2015 NHL Draft
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2015 World Junior Championship

McDavid, Eichel add to reputations at World Juniors

Tuesday, 01.06.2015 / 9:30 AM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

TORONTO -- The border battle between forwards Connor McDavid of Canada and Jack Eichel of the United States, the projected top two picks in the 2015 NHL Draft, never fully materialized at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Still, each player certainly had his fair share of highlight-reel moments.

In the end, McDavid added a WJC gold medal to his trophy case while Eichel went home empty-handed for a second straight year in what will likely be the final opportunity for each player at the tournament designed for the best junior-aged players in the world.

Each player is expected to be making contributions in the NHL in 2015-16.

"I think the team picking first [at the NHL Draft] needs to give equal consideration to each of them," NHL Network analyst Craig Button said. "Neither one of them has given me any reason to change that outlook."

NHL.com's 2015 World Juniors All-Tournament Team

Tuesday, 01.06.2015 / 9:06 AM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

TORONTO -- There were plenty of magical moments to share and players to praise during the 11-day journey to crown gold medalist Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship at Air Canada Centre on Monday.

When Canadian fans weren't rooting for the host nation, their allegiance shifted to the darlings from Denmark. The Danes gave us one of the more memorable locker room celebrations at the WJC when, after a 4-3 shootout victory against Switzerland on Dec. 30 to earn a berth into the playoff round, they huddled, jumped and sang behind closed doors and were deemed hockey heroes in their country.

Canada holds off Russia to win gold at WJC

Tuesday, 01.06.2015 / 12:53 AM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

TORONTO -- Canada and Russia scripted yet another wild and unexpected chapter in their storied rivalry before a packed house at Air Canada Centre in the gold-medal game of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship on Monday.

The Canadians triggered a celebration five years in the making following a 5-4 victory to earn its 16th gold medal in the country's history and first since 2009 at this tournament.

After spotting Canada a four-goal lead, Russia pulled within one with three unanswered goals in a span of 3:16 in the second period.

But Canada would not be denied.

"To be on top with the gold medal is absolutely amazing; it's something I've always dreamed of," Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey said. "There were some pretty tense moments for the fans and I'm sure for the viewers at home. It was one of the more crazy games I've ever been a part of, but that's junior hockey.

"It's so exciting. [Coach Benoit Groulx] was able to calm us down and we did our job after that."

Canada's Fucale comes up big in third to win gold

Tuesday, 01.06.2015 / 12:22 AM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike Brophy - NHL.com Correspondent

TORONTO -- History will show Canada goalie Zachary Fucale shut the door on Russia in a 5-4 win in the gold-medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship at Air Canada Centre on Monday.

Fucale made 11 saves in the third period to help Canada protect a one-goal lead. Overall, Russia out-shot Canada 30-21.

But the Montreal Canadiens' prospect opted to share the credit.

"I am pretty happy we were here in Canada with our fans," Fucale said. "You guys don't know how much the fans helped us. From the start of the tournament until now, they supported us and we owe them a huge thank you for that."

Slovakia defeats Sweden to take bronze medal at WJC

Monday, 01.05.2015 / 7:28 PM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike Brophy - NHL.com Correspondent

TORONTO -- Slovakia won its second-ever medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship with a 4-2 victory against Sweden in the bronze-medal game at Air Canada Centre on Monday.

Slovakia also won a bronze medal in 1999.

Each team managed 28 shots on goal, but it was Slovakian goaltender Denis Godla, as he has done so often during the WJC, who stole the spotlight. Undrafted last year, Godla is eligible for 2015 NHL Draft.

Speaking through an interpreter, Godka said winning the bronze medal didn't mean as much to him personally as it does to hockey in Slovakia.

"It is a wonderful feeling," Godka said. "It is almost indescribable for all Slovakians. The Swedish team seemed to be disappointed from losing Sunday (4-1 against Russia) and we wanted to win more than they did."

Canada, Russia ready to play for gold again at WJC

Monday, 01.05.2015 / 12:49 AM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

TORONTO -- Canada will play Russia in the gold-medal game of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship at Air Canada Center on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NHLN-US). It's the 14th time in tournament history those teams have met in the WJC title game, and the eighth time since 1996.

Russia beat Sweden 4-1 in its semifinal Sunday while Canada beat Slovakia 5-1.

"It's special," Canada defenseman Joshua Morrissey said. "Canada and Russia; it's one of those great rivalries in hockey. It's always very intense. Hearing the fans chant 'Canada' and 'We want Russia' in the end was pretty cool. It's pretty inspiring."

Canada holds a 7-6 lead in the championship-round games. Russia, however, has defeated Canada in the playoff round at the past four tournaments, including the bronze-medal game in 2013 and 2014.

Petan's three goals lead Canada to gold-medal game

Sunday, 01.04.2015 / 11:38 PM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike Brophy - NHL.com Correspondent

TORONTO -- Canada will play for the gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time in four years after a 5-1 win against Slovakia at Air Canada Centre on Sunday.

Canada will play Russia on Monday in Toronto for the gold medal (8 p.m. ET, NHLN-US). Sweden and Slovakia will play for the bronze medal at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Nicolas Petan (Winnipeg Jets), who was placed on a line with Canada captain Curtis Lazar (Ottawa Senators) and Connor McDavid (draft-eligible 2015) midway through the game, led Canada with three goals.

Russia defeats Sweden to advance to WJC final

Sunday, 01.04.2015 / 6:37 PM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

TORONTO -- Russia forward Alexander Sharov scored two goals and Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves to lead Russia to a 4-1 victory against Sweden in the semifinal round of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship at Air Canada Centre on Sunday.

The victory assures Russia a third appearance in the gold medal game in the past five years. It last won gold at the 2011 WJC in Buffalo following a five-goal third period that led to a 5-3 victory against Canada. It was the country's first gold medal-winning effort since 2003 in Halifax and Sydney, Canada.

Lazar's smile, skills has WJC gold in reach for Canada

Saturday, 01.03.2015 / 12:00 PM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike Brophy - NHL.com Correspondent

TORONTO -- It's a smile that lights up and energizes a nation.

Curtis Lazar's ever-present grin has been the backdrop for a team trying to win Canada's first gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship since 2009.

Lazar (Ottawa Senators) is Canada's captain and leader. In a pressure-packed event where the host country is expected to succeed, he has drawn on his experience from a year ago, when Canada finished fourth after losing 2-1 to Russia in the bronze-medal game. That loss came two days after a 5-1 loss to Finland in the semifinal.

He had three goals and seven points in Malmo, Sweden, at the 2014 WJC, but Lazar knew it would be different playing the 2015 WJC in Canada in front of family and friends, not to mention a hockey-mad nation that expects nothing less than gold.

Sweden, Russia, Canada, Slovakia set for WJC semis

Saturday, 01.03.2015 / 11:28 AM / 2015 World Junior Championship

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

TORONTO -- Sweden, Russia, Canada and Slovakia are the final four teams left at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, and they'll play in the semifinals Sunday at Air Canada Centre.

Sweden, who won the silver medal at the 2014 WJC, plays Russia, the 2014 bronze medalists, in one semifinal; Canada faces Slovakia in the second game.

The survivors will meet in the gold-medal game in Toronto on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. The bronze-medal game is Monday at 4 p.m. ET.

Canada is making its 17th consecutive appearance in the tournament semifinals, Sweden is making its ninth straight appearance and Russia is in the final four for the fifth straight time. Slovakia, which has finished no higher than sixth (2012) the past five years at the WJC, last earned a semifinal berth in 2009.

A new champion is guaranteed this year since Finland, the 2014 gold medalist, lost 6-3 to Sweden on Friday in the quarterfinals. The other quarterfinal games saw Canada beat Denmark 8-0; Russia defeat the United States 3-2; and Slovakia defeat the Czech Republic 3-0.

Here is a closer look at the semifinal games:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Next | Last

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