Wahlstrom reflects on viral shootout move

PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Before he became a top prospect for the 2018 NHL Draft, United States forward Oliver Wahlstrom made headlines for his incredible shootout move for a goal prior to a Boston Bruins game as a 9-year-old.
"On that goal I was going to have some fun with it so I just picked it up on my stick, twirled it around, shot, and it went in," Wahlstrom, 17, said. "When I saw it go in I was shocked, to be honest. I can tell you that's a pretty low-percentage move."

Wahlstrom became a viral sensation for a time. Now that he's a top prospect for the draft, it's being brought up again.
Watch: Youtube Video
"It was pretty spectacular, doing something like that at a young age," said teammate and fellow 2018 draft prospect Brady Tkachuk. "I still can't do that now, so I was pretty impressed."
Wahlstrom (6-foot-1, 198 pounds) said he still can do the move but has no intention of breaking it out during the World Junior Summer Showcase, the first step in his goal of playing for the U.S. at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.
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"I remember seeing the video," U.S. coach Bob Motzko said. "Everyone was talking about it this week, but I didn't know it was [Wahlstrom] who scored it until they pulled it up on the Internet. He's gotten a lot bigger since then, but it was a pretty impressive goal."
Here are four other things learned from the Summer Showcase on Monday:

Sean Dhooghe out to make an impression

After going unselected in the 2017 draft, U.S. forward Sean Dhooghe is using the World Junior Summer Showcase to show NHL teams they made a mistake.
"Everyone is here," he said. "You're playing at the highest stage you can at this age level. A tournament like this is huge. The fact that I can get back in front of all 31 teams at once is a big opportunity."
Dhooghe had 37 points (18 goals, 19 assists) in 65 games with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program under-18 team last season, and at the 2017 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, he had nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games to help the U.S. win the gold medal.
But at 5-foot-3, 138 pounds, his size works against him. NHL Central Scouting left him off its final ranking of North American skaters for the 2017 draft.
He'll be a freshman at the University of Wisconsin in the fall and said one of his goals is to add strength while not sacrificing any of his speed.
"We've been working all summer in the weight room," he said. "I keep putting on pounds, as much as I can. But the last thing I want to do is affect how fast I can skate. We're going to find a healthy middle there and go from there."
Dhooghe, who attended San Jose Sharks development camp, scored a first-period goal against Sweden in USA Blue's 4-3 loss Saturday. He had one shot on goal in a 4-1 win against Finland on Sunday, but he was a constant presence in the offensive zone.
"That's a good hockey player," Motzko said Saturday. "He got on pucks and made plays all night long. One of the more impressive guys in that game."

The scoop on Bob Motzko

U.S. forward Ryan Poehling (Montreal Canadiens) has more experience working with Motzko than any other player at the Summer Showcase.
Poehling (6-2, 196) will be a sophomore at St. Cloud State, where Motzko is entering his 13th season as coach.
"The guys at St. Cloud State appreciate that he lets you play in the offensive zone," Poehling said. "He does want you to be responsible in the defensive end, and I think that's a big thing. If you're not going to be responsible in the defensive zone, you're not going to get much ice time so he bears down on you in that area."
Poehling was the youngest player in NCAA hockey last season but became the highest-drafted player from St. Cloud State when the Canadiens chose him No. 25 at the 2017 draft. He had 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 35 games and played in all situations.
"It was tough on me as a 17-year-old in college and [Motzko] helped me out," Poehling said. "He said to me, 'Hey, you're at your best when you're you.' So I do what I do and don't try to be something I'm not."

Canadian pride

Canada forward Pierre-Luc Dubois (Columbus Blue Jackets) said he hasn't watched the 5-4 shootout loss to the U.S. in the gold-medal game at the 2017 WJC at Bell Centre in Montreal.
But the motivation of that setback is what drives Dubois who is starting the process of earning a spot with Canada for the 2018 WJC at the Summer Showcase.
"Losing that way in the shootout hurt, so coming back here and getting ready for the tournament and going at it for gold again is good," Dubois said. "It happens in hockey. You don't always win and it [stinks] losing."
The 2018 WJC will be held Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Buffalo, and Dubois said winning there could made amends for watching the U.S. celebrate in Canada.
"It would have been fun to win on home ice, but if we go get gold on their home ice it would be really good too," he said.

Injury updates

Sweden forward Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) practiced Monday and should be in the lineup against the U.S. on Wednesday (4 p.m. ET; NHLN).
"He's good," Sweden coach Tomas Monten said. "He skated the full session. He was on the ice before as well. Everything looks good, so we're looking to play him next game."
Pettersson had aggravated a lower-body muscle injury against USA Blue on Saturday and didn't play against USA White on Sunday.
U.S. defenseman Chad Krys (Chicago Blackhawks) will miss the remainder of the Summer Showcase because of an injury sustained against Sweden on Saturday.
"If somebody's injured, even the littlest of [things], you're going to take the precautionary [measures]," Motzko said. "We're going to get to watch all of our players all through October, November and even early December.
"On a positive note, he was very noticeable. It's too bad. He was having an outstanding game when it happened, so we're excited about him."
There was no update on Finland defenseman Henri Jokiharju (Blackhawks), who was injured in the first period against USA Blue on Sunday. Finland didn't practice Monday and next plays against Canada on Wednesday (1 p.m. ET; NHLN).

Lead photo courtesy of Rena Laverty/USA Hockey