2021 World Junior Championship Primer: Canada seeks back-to-back golds
Canada s Bowen Byram (4) and Jamie Drysdale (6) celebrate a goal against the Russia during third period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship pre-competition action in Edmonton on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. (Jason Franson/CP)
Lauren Kelly | @laurkelly24 December 24, 2020, 10:33 AM
As the COVID-19 pandemic caused the IIHF to cancel almost every single international tournament on its schedule, many feared that the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship would be next. However, the IIHF found a way to go ahead with the marquee event of the year and worked together with Hockey Canada to move the event to the NHL’s former bubble in Edmonton.
CANADA 2020 WJC: Gold - defeated Russia 4-3 in final Returning players: 6 NHL draft picks: 24 / 25 (20 in first round, 7 in top 10) As usual, Canada enters the World Juniors as among the tournament favourites, but this year’s group is being hailed as among the country s best in a generation. The team boasts top talent across the board with 20 first rounders and multiple players who likely would be playing in the NHL if not for the pandemic. Both the blue line and forwards groups are loaded with talent. Anything less than a gold medal will be a disappointment.
PLAYER TO WATCH - Dylan Cozens
Prince Albert Daily Herald
Barring things going completely off the rails in the next 48 hours, the 2021 edition of the World Juniors will get underway on Christmas Day.
There will be some slight changes, as is the norm in the COVID-19 world, with Edmonton’s Rogers Place hosting all round-robin games instead of the tournament being split between Alberta’s capital and Red Deer.
Also, there will not be any promotion or relegation this year, which means all 10 teams in this year’s event will be returning to Alberta next winter for the tournament.
When it comes to the talent on display, several countries have benefited from the delayed start of the National Hockey League season as they’ve been able to add players that would more than likely be halfway through their pro campaigns had things been normal.
World Junior Championship Group A preview
Canada s forward depth fuels repeat bid; Finland will rely on defense by Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
Canada s deep, versatile group of forwards could make it the favorite to win the IIHF World Junior Championship for the second straight year.
That depth will be important after forward Kirby Dach, their captain and a Chicago Blackhawks forward, injured his right wrist during a pre-tournament game against Russia on Wednesday and will not play in the tournament.
Even without Dach, Canada s remaining 13 forwards each is a first-round NHL draft pick. That includes four players who returning from the 2020 WJC championship team: Quinton Byfield (Los Angeles Kings), Dylan Cozens (Buffalo Sabres), Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals) and Dawson Mer