Six Ducks Prospects to Compete in 2022 World Junior Championship

Six Ducks prospects will represent their countries in the 2022 World Junior Championship, beginning Tuesday in Edmonton.

The tournament runs from Aug. 9 - 20, with all games scheduled for Rogers Place and televised live on NHL Network in the United States.
The annual competition was originally set for its customary run from late December to early January, but was postponed after four days of round-robin play due to COVID-19 challenges. The tournament will now restart at square one, wiping away scores and stats accumulated prior to the postponement.
Anaheim's three Canadian prospects are tied with the New York Rangers for the most representing the host nation, while the club's six total prospects are tied for third most in the NHL.
Team Canada - Mason McTavish, Olen Zellweger, Nathan Gaucher
Team USA - Ian Moore, Sasha Pastujov
Team Sweden - Calle Clang
About the World Junior Championship
The World Junior Championship features a 10-team field split in two groups. Each country plays a four-game round robin schedule leading to an eight-team playoff. The United States will compete in Group B along with Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Group A features Canada, Finland, Czechia, Slovakia and Latvia.
The top four teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals on Aug. 17. The semifinals are scheduled for Aug. 19 with the championship and third-place contests the following day.
The U.S. is looking to defend its 2021 gold medal and repeat as champions for the first time. No country has won back-to-back titles since Canada captured five straight from 2005-2009.
Ducks Prospects WJC Schedule:
Tuesday, August 9
Germany vs. USA, 7 p.m. PT
Wednesday, August 10
Switzerland vs. Sweden, 11 a.m. PT
Canada vs. Latvia, 3 p.m. PT
Thursday, August 11
Canada vs. Slovakia, 3 p.m. PT
USA vs. Switzerland, 7 p.m. PT
Friday, August 12
Sweden vs. Austria, 11 a.m. PT
Saturday, August 13
USA vs. Austria, 11 a.m. PT
Czechia vs. Canada, 3 p.m. PT
Sunday. August 14
Sweden vs. USA, 7 p.m. PT
Monday, August 15
Finland vs. Canada, 3 p.m. PT
Germany vs. Sweden, 7 p.m. PT
Wednesday, August 17
Quarterfinal, 9 a.m. PT
Quarterfinal, 12:30 p.m. PT
Quarterfinal, 4 p.m. PT
Quarterfinal, 7:30 p.m. PT
Friday, August 19
Semifinal, 1 p.m. PT
Semifinal, 5 p.m. PT
Saturday, August 20
Bronze Medal Game, 1 p.m. PT
Gold Medal Game, 5 p.m. PT
Mason McTavish
Named the Canadian captain last week, McTavish is no stranger to international competition and is expected to center Canada's top line. The 19-year-old has had a whirlwind year since Anaheim selected him third overall in 2021, including an OHL championship, an appearance in the Olympics, his NHL debut and his first NHL goal.

McTavish is the youngest goal scorer in both Anaheim Ducks and San Diego Gulls histories and one of six players in Ducks history with a multi-point performance in their NHL debut.

After returning to the OHL, McTavish totaled 20 goals and 47 points with a +30 rating in 29 games with Hamilton and Peterborough, finishing seventh among OHL leaders in points per game (1.62) and goals per game (.69). He helped guide Hamilton to an OHL title and berth in the Memorial Cup Final, earning a place on the Memorial Cup All-Star Team with eight points in five games.
Olen Zellweger
Anaheim's second round selection in 2021, Zellweger will be a key part of the Team Canada defense after earning Western Hockey League Defenseman of the Years honors last season. The Calgary native led all league blueliners in points (78), points per game (1.42) and assists (55), the best offensive season for an 18-year-old WHL defenseman since Scott Niedermayer (1.44 points per game) in 1990-91.
Nathan Gaucher
The 22nd selection in last month's NHL Draft, Gaucher is already showing why he earned the QMJHL's Mike Bossy Award as the league's "Best Professional Prospect", as the big physical forward is the lone 2022 draftee to earn a spot on Canada's tournament roster. Gaucher scored 31 goals with a +30 rating in 66 games for the Quebec Remparts last season and will likely fill a checking role for the Canadians.
Ian Moore
A third-round pick in 2020, Moore is one of the oldest players on the Team USA roster and will be counted on a steading presence on the Americans' blueline. In his freshman season at Harvard University, Moore led all first-year ECAC defenseman in scoring with 15 points in 22 games. He also helped the Crimson to an ECAC championship and NCAA tournament berth, was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team and earned an All-Ivy League honorable mention.
Sasha Pastujov
Another of Anaheim's third-round selections, Pastujov enjoyed a breakout season in first OHL campaign, leading the Guelph Storm in scoring (76 points), goals, assists, power-play goals (10), power-play assists (18) and shots (253). The Florida born winger will be looked to provide some scoring punch for the U.S. as a proven international producer, he led Team USA in scoring and goals at the 2021 U-18 World Championship.
Calle Clang
Acquired from Pittsburgh in March, Clang signed his entry-level contract with Anaheim after a productive rookie season with Rogle (SHL). Clang is competing with Minnesota prospect and 2021 first-round pick Jesper Wallstedt for Sweden's starting nod.