2021 World Juniors Preview: Rangers Prospects in Tournament

To say things have not been normal in 2020 would be an understatement. As the calendar approaches 2021, hockey fans around the world will be given a small sense of normalcy, as the annual IIHF World Junior Championship tournament will commence in late December.
This year's tournament will certainly feel a little different. The 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held in a "bubble" format in Edmonton, and as was the case with the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers and 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there will not be fans in the stands for any of the games.
While some aspects of the tournament are different, the spirit of the competition remains. The pride in representing their country, the ongoing battles on the ice between rival nations, and the pursuit of a gold medal - the elements of this tournament that captivate countries around the world - have not diminished.
The Rangers have four prospects who are playing in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship - forward
Brett Berard
(United States), goaltender
Dylan Garand
(Canada), defenseman
Braden Schneider
(Canada), and defenseman
Hunter Skinner
(United States).

Brett Berard | USA

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Berard is the second-youngest player on the United States' roster and one of only six players born in 2002 who will represent the United States in the tournament. A skilled and crafty offensive player, he will complement several highly skilled players who are returning for Team USA for their second World Juniors tournament. Berard, who was selected by the Rangers in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, began his freshman season at Providence College just prior to the start of Team USA's World Junior Camp. Although this is the first time he is representing the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship, he has played with Team USA in several tournaments in his career, including the 2018 World U17 Hockey Challenge.

Dylan Garand | Canada

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Although Garand enters the tournament as the second-youngest player (and the youngest goaltender) on Canada's roster, he has an opportunity to play a key role for the team, as the goaltending competition for Team Canada has been described as "wide open". A fourth-round pick of the Rangers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Garand has yet to begin his Western Hockey League (WHL) season in 2020-21 with the Kamloops Blazers. He appeared in 42 games with Kamloops last season, posting a 28-10-3 record, along with a 2.21 GAA, a .921 SV%, and 4 SO. Garand established WHL career-bests in several categories in 2019-20, and he ranked third in the WHL in wins and GAA, tied for third in SV%, and tied for fourth in shutouts. Garand helped Canada earn a silver medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as he posted a 1.51 GAA in two appearances and earned one shutout, and he also posted a 2-1-0 record, along with a 2.33 GAA and a .930 SV% in four appearances with Canada-Red at the 2018 World U17 Hockey Challenge.

Braden Schneider | Canada

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As part of a deep and talented defense corps that features six defensemen who were selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, Schneider will be playing in his first competitive games (other than Team Canada's selection camp intrasquad games) since he was selected by the Rangers in the first round (19th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. A high-character player who has been a leader on several of his teams, both in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and while representing Canada in international competition, Schneider's mobility and tough, physical play will be key for Canada to have success in the tournament. Schneider skated in 60 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL last season, registering seven goals and 35 assists for 42 points, along with a plus-nine rating. He was selected to the WHL Eastern Conference's First All-Star Team and was named the winner of Brandon's Mike Adamski Hardest Working Player Award in 2019-20. Schneider helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and was also named one of the Top Three Players on his Team while representing Canada at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship. In addition, he served as the captain for Canada-White at the 2017 World U17 Hockey Challenge and registered two points (one goal, one assist) in six games in the tournament.

Hunter Skinner | USA

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A mobile defenseman with an exceptional shot, Skinner will be representing the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time in his career. Skinner, who was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, registered 32 points (six goals, 26 assists) and a plus-22 rating in 62 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season. He ranked 13th among OHL defensemen in plus/minus rating in 2019-20, and he also tied for third among OHL defensemen who were in their U19 season or younger in plus/minus rating last season.

Rangers at WJC Schedule

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| FRI, DEC. 25
9:30PM ET | Russia | vs | USA | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | SAT, DEC. 26
6:00PM ET | Germany | vs | Canada | | SAT, DEC. 26
9:30PM ET | USA | vs | Austria | | SUN, DEC. 27
6:00PM ET | Slovakia | vs | Canada | | TUES, DEC. 29
2:00PM ET | USA | vs | Czech Republic | | TUES, DEC. 29
6:00PM ET | Canada | vs | Switzerland | | THURS, DEC. 31
6:00PM ET | Canada | vs | Finland | | THURS, DEC. 31
9:30PM ET | Sweden | vs | USA |