Starting the day after Christmas, the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships will kick off from Toronto and Montreal. While many eyes are going to be on Connor McDavid (Team Canada) and Jack Eichel (Team USA), the Predators have a few prospects who are going to be representing them for their respective countries.
The preliminary round last from the 27th until the 31st. Teams earn 3 points for a regulation win, and point for getting to overtime with an additional point if they win. The top four teams in each group will advance to the playoff rounds, which will take place from January 2nd through January 4th. The losers of each will play in the relegation round. The bronze and gold medal games will take place on January 5th. For more info an rules, click here.
Team Finland – Group A
D – Joonas Lyytinen (KalPa Kuopio)
Hockey’s Future – Elite Prospects
Drafted: 5th round, 132nd overall in 2014.
G – Juuse Saros (HPK Hameenlinna)
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Hockey’s Future – Elite Prospects
Drafted: 4th round, 99th overall in 2013
Saros led Finland to its goal medal last year, and is slowly making a name for himself as another outstanding product of Finnish netminding.
Preliminary Round Schedule
December 26th – 2 p.m. CST vs. USA
December 27th – 3 p.m. CST vs. Slovakia
December 29th – 7 p.m. CST vs. Canada
December 31st – 7 p.m. CST vs. Germany
Team Russia – Group B
F – Vladislav Kamenev (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL)
Hockey’s Future – Elite Prospects
Drafted: 2nd round, 42nd overall in 2014.
Kamenev has only tallied 8 points in the KHL so far this year, but it’s important to remember he just turned 18 in August. It’s still unknown when exactly he’ll make the jump over to the NHL, but according to a translated interview in early November, it’s his dream and he follows the Predators closely.
Preliminary Round Schedule
December 26th – 12 p.m. CST vs. Denmark
December 28th – 4 p.m. CST vs. Switzerland
December 29th – 4 p.m. CST vs. Sweden
December 31st – 4 p.m. CST vs. Czech Republic
Team Switzerland – Group B
F – Kevin Fiala (HV71, SHL)
Hockey’s Future – Elite Prospects
Drafted: 1st round, 11th overall in 2014
Fiala needs no introduction to Preds fans watching during training camp. The 18-year-old was so good that he generated chatter about him cracking the lineup this season. That wasn’t going to happen, but Fiala really has a chance to make a statement in this tournament and kickstart the dreams of he and Filip Forsberg together.
Preliminary Round Schedule
December 27th – 4 p.m. CST vs. Czech Republic
December 28th – 4 p.m. CST vs. Russia
December 30th – 4 p.m. CST vs. Denmark
December 31st – 12 p.m. CST vs. Sweden
Team USA – Group A
D – Jack Dougherty (University of Wisconsin)
Hockey’s Future – Elite Prospects
Drafted: 2nd round, 51st overall in 2014.
Poor guy. After being selected to the initial selection camp, Dougherty was one of the final cuts off the USA roster on Saturday.
Dougherty just started his first year at the University of Wisconsin, and has a goal and an assist in 10 games. The Badgers are known for churning out great hockey players, including Predators like Craig Smith and formerly Ryan Suter. This tournament would likely have given Nashvillians their best and possibly first look at him. It will most likely still be a while before Dougherty sees any type of professional action. He’s still 18, so there’s always next year. If you absolutely can’t wait, you can catch the Badgers playing on TV if you have any of Big Ten Network, ESPN-U, Fox Sports Wisconsin, or CBS Sports.
Preliminary Round Schedule
December 26th – 2 p.m. CST vs. Finland
December 28th – 7 p.m. CST vs. Germany
December 29th – 3 p.m. CST vs. Slovakia
December 31st – 3 p.m. CST vs. Canada
How to Watch
NHL Network and NHL.com are going to be televising and streaming all of the Team USA games.
As of right now, there isn’t a solid schedule of televised games as far as the other countries go. NHL Network will sometimes carry them if USA or Canada isn’t playing. Once the playoffs start, though, they will have it all.
We will keep you updated on availability and all the their progress as the tournament gets underway!