10 things learned at 2022 World Junior Championship
McTavish flourishes for Canada, named tournament MVP; Bedard lives up to hype
© Lawrence Scott/Getty Images
The dramatic conclusion came eight months after the tournament was initially postponed Dec. 29 following four days of action because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
It was the first championship for Canada since 2020, when it defeated Russia 4-3 in overtime.
Canada forward
Mason McTavish
, chosen No. 3 by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL Draft, was named the tournament's most valuable player. McTavish led the WJC with eight goals and 17 points in seven games. It's the third time in WJC history that a Ducks prospect was named MVP (Trevor Zegras, United States, 2021; John Gibson, United States, 2013).
The WJC Media All-Star Team included Sweden goalie
Jesper Wallstedt
(Minnesota Wild), Canada defenseman
Olen Zellweger
(Ducks), Sweden defenseman
Emil Andrae
(Philadelphia Flyers), Czechia forward
Jan Mysak
(Montreal Canadiens), Finland forward
Joakim Kemell
(Nashville Predators) and McTavish.
Here are 10 other things learned at the tournament:
McTavish eyeing NHL chance
McTavish not only proved he was the best player of the 2022 World Juniors, he's also more than ready to possibly play a significant role for the Ducks this season.
"He's an NHL player," Canada coach Dave Cameron said. "I don't think anybody is surprised by what he brings to the ice, but what really impresses me is his attitude. He has no ego. He probably had every reason in the world not to come to this tournament just because of the timing of it and he was fully engaged in it and obviously his performance was outstanding."
McTavish continually created separation with his speed and big shot, scoring four goals in an 11-1 win against Slovakia on Aug. 12 to tie a Canada record for most in a WJC game with six others (Mario Lemieux, 1984; Simon Gagne, 1999; Brayden Schenn, 2011; Taylor Raddysh, 2017; Max Comtois, 2019; Connor Bedard, December of the 2022 tournament). He had two assists in the win against Finland in the final.
In addition, the 19-year-old might best be remembered for the goal-line save he made 1:06 before Kent Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets) scored the winner 3:20 into overtime in the championship.
The legend of Zellweger
The Canada defenseman led all tournament players at his position with nine assists, 11 points, and plus-14 rating in seven games. He also had 16 shots on goal and averaged 20:31 in ice time.
Zellweger tied for third for the most points by a Canada defenseman in a single WJC, trailing Alex Pietrangelo (12 points in 2010) and Bryan McCabe (12 in 1995).
The 18-year-old, chosen in the second round (No. 34) of the 2021 draft, had 78 points (14 goals, 64 assists) in 55 games for Everett of the Western Hockey League last season.
"Something I picked up and learned a lot about in Everett is shooting to sticks
(Boston Bruins) led all Sweden forwards with six points (two goals, four assists) and defenseman
Simon Edvinsson
(Detroit Red Wings) led it in average ice time (22:27).
The consolation game was the last for Sweden coach Tomas Monten at World Juniors. He guided it to three top-three finishes (second in 2018) in six years.
"We had to regroup, come together, and we talked about having a responsibility for our country and, of course, Tomas Monten, too," Andrae said. "It was his last game, and we came together and said we were going to do it for him, so I'm happy for him."
Wallstedt rebounds
Wallstedt, the tournament's top goalie, finished with a 1.62 goals-against average and .939 save percentage in five games, his final World Juniors appearance.
The 19-year-old saved his best for last when he made 27 saves in the consolation game win.
"I wanted to finish with a medal," he said. "I think the timing of this tournament was great for me. I think it was good to get on the smaller ice and adjust a little bit to that. That'll for sure give me an advantage before heading to training camp in a couple of weeks."
In a 3-2 loss to the United States in the preliminary round, Wallstedt allowed three goals on 41 shots and felt he "betrayed the whole team and disappointed the whole country." Redemption came in a 3-2 win against Czechia.
"I think that just shows my mental game," Wallstedt said. "I'm quite hard on myself. I have high expectations but that's the way I want to be. I expect myself to play well and if I'm not good enough, I'm going to tell everyone but that just shows my ability to bounce back, go out there with the team and get those wins. I'm so happy now to stand here now with the bronze medal."
Finland comes up short
Finland made a valiant effort but came up short in the final.
The country had 21 NHL-drafted players on the roster, three from the New York Islanders (
Aatu Raty
, 2021 NHL Draft;
Eetu Liukas
, 2021;
Matias Rajaniemi
, 2020).
Finland had the best power play in the tournament (14-for-27, 51 percent). The top line of
Roni Hirvonen
(Toronto Maple Leafs), Raty and Kemell combined for 10 goals and 29 points. Kemell led Finland with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) and 27 shots on goal in seven games. Hirvonen led it with three power-play goals and Raty had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in seven games.
"I'm really proud; it was an amazing performance from the group," Finland coach Antti Pennanen said. "I'm proud overall with how our journey has been. We were so close."
Goalies
Leevi Merilainen
(Ottawa Senators) and Juha Jatkola (2023 draft eligible) each played a key role in the tournament. Merilainen finished with a 2.70 GAA and .893 save percentage in four games. Jatkola (1.96 GAA, .916 save percentage) made 23 saves in a 1-0 win against Sweden in the semifinals and 30 in the final.
United States finishes fifth
The United States failed to finish among the top three at the World Juniors for the second time in seven years after a 4-2 loss to Czechia in the quarterfinals. It entered as the defending champion after a 2-0 victory against Canada in 2021 final. It finished sixth in 2020.
"I thought we played four good games but laid a dud (against Czechia) and it (stinks) but you have to play your best at this point," coach Nate Leaman said. "I thought our group had a lot of potential but it's a one-and-done scenario and we just didn't have it. I give credit to Czechia. I thought they were a hungry team, they blocked shots, and scored at the right times."
Center
Logan Cooley
(Arizona Coyotes) said, "Obviously for the '02 players, this was their last shot. It's terrible the way it ended, but happy with the way the guys battled."
Luke Hughes earns bragging rights
Luke Hughes
(New Jersey Devils) had six points (one goal, five assists) in five games and became the first of the three Hughes siblings to score a goal at the World Junior Championship.
The 18-year-old sophomore defenseman at the University of Michigan was selected one of the three best players for the United States, leading all skaters in average ice time (22:02).
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes had five assists in 14 games at the tournament (in 2018 and 2019). Devils center Jack Hughes had four assists in four games in 2019.
"They're really excited for me," Luke Hughes said of his brothers. "Anytime you get to wear the USA jersey is such an honor, so they were really excited when this tournament got reinstated."
Forward Thomas Bordeleau (San Jose Sharks) said, "Luke's always been a great player. He's got a heck of a career in front of him, and I'm going to play against him in the future, so I wish him the best of luck."
Latvia gets first win at WJC
The Latvia National Junior Team won a preliminary-round game at the World Juniors for the first time in 10 years when Ralfs Bergmanis had a natural hat trick in a 5-2 upset of Czechia on Aug. 15.
The win helped Latvia qualify for the medal round of the tournament for the first time in seven appearances. It was its first win since defeating Denmark 2-1 in overtime in a 2012 relegation-round game. The country failed to win its previous 27 preliminary-round games.
"We're really excited about this," Bergmanis added. "At the start, everybody was making jokes about us, saying we should just be happy to be here. But we've made history, and we're here to win. Yesterday we had a players-only meeting and everybody talked about winning today. We're like one, big family."
Latvia finished seventh in the tournament after a 2-1 loss to Sweden in the quarterfinal round.
2023 WJC setup
The 2023 IIHF WJC will return to Canada in four months. Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick will host the event from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2023.
It will be the 15th World Juniors in Canada, and the first time in Atlantic Canada since 2003 (Halifax and Sydney, N.S.).
Here are the groupings:
Group A: Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Germany and Austria at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.
Group B: United States, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Latvia at Avenir Centre in Moncton.
