Three New York Rangers prospects will
represent their country in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Brandon Halverson (United States), Adam Huska (Slovakia), and Aleksi
Saarela (Finland) will participate in the tournament, which takes place
in Helsinki, Finland from December 26 to January 5.
Halverson,
19, has appeared in 21 games with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of
the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season, posting a 9-10-1 record.
The Rangers’ second round pick (59th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry
Draft has made 30 or more saves in 11 appearances this season, and he
has posted a 4-1-0 record, along with a 2.40 GAA and a .928 SV% in his
last five appearances with the Greyhounds. Last season, Halverson became
the first Rangers draft pick in franchise history to earn 40 or more
wins in one season of junior hockey.
The
Traverse City, Michigan native also represented the United States in the
2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. Halverson stopped all 14 shots he
faced to earn his first career international win/shutout while making
his international debut on Dec. 28, 2014 against Germany.
Huska,
18, has appeared in 17 games with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United
States Hockey League (USHL) this season, posting an 11-6-0 record, along
with a 1.65 GAA, a .942 SV%, and 4 SO. The Rangers’ seventh round pick
(184th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft leads the USHL in GAA, SV%,
and SO, and ranks fourth in the league in wins in 2015-16. In his last
15 appearances in the USHL, he has posted an 11-4-0 record, along with a
1.39 GAA, a .952 SV%, and 4 SO, and he has allowed one goal or fewer in
10 of the 15 contests over the span.
The Zvolen,
Slovakia native has represented his country in several tournaments. Last
season, Huska posted a 3.01 GAA and a .913 SV% in five appearances
while representing Slovakia in the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship. He
was named one of the top three players on Slovakia in the tournament.
Saarela,
18, has skated in 27 games with Ässät of Liiga this season, registering
ten goals and five assists for 15 points, along with a plus-four rating
and 12 penalty minutes. The Rangers’ third round pick (89th overall) in
the 2015 NHL Entry Draft is tied for first among all players younger
than 20 years old in Liiga in goals in 2015-16, and he is tied for 11th
among all players in the league in goals this season.
The
Helsinki, Finland native has represented his country in several
tournaments. This season, Saarela registered two assists and posted a
plus-three rating in three games while representing Finland in the Four
Nations Tournament, and he helped Finland post a 3-0-0 record in the
tournament. Last season, Saarela registered three goals and five assists
for eight points, along with a plus-six rating in seven games while
helping Finland capture a silver medal in the 2015 IIHF U18 World
Championship.
NY Rangers Alumni Michael Nylander's Son and Leafs top prospect William Nylander takes shot to head in WJC game
Toronto Maple Leafs management, coaches and its fan base are holding
its collective breath right now as it awaits word on the health of the
club's top prospect.
Swedish world junior forward William Nylander, who stars for the Leafs' farm team, suffered an injury Saturday in a game against Switzerland.
Swiss forward Chris Egli levelled Nylander with a shot to the head near centre ice halfway through the first period.
The 19-year-old left the game and did not return, which Sweden won 8-3.
A team doctor neither confirmed nor denied Nylander had a concussion. He will be monitored at the team hotel overnight.
Nylander, selected eighth overall by the Leafs in the 2014 NHL draft, is considered one of the main attractions at the Helsinki-hosted championship tournament.
His 34 points in 27 games this season for the Toronto Marlies leads all American Hockey League players.
Canada stumbles in opening loss to U.S. at WJC
HELSINKI - This was always going to be a challenge.
In previous years, Canada began the world junior championship against non-contenders like Belarus and Denmark, the equivalent to dipping your toe in a cold lake. This year, they had to jump right in and play the United States.
In some ways, it was a litmus test. The Americans, who are led by 2016 top draft prospect Auston Matthews, are considered one of the favourites to win this tournament. Canada is too. So playing them on Boxing Day — rather than on New Year’s Eve, as has typically been the tradition — allowed everyone to see where they stood.
And by the end of a tightly contested, back-and-forth battle, Canada got a taste of things to come.
The U.S. scored three goals in the third period — including two goals in a span of 37 seconds — to defeat Canada 4-2.
Though the game showcased a major weakness with the Canadians — goaltender Mason McDonald allowed four goals on 19 shots — there was a lot to be happy about. Canada was in this game the whole time. They drove possession and had plenty of chances to score and actually came back after being down 2-1 in the third period. But in the end, the U.S. had too many offensive weapons to contend with.
After a scoreless first period, Matt Barzal gave Canada a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second period. But the U.S. went ahead 2-1 on goals from Colin White and Zach Werenski.
Down 2-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the third period, Dylan Strome tied the game on the power play. Taking a feed from Mitch Marner, the Arizona Coyotes prospect walked into the slot and ripped a wrist shot past Alex Nedeljkovic’s glove hand.
But the U.S. never quit and goals from Louis Belpedio and Matthews, who also picked up an assist, scored twice in 37 seconds sealed the victory.
Canada faces Denmark on Monday at 1 p.m. EST.
Swedish world junior forward William Nylander, who stars for the Leafs' farm team, suffered an injury Saturday in a game against Switzerland.
Swiss forward Chris Egli levelled Nylander with a shot to the head near centre ice halfway through the first period.
The 19-year-old left the game and did not return, which Sweden won 8-3.
A team doctor neither confirmed nor denied Nylander had a concussion. He will be monitored at the team hotel overnight.
Nylander, selected eighth overall by the Leafs in the 2014 NHL draft, is considered one of the main attractions at the Helsinki-hosted championship tournament.
His 34 points in 27 games this season for the Toronto Marlies leads all American Hockey League players.
Canada stumbles in opening loss to U.S. at WJC
HELSINKI - This was always going to be a challenge.
In previous years, Canada began the world junior championship against non-contenders like Belarus and Denmark, the equivalent to dipping your toe in a cold lake. This year, they had to jump right in and play the United States.
In some ways, it was a litmus test. The Americans, who are led by 2016 top draft prospect Auston Matthews, are considered one of the favourites to win this tournament. Canada is too. So playing them on Boxing Day — rather than on New Year’s Eve, as has typically been the tradition — allowed everyone to see where they stood.
And by the end of a tightly contested, back-and-forth battle, Canada got a taste of things to come.
The U.S. scored three goals in the third period — including two goals in a span of 37 seconds — to defeat Canada 4-2.
Though the game showcased a major weakness with the Canadians — goaltender Mason McDonald allowed four goals on 19 shots — there was a lot to be happy about. Canada was in this game the whole time. They drove possession and had plenty of chances to score and actually came back after being down 2-1 in the third period. But in the end, the U.S. had too many offensive weapons to contend with.
After a scoreless first period, Matt Barzal gave Canada a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second period. But the U.S. went ahead 2-1 on goals from Colin White and Zach Werenski.
Down 2-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the third period, Dylan Strome tied the game on the power play. Taking a feed from Mitch Marner, the Arizona Coyotes prospect walked into the slot and ripped a wrist shot past Alex Nedeljkovic’s glove hand.
But the U.S. never quit and goals from Louis Belpedio and Matthews, who also picked up an assist, scored twice in 37 seconds sealed the victory.
Canada faces Denmark on Monday at 1 p.m. EST.
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