2013 U18 WJC Playoffs: Canada, Russia could renew gold medal rivalry Photo: Forward Vladimir Tkachev has been the scoring star so far for Russia at the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship (courtesy of Derek Leung/Getty Images) The preliminary round has come and gone at the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship, and Groups A and B each featured one fairly dominant team. 2013 U18 WJC Video: Josh Morrissey, Canada Photo: Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Josh Morrissey is no stranger to international events as he has represented Canada at both the U17 and U18 tournaments this season (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) Canada has opened the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship with three consecutive victories, with their most important game of the preliminary round coming up against Sweden. Game #3 was won in convincing fashion as the Canadians thrashed Switzerland, 10-1 at the Maly Ice Palace in Sochi, Russia. 2013 U18 WJC Preview: Canada hopes to improve on last year’s bronze finish Photo: Team Canada’s U18 squad will feature the usual complement of offensive talent, perhaps none more talented than OHL Rookie of the Year Connor McDavid (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images) Canadian national team coach Don Hay is heading to Sochi as a man with a great deal of experience ranging from the NHL (Calgary and Phoenix) right on down to over 20 years of experience in Canadian juniors, having won the Memorial Cup on three separate occasions. Now it’ll be his duty to quickly turn an extremely talented group of young men into a championship caliber team. Beyond Tomorrow: Draisaitl makes a solid first impression Photo: Prince Albert Raiders forward and 2014 draft prospect Leon Draisaitl is a finalist for the WHL's Rookie of the Year award (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) The Prince Albert Raiders have struggled to make the playoffs for the last several years, despite the best efforts of players like current team leader and first-round NHL draft pick, Mark McNeil (CHI). Enter Leon Draisaitl, a German-born WHL rookie and 2014 draft-eligible forward who scored at nearly a point-per-game pace in his rookie season. Draisaitl and McNeil combined for 125 points and led the Raiders to their first post-season appearance in almost a decade. Rattie tops a mostly unheralded group of WHL wingers Photo: Dallas Stars' prospect Matej Stransky and his Saskatoon Blades teammates did not fare well in the WHL playoffs, but they will nevertheless get another shot at winning the Memorial Cup as the host team for that event (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) Many of the WHL’s top players achieve success due in part to their versatility, as most forwards will take a spin from time to time at the center position. The following ranking includes wingers that are currently property of a National Hockey League team. |
