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The Canadiens are very well represented at this year’s World Junior Championships, they initially had 6 prospects taking part but with Colton Dach’s injury ruling him out for the rest of the tournament, Team Canada has called on Owen Beck to fill his roster spot.
This morning, Vinzenz Rohrer (2nd round pick at the last draft) scored for Austria in the first relegation game against Latvia. Unfortunately for him though, his team lost 5-2 and they are now on the brink of relegation in this best of 3 series. The next duel will take place on Wednesday and a win is a must if Austria wants to stay alive. In 5 games, Rohrer has got 2 goals and an assist with a -4 rating. Considering his country has been the worst team in the tournament, it’s a very respectable level of production.
Oliver Kapanen (2nd round pick, 64th overall at the 2021 draft) and Finland are currently taking on Adam Engstrom (3rd round pick, 92nd overall at the 2022 draft) and Sweden in the first quarter final. Kapanen is wearing the C for his country this tourney and he’s been an important cog in its system. As I write this, the score is tied 2-2 and Kapanen has got his country’s first goal. As for Engstrom, he showed great mobility throughout the tournament, and he had 3 points in 4 games prior to today’s tilt.
At 4:00 PM, Lane Hutson (2nd round pick at the last draft, 62nd overall) and Team USA will be taking on Germany. The 18-year-old blueliner would have been grabbed much earlier if he had been taller, but his small stature meant that he was still available when the Habs got to pick late in the 2nd round. In 4 games, he’s got a goal and an assist and anyone who seen him play will have appreciated both his skating and offensive instincts.
Finally, at 6:30 PM, Joshua Roy (5th round pick and 150th overall at the 2021 draft) and newly arrived Owen Beck (2nd round pick and 33rd overall at the 2022 draft) will be representing Canada for its match against Slovakia and Filip Mesar (1st round pick and 26th overall at the 2022 draft). This is the game I’m most looking forward to today, Joshua Roy has had a great tournament so far and there’s definitely some chemistry between him and phenomenon Connor Bedard. Roy has got 6 points in 4 games so far and watching him play with Bedard has got Habs fans dreaming and why not? Right now, the Canadiens hold positions 6 and 8 in the upcoming draft lottery, so it could happen.
As for Beck, he’s yet to play in this tournament having just joined the team but he’s had a very good season in the OHL after impressing at the Canadiens’ training camp and forcing Kent Hughes to sign him to an entry level deal right away. In 30 games with the Mississauga Steelheads, the young center has got 40 points well on his way to beat his 51 points total from last season.
Meanwhile, Filip Mesar who was disappointed to be loaned to the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL this year has been an important part of Slovakia’s team in this tournament, he’s got 5 points in 4 games and will be looking to add to his totals against Canada. In the OHL this season he’s got 22 points in 17 games, and it looks like it was the right decision to give him a chance to acclimate to the North American style of play at the Junior level.
The Canadiens have a day off today, but the World Junior Championships should be more than enough to keep you busy! If you need some NHL action though, the Bruins and Penguins are facing off in this year’s Winter Classic at 2:00 PM, it should be a rather entertaining game. Unfortunately, Kris Letang will not be playing, not only is he injured but his father passed away unexpectedly yesterday, my thoughts are with him and his family at this trying time. The Habs will be back in action tomorrow in Nashville against the Predators.
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