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The IIHF World Championship tournament rolls on in Riga, Latvia today with seven of the eight Chicago Blackhawks players and prospects in action. But it won’t be just eight Blackhawks players and prospects at the IIHF World Championships for long. Earlier today, USA Hockey announced the addition of Drew Commesso to the American roster for the rest of the tournament. The 2020 Blackhawks second-round draft pick joins Team USA after Anthony Stolarz was injured in the last contest and will miss the rest of the tournament.
Slovakia def. Russia, 3-1
In the first game of the day, Russia suffered their first loss of the tournament, falling 3-1 to Slovakia. One of the most underwhelming performers from the eight Blackhawks at the tournament has been Russian forward Max Shalunov. Through three games, Shalunov has been held off the scoresheet completely. He’s coming off a run in the KHL Gagarin Cup Playoffs where he led all players in goals with 12 and finished with 18 points in 22 games.
Night Two! (Real ones will get that that reference )
The IIHF World Championships continue for the second day in Latvia, with games starting while we are all sleeping and still making our first cups of coffee in the morning. If you slept in on this Saturday or, you know, were asleep at 4:15 a.m. like a normal person would be, you may have missed some impressive hockey from Blackhawks players and prospects. Most notably, 2020 first-round draft pick Lukas Reichel.
Germany def. Norway, 5-1
In a 5-1 win over Norway, the Germans notched their second win in as many games in the tournament, outscoring the Norwegians and the Italians by a combined 14-5 score. They’re really doing damage on me and my wife’s family heritage. But for Blackhawks fans, it’s awesome to see a prospect like Reichel have a coming out party like this so far in his first major international tournament action since being selected 17th overall by Chicago.