermes Punainen has not been a name frequently heard this season around the ‘08 World Rankings. Playing in Finland, they compete in a stacked group with teams such as No. 4 JYP, No. 7 Kärpät Valkoinen, No. 8 Kärpät Musta and No. 10 KalPa. A bubble team for a majority of this season, a big series or victory could finally allow Hermes to leapfrog into the Top 10. With two crucial wins over KalPa, the time finally came with Hermes making its mark at No. 9. A fellow Finnish team that also played their way into the Top 10 conversation was 2009-born Ilves Florida. They have been off to a pleasant start in the continuation of group play.
Another bubble team hovering around the ‘09 Top 10 for the U.S. has been the Florida Alliance. With two solid showings against No. 4 Penguins Elite and No. 8 Dallas Stars Elite, they squeezed their way into the fray, earning the No. 10 spot.
Two 2011 teams from the U.S. and Russia built up their resumes enough to cross the line from bubble to ranked distinction. No. 10 Chicago Mission defeated the likes of No. 6 Chicago Reapers, former No. 7 Windy City Storm twice and split a two-game set with No. 5 Oakland Jr. Grizzlies. Success that resulted in them taking the No. 10 position. An overtime victory against No. 1 Dynamo St. Petersburg gave No. 10 SKA St. Petersburg enough juice to make it into the top tier of Russia.
Be sure to check out the complete world rankings, including Top 10s by country and World Top 25s for each of the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 birth years.
Each week, World Hockey Hub highlights a few of the most exciting upcoming games in youth hockey. This weekend will be jam-packed with premier matchups to keep an eye on. Shattuck-St. Mary’s will battle Mount St. Charles in a Top-10 tilt on Friday. Heading North of the border for an ‘09 all-Toronto clash between the Jr. Canadians and Marlboros. The week concludes overseas with a matchup between Boo HC and Södertälje SK. CSKA Moscow and Vityaz Podolsk tangle in a Top-10 matchup between 2007s in Russia.
No. 10 Mount St. Charles (28-14-2) has a huge opportunity in its upcoming three-game series against No. 1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (44-2-2). An opportunity to see how they fare against one of the best teams of their 2006 birth year. It will be the first time this season the clubs will face off against one another.
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| Friday, February 17 @ 3:30 PM MST Shattuck-St. Mary’s Ice Arena |
Winners of their last four, Shattuck has been one of the most offensively gifted teams this season. Seemingly scoring at will, they are equipped with a plus-226 goal differential. Ryker Lee and Jack Galanak have supplied a good portion of the goals, recording 109 and 91 points, respectively. Aside from those two, 13 players have recorded 30 or more points in their campaign.
Mount is looking to get back in the win column coming off a 3-1 loss to South Kent Selects Academy their last time out.
In the two games No. 1 Toronto Jr. Canadiens (38-10-1) and No. 9 Toronto Marlboros (38-15-5) met this season, both resulted in defeats for the Marlboros. Set for the third game of their GTHL series, the Marlboros will attempt to change their fortunes on Saturday.
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| Friday, February 17 @ 8:35 PM EST Etobicoke Ice Sports 3 |
The Jr. Canadiens recently saw a seven-game win streak halted by the Toronto Titans. Despite the blip on the radar, they still are considered among the elite of 2009-born Canadian programs. They can score at will, defend and their goaltending has been solid. Over the last 10 games alone, they are 8-2-0 while outscoring their opposition 39-10.
It has been a different story on the other end of the rink for the Marlboros. 4-5-1 in their last 10, and they have struggled to gain any footing to help their way up the World Rankings. Given the close nature in which they played the Jr. Canadiens in their two losses, Friday’s meeting is a huge opportunity for them to gain some confidence back and begin the final stretch of games on a good note.
The top two 2007-born Russian teams will be going head to head this weekend. No. 1 CSKA Moscow (18-5-2) will square off with No. 2 Vityaz Podolsk (34-3-1) on Sunday.
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| Sunday, February 19 |
Both teams are coming off losses. The last meting between the two was a 4-2 loss for Vityaz back on Jan. 19.
This will be the fourth and final time in the regular season these sides will battle it out, with CSKA currently leading the season series 2-1.
Roman Rizvanov’s 34 goals and 47 points top CSKA’s leaderboards, with playmaker Nikita Esipov’s 10 goals and 42 points sitting in second.
Alexander Zharovsky (39G, 55A), Daniil Terenin (44G, 53A) and Vladislav Lander (26G, 39A) serve as the main trio for Vityaz. A true model of consistency, Zharovsky has been piling up the points at a point per game pace.
No. 4 Boo HC (25-7-6) looks to avenge a 2-0 loss to No. 5 Södertälje SK (14-7-7) back on Jan. 16 when they take to the ice against their ‘08 Swedish foes on Sunday.
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| Sunday, February 19 Björknäs Ishall |
In that loss, Boo goaltender Leon Andersson stopped 20 of 22 shots. Getting a majority of the starts for his squad, he has recorded a 1.29 goals-against average and .943 save percentage to go along with three shutouts. Numbers that are good for second-best in the group. At even-strength play, only 15 shots have found their way past him in all contests.
While no skater for either side is blazing up the top point-getters list, each comes equipped with their own dependable scorers. Boo will be led by Viggo Fors and his 11 points in 15 games, with Hugo Mikaelsson just behind with 10. Södertälje will counter with Patric Hellström and his 11 points across 13 contests.
Want more coverage of the top teams and top players in youth hockey? Follow WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube!