After being canceled and rescheduled due to COVID-19 in the winter, the summer edition of the tournament kicks off Tuesday morning at Rogers Place in Edmonton as the hockey community shifts its eyes to the best players under 20 years old in the world.
Lukas Cormier, Canada
Fresh off a career-year with the Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL), Cormier was off to a great start to the World Junior Championship in the winter before the tournament was postponed. He had a goal and an assist through two games but is looking to use the clean slate to put up even stronger numbers this time around. The 2020 third-round pick (68th overall) had 81 points (33G, 48A) from the blueline with Charlottetown last season and added another 21 points (8G, 13A) in 15 playoff games.
Matyas Sapovaliv, Czechia
Sapovaliv's whirlwind summer continues as he suits up for the Czech under-20 team as an 18-year-old just one month after being selected in the second round (48th overall) by the Golden Knights. He skated with the under-18 team last year and had three points (1G, 2A) in six games of competition. Sapovaliv played his first season of hockey in North America in 2021-22 as he notched 52 points (18G, 34A) in 68 games with the Saginaw Spirit (OHL).
Jakub Demek, Slovakia
Demek returns to the Slovakian under-20 team this summer after playing in two games in the canceled tournament eight months ago. The Kosice, Slovakia native broke out in his first year of junior hockey in Canada as he posted 54 points (20G, 34A) in 55 games and 17 points (5G, 12A) in 19 playoff games for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Demek was drafted by the Golden Knights in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft (128th overall).
Carl Lindbom, Sweden
Lindbom joins the Swedish World Junior Championship team after participating in his first Development Camp with the Golden Knights in July. After being selected in the seventh round (222nd overall) by Vegas in 2021, Lindbom will participate in his first under-20 World Junior Championship.
