The 15th season of the World Selects tournament series will begin on April 25th. Following that day, 12 different events will take place over the following weeks. They’ll be hosted in five exotic locations across six different age groups for both boys and girls international youth hockey players.
The World Selects Invitational has a long and decorated history as one of, if not, the most iconic tournament series in youth hockey today.
More than 650 participants have gone on to be chosen in the NHL Draft. That includes 2022 first overall selection Juraj Slafkovsky (Slovakia Selects), 2021 sixth overall selection Simon Edvinsson (Sweden Selects), 2020 second overall selection Quinton Byfield (Canada) and 2019 second overall selection Kaapo Kakko (Finland Selects). Every NHL roster features at least one name that’s been etched in the World Selects halls of history.
The next wave of top-tier talent in youth hockey will take the stage this Spring. It begins with the 2008 Boys Elite tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, USA on April 25th. The U14 Girls Elite event will take place at the same time 4,600 miles across the globe in Chamonix, France. Also taking place that week is the 12U Boys AAA tournament in Bolzano, Italy.
That trio of events will signify the beginning of a World Selects season of events that will decorate the calendar over the next three months. Here’s a complete list of dates, ages and locations:
World Selects tournaments fall into two categories. The first is the Elite events, where participating teams apply for entry, and go through a thorough vetting process. Those teams compete in the World Selects Invitational. Participants include franchises such as DraftDay Hockey, Eastern U.S. Selects, NorthStar Elite, Premier Ice Prospects, Pro Hockey, Sweden Selects, Finland Selects and other European Selects programs.
In total, 20 different North American programs and 20 European programs will be represented this season. Additionally, teams from more than 18 different countries will take the ice including the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Czechia, Slovakia, France, Norway, Latvia and Kazakhstan, among others.
Teams consist of players that are carefully recruited and selected to compete in the Elite events. These are high-level AAA players capable of competing against the absolute best in the world. These teams typically represent the best youth hockey players their respective countries have to offer. Hundreds of futures NHL players, thousands of NCAA college hockey athletes and countless national team representatives from around the world.
The AAA events provide the same, exotic experience offered in Elite events, but are open to any AAA caliber youth hockey player. Hosted in many of the same locations as the Elite events, the AAA World Selects Trophy tournaments provide players — and teams — with an opportunity to compete, perform and potentially be promoted to compete at Elite events in the future.
World Hockey Hub is the exclusive media provider for all 12 World Selects tournaments and will produce one-of-a-kind content you won’t find anywhere else in youth hockey. Games can be live-streamed on SolidSport, and WHH will have complete breakdowns, commentary, analysis, highlights, photo galleries, interviews and more from some of the top players and teams in the WSI.
Join more than 28,000 people in following WHH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube. The WHH community will be the first to receive updates as the WSI unfolds this spring. Additionally, you’ll receive announcements regarding upcoming events, future tournaments and other news about the World Selects tournament series.
One-hundred and twenty youth hockey teams will take part in the 63rd annual Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, starting this week. For the AAA division, 28 2010-born squads from three countries — Canada, the United States and Czechia — will suit up for action.
And taking a look at the participants at this year’s event, it’s safe to say the games will be jam-packed with action.
Canada’s clubs are ready to defend home ice, as four of the Top 10 teams in the Canadian Rankings are lacing up their skates. No. 2 Sun County Panthers and their explosive offense will be leading the way. No. 8 Burnaby Winter Club and No. 10 North Shore Winter Club will be bringing the skill from Western Canada. The No. 7 Patriotes Laval will be put to the test as well. Not to mention the defending champion Montreal Canadiens will be out to repeat what last year’s 2009 team achieved.
A decent contingent of U.S. teams will also be making appearances. The No. 2 Boston Jr. Eagles, No. 5 Minuteman Flames, No. 7 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and No. 9 Buffalo Jr. Sabres will all be striving to add their names to the prestigious list of past winners. There are even some teams, such as the New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers who have built their rosters as collections of the top talent from their respective locations.
One lone club from overseas will be in attendance, but make no mistake they are veterans of making some noise at the Pee-Wee Quebec. The Czech Knights, winners of the 2018 and 2020 tournament, will look to make things difficult for their opponents. The team also comes in with a bit of a chip on their shoulder, as they fell to the Canadiens in overtime in the championship game last year.
With AAA teams being included at the Pee-Wee beginning in 2014, the Knights have certainly been a mainstay among the top performers at the competition since then.
Both the Knights and Canadiens face tough tests right out of the gate. The Canadiens will open against the Los Angeles Jr. Kings, a club that won the 2019 AAA division. The Knights begin action with Lions Lac St-Louis.
For fans wanting to stay up to date with the latest scores, standings and more, there is an official mobile app you can download HERE.
Plus, WHH will have exclusive coverage, recaps, predictions and more as the tournament unfolds! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord and YouTube!
A packed field of youth hockey teams headed to the Sunshine State to take part in the Florida Exposure Cup over the weekend. The Panthers IceDen, Palm Beach IceWorks, Palm Beach Skate Zone and Rink on the Beach were the host sites for all the action. Three teams were named winners of divisions within the 2007, 2008 and 2009 birth years.
For the 2007 Elite division, teams were divided into two pools. Each team followed a round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.
Pool A: Chicago Reapers, No. 1 Little Caesars, St. Louis Blues AAA, Omaha Mastery
Pool B: No. 25 Long Island Gulls, Philadelphia Flyers Elite, No. 9 (U.S.) Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers, South Kent Selects
Following round-robin play, the four teams left standing were Little Caesars, the Gulls, Mid-Fairfield and the Reapers. Caesars scored four unanswered goals in a comeback victory against the Reapers to reach the final game. The Gulls’ road to the championship match would prove to be more exciting.
Down 2-1 after the first period, Ethan Wyttenbach scored twice in the second to put his club up 3-2. The Rangers, however, struck again to even things up at 3 and forcing the action to overtime. Following a scoreless extra frame, the Gulls emerged victorious in a shootout, setting up their finale date with Caesars.
Brendan Defeo slid the winning shootout goal five-hole, which was one of the top goals of the week.
Lots of great games and goals from this weekend at the Florida Exposure Cup! Check out LiveBarn‘s Top 5 🏒 pic.twitter.com/nqMRWbVHhP
— LiveBarn (@LiveBarn) February 6, 2023
When you go up against the No. 1 team in the World Rankings, the task is already daunting. Add that it is for a tournament championship into the equation, and the task seems monumental. But the Gulls’ roster seemed unfazed as to who their opponent was, playing them hard throughout regulation, with both goals coming in the first period. Shortly after overtime began, Jared Petruso wired home the game-winning goal to cement the Gulls’ 2007 division championship.
Even more impressive was Long Island’s defensive management of many of the top scorers in the division. This included leading point-getter Nicholas Kasiba. He garnered four goals and nine points across six games, but none in the big game. For Long Island, Wyttenbach would end as the team’s points leader with six goals and eight points.
The 2008 Elite Division was split into four pools of participants, with three in each designated group. Teams played in cross-pool round robin games. In the quarterfinals, Pool A played Pool C and Pool B played Pool D. The semifinal round was then re-seeded.
Pool A: Boston Jr. Eagles, Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Jr. Knights,
Pool B: No. 10 (U.S.) Seacoast Performance Academy, St. Louis Blues AAA, Yale Junior Bulldogs
Pool C: No. 24 Dallas Stars Elite, Florida Alliance, Okanagan Hockey Group
Pool D: Long Island Gulls, North Jersey Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers Elite
It was a pristine run for Mid-Fairfield, as they went undefeated en route to being crowned champions of the 2008 Division. After slicing through the competition in pool play, they were tasked with overcoming the Avalanche. A tilt that would prove to be their hardest one of the entire tournament.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Mason St. Louis and Joey Salandra, Mid-Fairfield would eventually end the first period up 4-2. North Jersey responded with three unanswered goals to take a 5-4 lead. With second left in the game, Jason Rothstein tied the game up, forcing overtime. From there, Maddox Boyle would net the game-winning goal on the power play, securing the Ranger’s undefeated run among ‘08 teams.
Rothstein led all skaters in total points with 19 (11G, 8A) across six games, with Salandra 18 just behind. Salandra collected four points (1G, 3A) alone in the title game.
Mason St. Louis, son of NHL Hall of Famer and current head coach of the Montreal Canadiens Martin St. Louis, provided fantastic secondary scoring with tallies like the one above. That goal was one of his five on the weekend, and nine total points.
The 2009 Elite Division was also split into four pools of participants, with four in each designated group. Teams played in three round-robin games within their pool. In the quarterfinals, Pool A played Pool B and Pool C played Pool D.
Pool A: Boston Jr. Terriers, Florida Alliance, Milwaukee Admirals, No. 12 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite
Pool B: No. 24 Boston Jr. Eagles, No. 9 (U.S.) Little Caesars, New Jersey Rockets (Elite), PAL Jr. Islanders
Pool C: No. 9 (U.S.) Dallas Stars Elite, No. 22 Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers, Mississauga Reps, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Jr. Knights
Pool D: Buffalo Jr. Sabres, No. 18 New Jersey Rockets (Academy), No. 7 St. Louis Blues AAA, Top Gun Hockey
The Eagles got their Exposure Cup schedule off to a shaky start with a 6-2 loss to Caesars. However, they responded with three consecutive wins to finish pool play, their first playoff date was set against the Alliance. Four different goal scorers and a multi-assist game from Jacoby Palmer would ensure the Jr. Eagles’ appearance in the championship game.
A possible rematch between Caesars and the Eagles was possible, but all thoughts of that were halted when Pens Elite brushed off Caesars 7-1. That set up a title game between two world-ranked foes.
Good fortunes continued for Pittsburgh when it took a 1-0 lead into intermission. The Jr. Eagles came out for the second a different team, blazing four unanswered goals in the second to take the ‘09 Elite Division crown. JR Gualberto had a hand in three of the four goals in the period, collecting one assist and scoring twice.
Trevor Daley, Jr. of the Alliance led all skaters in the division with 12 points (6G, 6A). Carter Meyer led the Jr. Eagles with 11 (6G, 5A).
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Each week, World Hockey Hub highlights a few of the most exciting upcoming games in youth hockey. Some of the best teams across youth hockey will be lacing up the skates this weekend. Täby HC will battle Södertälje SK in a Top-10 tilt on Tuesday. Calgary Edge School and Northern Alberta Xtreme tangle in a Top-10 matchup between 2008s in Canada. The week concludes with an all-Moscow matchup between Spartak and Dynamo. Then, an ‘07 Finnish clash between Jokerit and Ilves.
Isac Nilsson, top scorer for No. 1 Täby HC (27-2-2), will lead his squad into a matchup with fellow 2007-born Swedish team No. 5 Södertälje SK (18-9-5) on Tuesday.
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| Tuesday, February 7 Tibble Ishall |
Throughout Täby’s 11 games in group play, Nilsson has tallied an astounding 16 goals and 27 points. A lethal option on the man advantage, he has struck for six points on the power play (4G, 2A). Nils Håkansson, with his team-leading 19 points, will look to aid the counter attack of SSK.
These two sides previously met back on Dec. 18, where Täby exploded for six goals in an eventual 6-2 victory. Nilsson was only held to one goal, but teammate Viggo Björck collected five points (2G, 3A).
Pete’s Pick: Much can be said about Nilsson and Björck, but SSK can’t forget to keep an eye on Theo Stockselius. He notched four points in the last outing between these two, and serves as a perfect complementary piece to the big trio for Täby. I expect all three players to have big performances in another win for their team.
Craig’s Pick: Täby is at the top for a reason! Södertälje might keep it close for a period and play inspired hockey. However, Täby just has too much top talent to overcome. They ultimately pull away in this one — like they did in the previous meeting — 6-2 finish again.
Two of the best teams in the CSSHL will take to the ice on Saturday when No. 17 Edge School (33-10-1) takes on No. 4 Northern Alberta Xtreme (33-1-0).
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| Saturday, February 11 @ 11:00 AM MST Kyle Stuart Memorial Arena |
This matchup will be the fourth in the regular season series between the clubs, with the Xtreme taking the first three.
Cruz Pavao has been a revelation for Alberta, notching 51 points (22G, 29A) in league play. But it hasn’t been just the amount of points he has put up that proves his importance to his team. It’s the situations with which he finds the scoresheet. Collectively, Pavao has struck five times on the power play, once while shorthanded, and four goals have been game-winners.
The Xtreme’s premier forward is Tucker Tullikopf and his 14 goals and 41 points. However, the true reason for the Xtreme’s incredible record and current 16-game winning streak is between the pipes. Parker Snell and Taylor Raynard, who were featured in our deep dive into the best goalie tandems in youth hockey, are two of the best in their birth year at stopping pucks.
With a pristine 11-0-0 record in CSSHL contests, Snell has garnered a 1.26 goals-against average, .946 save percentage and four shutouts. Not to be outdone, Raynard has managed a 1.90 goals-against, .917 save percentage and 1 shutout. If you manage to score on either of them, keep the puck because it doesn’t happen often.
Pete’s Pick: You can point to the Xtreme’s explosive firepower – currently the team has a plus-172 goal differential – as the reason for them to win this tilt. Yet, I keep going back to the goaltending. It won’t matter who suits up for Xtreme in this one, as the team clearly has shown they are comfortable with either goalie. Xtreme win yet again in another close one, 3-1.
Craig’s Pick: I know it’s the last scheduled meeting, but these two are bound to clash at least one more time before the season ends. CSSHL playoffs are right around the corner! Edge will pull off an upset of NAX at some point, but I don’t see it being this week. Xtreme continue to their win streak with a 3-1 win.
After splitting the first two games of their season series, Spartak Moscow (19-4-2) and Dynamo Moscow (16-4-1) will aim for bragging rights when they battle this Sunday.
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| Sunday, February 12 |
Dynamo took the first game, 4-3 in a shootout before Spartak evened the series 1-1 with a victory on Dec. 4. Spartak also will take a six-game win streak into this encounter. One thing we can count on is for the goals to continue in this series given the prolific talent on both rosters.
Silantiy Kozhushko (10G, 22A) and Daniil Dyachkov (14G, 13A) are a dynamic duo for Spartak. They will have to put their skills to the test against the best of Dynamo. Those spots are reserved to Bogdan Kiselev (14G, 17A) and Ivan Ryabkin (9G, 20A).
Pete’s Pick: This could go either way. Scoring for each team is pretty even, and they have played each other close in both previous games. I like Dynamo though to get it done and break Spartak’s streak in a 4-3 final.
Craig’s Pick: Most exciting matchup of the week! Neither Kiselev or Ryabkin got on the scoresheet in the last meeting. What happened? Dynamo lost to Spartak. They’re a tough tandem to subdue though and I’m not sure Spartak — or anyone, for that matter — can silence that line a second time. Kiselev scores, Ryabkin scores and Dynamo gets the win, 5-3.
For the first time in the next phase of group play, No. 4 Jokerit (26-10-0) will drop the puck against No. 7 Ilves (26-10-0) on Sunday.
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| Sunday, February 12 Sentteri D |
Jalmari Melanen’s dynamic playmaking (3G, 12A) and the scoring of Jiko Laitinen (10G, 4A) have helped Ilves to a solid group play start. Rasmus Kämäräinen has bagged five goals and eight points for Jokerit. Lauri Kouhia is tied with him at eight points.
Pete’s Pick: I like the team depth for Ilves here, but the goaltending for Jokerit in the form of Pekka Korhonen could give them headaches. Statistically, he is the third-best goalie in their respective group with a .904 save percentage and 2.11 goals-against. I say he edges a win for Jokerit, 3-2.
Craig’s Pick: Ilves is balanced. Ilves is deep. Ilves has eight skaters averaging a point per game in SM-Series play. Jokerit may have a leg up in goaltending but Ilves has an offensive attack that’s just going to keep coming at you. I think they wear down Jokerit’s defenses and eventually pull away with a 3-1 win.
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2023 started off with impressive runs by a handful of teams from around the world. It was a big stretch for 2007-born teams like Djurgårdens IF in Sweden and Finland’s Tappara. The ‘11 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and ‘10 Toronto Jr. Canadiens continued their dominance. ‘08 CSKA Moscow stood apart among Russian programs as well. WHH takes a look at a few programs across all countries and birth years that established themselves among the best of the best in youth hockey.
With a schedule that was packed with multiple matchups against fellow Top-10 opponents, No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite proved they are still the squad to beat among 2011-born U.S. teams.
They kicked off January with three straight wins over No. 10 Philadelphia Hockey Club, outscoring them 21-6. After a series split with the Ohio Blue Jackets, they were tasked with facing off against No. 2 Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers for three tilts.
PPE took the first game 2-1, dropped the second 5-1 before rebounding with a solid 6-1 victory to take the series. In total, they secured a 6-2-0 mark for the month, with five of those coming against Top-10 teams.
One of the busier Canadian teams to start the New Year were the ‘10 Toronto Jr. Canadiens. An impressive run saw them best the likes of the No. 4 Vaughan Kings and No. 5 Don Mills Flyers. However, it was their performance in multiple cross-border matchups that impressed the most.
The Jr. Canadiens faced a daunting task of dropping the puck against a stacked lineup of U.S. Top 10s. First up was No. 7 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, who they handled 5-3. Next, two victories against the No. 8 Chicago Reapers and No. 6 HoneyBaked. They rounded out this slate with one of their two losses in the month, dropping a 4-3 result to the No. 3 Chicago Mission.
Altogether, the Jr. Canadiens were able to string together an 11-2-1 record and remain one of the premier teams of the 2010 birth year.
No. 2 Djurgårdens IF skated to an unblemished 5-0-0 record in January, securing three key victories against fellow top-ranked Sweden adversaries.
Currently underway in the continuation of group play, DIF went toe-to-toe with No. 5 Södertälje SK, No. 7 Viggbyholms IK and No. 9 Flemingsbergs IK. Earning wins in all three games, they also had no issue in obtaining wins against Solna SK and Almtuna.
Leading the way across Djurgårdens’ scorching run of play has been forward Arvid Drott. Across the 5-0-0 month, Drott collected nine goals and 13 points. His best game came in the contest against Viggbyholms, where he found the back of the net five times to go along with two assists.
Collectively, Drott has tallied 15 goals and 25 points in group play as one of the premier scorers among all skaters. Top goaltender Ludvig Gromell has served as a calming presence for DIF, recording a 1.57 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.
Eetu Orpana and Joonas Rajala were the engine that drove 2007-born No. 2 Tappara to a perfect 5-0-0 January. In those five games, Orpana accumulated 16 points (7G, 9A) with Rajala just behind with 14 (5G, 9A).
Their strong play was a catalyst in decisive victories over No. 3 Kärpät, No. 4 Jokerit and No. 9 Lukko. Tappara’s scoring depth was on display when they outscored the Pelicans and Ässät by a combined 19-2.
There was no hotter team than No. 3 CSKA Moscow, whose pristine run to a 5-0-0 record was marked with major wins against top-tier opponents.
CSKA opened the month with a 9-2 rout of No. 6 Dynamo Moscow. They dispatched of Russ Moscow and the Polar Bears before setting their sights on two more ranked squads.
Nikita Ovcharov, Nikita Gromakov and Alexander Petrov all recorded multi-point performances to lead CSKA to a 7-3 final over No. 7 Mikhailov Academy. The final hurdle towards a perfect January record was a date with No. 4 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. CSKA had extra motivation for the matchup, as Lokomotiv defeated them in a close 3-2 game on Dec. 18. It would be another hard-fought event, with CSKA securing a shootout victory, 4-3. Ilya Morozov was the only player to find a goal in the skills competition.
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When looking at the records for many youth hockey teams this season, you would be hard pressed to find one as impressive as the 2008-born No. 5 Dallas Stars Elite. Consistently in the Top 10 among U.S. teams in the World Rankings, the club is in the midst of one of the most successful winning streaks in organization history.
On Oct. 28, the Stars fell to the Hartford Jr. Wolfpack 2-0. The following day, they rebounded with a 4-2 win against Ottawa Myers Automotive in a cross-border matchup.
From that point on, all they have done is win. A lot.
In the midst of a 21-game winning streak, it is the longest streak of its kind by any team in Dallas Stars Elite program history. They surpassed the previous record holder, the 18U Stars Elite, who won 18 consecutive games from Oct. 8-Dec. 17 2021.
Congratulations to our 2008 team for the longest win streak in Org history—20 wins and counting! 🖤💚 Keep rolling, #GreenHelmets!
— Dallas Stars Elite (@DSEHC) January 31, 2023
For reference…the boys are 45-3-3 on the season…#gostarselite #elitedna pic.twitter.com/iJk2Engxp4
Any win streak is an impressive feat. But to best your opponent 20 straight times is certainly uncommon. Yet, the Stars Elite machine keeps chugging along.
One of the main sparks to their streak has been their incredible offense. Currently equipped with a plus-196 goal differential, few teams have been able to match that output on a nightly basis. The Stars have put up at least four goals in 19 of the 21 wins, averaging close to six goals a game. A tight blue line and consistent efforts in the crease from the duo of Mark Djomo and Liam Holmes have also helped keep the opposition at bay.
The club has only needed overtime once to secure a win, coming against the Buffalo Jr. Sabres on Dec. 18 of last year.
All eyes will be on their next matchup, a second game against the Long Island Gulls on Feb. 2. The Gulls were one of the last teams to defeat the Stars, so they will be yearning for an opportunity to end the streak. Following that, the Stars will round out the week with contests against the North Jersey Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers Elite.
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For a majority of the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite youth hockey program has had several teams among the Top 10 of their respective birth years.
The No. 16 ‘08 squad found a spot in the World Rankings for the first time this season. A sound 7-2 victory over No. 20 Bishop Kearney Selects played a role in that. Xavier Lieb tallied five points (2G, 3A) and Michael Ferentino notched two goals of his own. Even more impressive was Chris Nichols turning aside 27 of 29 shots he faced, holding the normally dynamic Selects offense in check.
For the No. 12 ‘09 Pens Elite, they too found themselves newcomers to the World Rankings. They put their scoring to the test against No. 9 U.S.-ranked Little Caesars and No. 13 Chicago Mission. Both contests were passed with ease by scores of 5-1 and 7-1, respectively. Both wins were also rebounds back into the win column for PPE, as each came after a defeat.
No. 4 SKA Silver Lions gutted out an impressive 6-4 final against No. 5 SKA Strelna, raising them in the Russian and World Rankings. It was also the final contest in the five-game regular season series between the two clubs. Strelna had won the previous two meetings in overtime, so the Silver Lions were able to grab a much-needed win in the finale.
Splitting a two game set with No. 8 Salavat Yulaev was enough for Metallurg Magnitogorsk to claim the No. 10 spot. It is their first time among the Top 10 in Russia for this campaign. Salavat took the first game, with Metallurg securing a 2-1 win in game 2.
The Top 10 for 2010-born Canadian teams saw two new clubs join the fray. No. 9 Markham Majors and No. 10 North Shore Winter Club have found success in recent weeks.
In the midst of a six-game winning streak, the Majors managed back-to-back wins against the North York Rangers and No. 5 Don Mills Flyers last week. Shutting out one of the best attacks of any Canadian program is no easy feat, but credit to the Majors for finding a way.
North Shore replaced a fellow Western Canadian club, the Semiahmoo Ravens, in this week’s rankings. The two teams met for the fifth time this season, with the Ravens falling 8-4. It was the first victory in the series for North Shore, with Semiahmoo winning three others. The two sides tied 3-3 on Nov. 27.
The Rochester Coalition experienced a boost into the No. 9 spot among 2011 U.S. teams with a sweep of the No. 2 Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers. The Coalition have had the Rangers’ number all season, winning all three games they have faced off in by a combined score of 11-6. Rochester is in the midst of a three-game win streak that the two victories against Mid-Fairfield kicked off.
Heading overseas, Kärpät Valkoinen has entered the chat for 2008-born Finnish squads. Off to an undefeated 5-0-0 record in the continuation of group play, their latest sets of wins came across some stiff competition. First was a 4-3 win against No. 10 Kärpät Musta before shutting out No. 9 KalPa.
Atte Toivonen led the way with four points (2G, 2A) across the two games. Lukas Kärenlampi nabbed a 38-save shutout against KalPa and stopped 37 of 40 against Musta.
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.
It’s a packed slate of games to watch this weekend. The Vaughan Kings battle Toronto Nationals in a Top-10 tilt on Monday. Tappara Sininen and TPS tangle in a Top-10 matchup between 2008s in Finland. The week concludes with a contest between Flemingsbergs IK and Transgunds. Then, a clash in Russia between CSKA Moscow and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
This tilt will be anything but cozy, as the No. 23 Toronto Nationals (34-12-3) will attempt to notch their first win against No. 13 Vaughan Kings (36-6-2) this season.
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| Monday, January 30 @ 6:55 PM EST Westwood Arena 2 |
In the previous two matchups, Vaughan skated away winners by scores of 5-4 and 4-0. The Nationals know they have the skill to compete with Vaughan, but it will be no easy task. The Kings come in winners of their last seven.
Keep an eye on the blue line for Toronto, as it will be tasked with shutting down one of the best offenses of any 2011-born team. Vaughan has an impressive plus-145 goal differential to date.
Pete’s Pick: While the first game between the two clubs was close, Vaughan showed there might just be more of a skill disparity here than meets the eye. That said, the Nationals will have some extra pep to try and finally nab a win. They will drop a close one, 4-2.
Craig’s Pick: Nats are 4-1-1 since their 4-0 loss to Vaughan earlier this month. And despite being unranked, they’ve actually fared alright against Top-10 opponents with a 5-4-1 record. This month alone, they beat No. 10 Oakville Rangers 4-0 and No. 9 Toronto Titans 5-1. I think the Nats have a good showing here, but ultimately Vaughan wins, 4-2.
No. 3 Tappara Sininen (22-2-5) and No. 5 TPS (21-6-0) should expect fireworks when the two drop the puck on Saturday.
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| Saturday, February 4 Sentteri AL |
Tappara has been unbeaten in six games since the continuation of group play for 2008-born teams began with the New Year. For TPS, it has been a bit of a slower start, settling for a 2-2-0 record in group play. This will be the first head-to-head battle between the two in their group setting.
Statistically, Tappara has been bringing the firepower. The top three point getters in the group all hail from the club. Jonatan Seppälä (5G, 10A), Eemil Mattanen (7G, 7A) and Jermu Myllä (6G, 7A) sit atop the leaderboard.
Attempting to counter that three-headed attack will be TPS’ Miro Aaltonen, who’s knack for finding the back of the net has shown strong. He has buried seven goals in just four games.
Pete’s Pick: These teams have played in some high-scoring games in group play this far, so offense will be a focal point. Tappara’s main players will get it done in this one, boosting them to a 5-2 win.
Craig’s Pick: Whatever the line is on total goals, take the over. I’m expecting a shootout north of eight goals scored in this one. I think that type of game favors Tappara and its high-powered offense. I’ll take the ‘Battle Axe’ to win 6-4.
No. 6 Sweden-ranked Trångsunds (10-3-4) will look to strengthen its resume when it faces off against No. 1 Flemingsbergs IK (33-3-4).
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| Saturday, February 4 Stortorpshallen |
Back on Dec. 19, the two sides skated to a 3-3 tie. Flemingsbergs took a 3-1 lead into the second period before Trångsunds struck twice quickly at the start of the second frame to even the score.
Flemingsbergs has been one of the premier units for the better part of the last two months. Since Dec. 3, they are unbeaten in seven games.
Pete’s Pick: Flemingsbergs took its foot off the gas in the last tilt between these two. I don’t think they underestimate their opponent this time, taking a 4-2 final.
Craig’s Pick: Flemingsbergs may be the better team on paper, but I think Trångsunds proved a lot in that 3-3 tie. The ability to dig themselves out of a 3-0 deficit and outshoot FIK in the process shows they can compete. Players like Jonatan Tapper, Alexandros Tsioulis and Malte Olenius will be ready to prove themselves in the rematch, and get a 3-1 win for Trångsunds.
No. 2 CSKA Moscow (23-2-0) and No. 18 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (15-7-0) will break their stalemate in the season series. A third game this weekend will break the 1-1 tie between these ‘06 Russian teams.
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| Sunday, February 5 |
Yaroslavl got the best of CSKA, 5-3, in the first matchup on Sept. 25. CSKA evened the series up with a 4-1 victory on Nov. 27. Alexei Elblaus and Vadim Dudorov stood out in the two games for Lokomotiv, registering four and three points, respectively. The two forwards are among the highest scorers for their squad. Dudorov has garnered 10 goals and 35 points to lead Lokomotiv, with Elblaus’ 20 points just behind.
Ivan Okunev had been the leader for CSKA all season long, currently with 44 points (21G, 23A).
Both teams have spent the entire 2022-23 season among the Top 10 in Russia.
Pete’s Pick: While Lokomotiv have put together a solid season, CSKA is just a notch above the rest of their birth year. Okunev is the real deal, and he single handedly could win this game for CSKA, but I like their depth better than that of Yaroslavl. CSKA goes up in the season series by the final whistle, 5-1.
Craig’s Pick: Lokomotiv is the only team in Russia with wins over the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the country. They’ve played opponents tough all season long. If — and it might be a big if — Lokomotiv can keep Okunev at bay, they just might steal another upset. Lokomotiv with another upset, 4-3.
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It was déjà vu for 2008-born No. 4 Northern Alberta Xtreme as they successfully defended their championship title at the 2023 Western Canadian Crown Invitational. The tournament, held from Jan. 18-22, saw the largest field of participants in its history, with 24 clubs lacing up their skates.
Teams were divided into six divisions of four teams, and NAX was placed into the Guenther Division. They were joined by the Lethbridge Golden Hawks, Delta Hockey Academy Black and Valley West Giants. The round-robin phase of the schedule proved to be just a warm up for Northern Alberta, as they went 3-0-0 while only allowing two goals.
Granted a quarterfinal-round bye resulting from their first-place finish in the division, the Xtreme’s next test would come from RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg. Jordan Duguay (2G, 2A) and Nolan Stewart (2G, 1A) would lead the way in a 9-2 victory for NAX.
The stage was set for the Division A championship between the Xtreme and the Calgary Bisons. The Xtreme opened up a formidable 5-1 lead in the first period that they would not relinquish. A large part of securing the win was holding Calgary’s leading scorer, Rhys Jamieson, to just one assist. In total across six games, Jamieson collected seven goals and 18 points.
"X MARKS THE SPOT"
— HNLive (@HNLiveCA) January 23, 2023
The Hosts and defending champs @NAXHockey knocked off a "surprising" but extremely talented @CBHA_Bisons squad in the U15 @cancrowntourney Championship.
Water is wet, ice is cold and @fan960lou calls championship hockey games! pic.twitter.com/Rk2UMLYIx8
Stewart would top the scoring leaderboard for Northern Alberta, notching six goals and 15 points. He was followed closely by Duguay’s four goals and 14 points.
While numerous players put up the points for NAX, the goaltending was preventing opponents from doing the same. The dynamic duo of Parker Snell and Taylor Raynard could not have been better. Snell posted a 3-0-0 record, with a 2.00 goals-against average and .885 save percentage with one shutout. Raynard was unbeatable in the two games he saw action, garnering a 1.00 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.
While not finding the scoresheet in the final game, Daxon Randolph was the Xtreme’s secret weapon all tournament. The 5-foot-11, 161-pound blueliner from Lacombe, Alberta, tallied 10 points (3G, 7A) in five games. He was also named one of the top playoff performers.
Final Score
— Canadian Crown Tournaments (@cancrowntourney) January 22, 2023
Bisons – 4
NAX – 7
Shots 37-21 for NAX
WHL Playoff Performers
NAX – Daxon Rudolph
Bisons – Dalton Forbes pic.twitter.com/kMaiQLNOi5
No. 19 Shattuck-St. Mary’s made sure that they made the most of their appearance at the 2023 John Reid Memorial U15 Tournament. First up were three round-robin contests against the St. Albert Sabres, OHA Edmonton, and St. George’s School.
Michael Berchild (3G, 5A) and Tynan Lawrence combined their skills to lead SSM through their first three games 3-0-0, outscoring opponents 21-3. The club’s semifinal date was next up against Yale Hockey Academy, which they too passed with flying colors en route to a 7-3 win.
OHA Penticton was the lone contender standing in the Sabres’ way to finishing with an unblemished record. It was evident from puck drop that Shattuck’s skill was too much for Penticton to overcome. SSM peppered Micah Davidson with 50 shots, and six found the back of the net through the first two periods. Despite outscoring Shattuck in the third period 2-1, Penticton would fall 7-4.
Zane Torre would pot the most points in the final contest, accumulating two goals and one assist. Throughout Shatuck’s run to the gold medal, Berchild led with 14 points, with Lawrence’s 11 behind him.
THE 2023 JMRT CHAMPIONS 🏆 #JRMT @SSM_Athletics pic.twitter.com/kAjpieVp1M
— John Reid Memorial Tournament (@JRMT15AAA) January 23, 2023
Two Shattuck players would nab Second-Team All-Star honors, with Parkier Trottier and Tyler McCracken both being awarded.
Huge congrats to the JRMT 2023 All-Star teams! Selections were made by scouts in attendance at the tournament. Thank you to our All-Star Team sponsors @lbhtimbermart @roketgear @SFSstalbert for your generous support! pic.twitter.com/DWbgnYkgX8
— John Reid Memorial Tournament (@JRMT15AAA) January 24, 2023
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The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) hosted the top 40 players in the league at Scotiabank Pond for the 2023 GTHL Top Prospects Game on Tuesday.
The event is organized to bring together the premier players from around the league for a “best-of-the-best” game against one another. Several GTHL clubs participated, with No. 2 Toronto Marlboros leading the way with 12 selections. The No. 9 Toronto Jr. Canadiens were a close second with nine players selected. The Don Mills Flyers and Vaughan Kings had six and five players selected, respectively. The Toronto Young Nationals and Mississauga Senators each had three players, with No. 20 Mississauga Rebels saw two players rostered.
That winning feeling 🤩#GTHLTopProspects | #GatoradeCanada pic.twitter.com/49qOodBNhM
— GTHL Hockey (@GTHLHockey) January 25, 2023
Invitees were split into two teams, each equipped with star-studded coaching staffs behind the benches. Team Clark-James-Stewart was led by NHL legend Wendel Clark, NWHL veteran and international women’s ice hockey icon Angela James and former NHLer Anthony Stewart. NHL veteran Nik Antropov, current head coach of the U15 Toronto Young Nationals Rane Carnegie and former NHL player and head coach Ted Nolan were the personalities in charge for Team Antropov-Carnegie-Nolan.
A huge thank-you to our #GTHLTopProspects Celebrity Coaches: Nik Antropov, Rane Carnegie, Ted Nolan, Angela James, and Wendel Clark for bringing the extra ⭐️ power! pic.twitter.com/qQhFAcq7oJ
— GTHL Hockey (@GTHLHockey) January 25, 2023
Players from the Marlboros, Young Nationals and Kings comprised Team Antropov-Carnegie-Nolan, with the remaining clubs filling out the roster for Team Clark-James-Stewart. The Marlboros made up a large portion of the defensive and forward units for their team. It was clear to see why, as the Marlboros regular-season team is currently equipped with a plus-190 goal differential. Jaden Nelson, one of the goaltenders for the Marlboros, was selected to man the crease along with Vaughan’s Owen Butler.
William Moore, also hailing from the Marlboros, was the lone participant in this year’s game who had also played in last year’s showcase.
Much like the Marlboros, the Jr. Canadiens slotted into most of the forward and defensive positions for their unit. Jack Ivankovic from the Senators and Abel Polan from Don Mills donned the pads.
Click HERE to see full rosters for the event.
Being that the top 2007-born prospects from around the GTHL were in action, the game between both squads was as exciting as it could have been.
Nico Addy and Shamar Moses got Team Clark-James-Stewart out to a 2-0 lead they would take into the first intermission. In the second period, the chances for both sides continued. Luca Romano took advantage of a misplay by Nelson behind the net to add a third tally. However, the Marlies’ Lev Katzin and Joseph Cadorin would both chip in goals of their own. The Kings’ Ewan McChesney would even the score at 3-3 heading into the third period.
Chase Del Colombo and Moore took over proceedings in the final period. Colombo would add his second point with a goal and Moore would find the back of the net twice. Romano would strike for his second goal of the game as well, but it was not enough as Team Antropov-Carnegie-Nolan secured the 6-4 comeback win.
Shamar Moses (@DMFlyersAAA) and Chase Del Colombo (@TorontoNatsU16) are your 2023 #GatoradeCanada Players of the Game! ⚪️⚫️#GTHLTopProspects | #IPlayInTheG pic.twitter.com/wGM4yDwBTk
— GTHL Hockey (@GTHLHockey) January 25, 2023
Don Mills’ Moses (1G) and Young Nationals’ Del Colombo (1G, 1A) were both named players of the game.
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