CHL talent provides scoring punch at 2015 WJC
Wednesday December 31, 2014
The best junior hockey talent from around the globe is on full display in Montreal and Toronto, with several of the CHL’s top performers making the most of their opportunity to perform on the world stage. The 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship enters playoff competition on Friday as the best hockey nations in the world battle for a gold.
A total of 53 current Canadian Hockey League players and an additional 17 former players are listed on official rosters this year, with many of those performers making appearances on the tournament’s statistical leaderboards. Here are a few top CHL performers who are turning heads at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
CANADA – Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice)
Reinhart stands alone atop the tournament scoring leaders following round-robin play at the World Junior Championship. His eight points in four games include three goals and five assists along with a plus-minus rating of plus-9. He earned Player of the Game honours in Monday’s 4-1 win over Finland with two goals then wrapped up round-robin play pacing Canada’s offense with a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over the United States on New Year’s Eve.
The Buffalo Sabres prospect, selected second overall in 2014, is playing in his fourth season with the Ice. The 2014 WHL Player of the Year posted 105 points in 60 games last season and has 27 points in 15 games in 2014-15.
CANADA – Nic Petan (Portland Winterhawks)
The Winnipeg Jets prospect led the tournament in scoring through Tuesday with a goal and five assists in three games and added an assist on Wednesday in a 5-3 win against the United States. Petan notched a goal and two assists in Canada’s tournament opening 8-0 victory over Slovakia last Friday before posting an additional three assists in Saturday’s 4-0 blanking of Germany. A native of Vancouver, BC, Petan is a returnee from last year’s Canadian squad, collecting four goals and an assist in seven tournament games.
Through 26 games with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks this season, Petan has six goals and 27 assists for 33 points. The two-time WHL assists leader and 2013 CHL Top Scorer won a league title with the Winterhawks in 2013 and won gold representing Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
DENMARK – Oliver Bjorkstrand (Portland Winterhawks)
Another member of Jamie Kompon’s Portland Winterhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets draftee Oliver Bjorkstrand has been a standout performer for the Danes through four games and is among the tournament leaders with four goals also adding an assist for five points. Bjorkstrand led Denmark to its first ever win at the World Junior Championships on Tuesday, scoring a goal in regulation along with two shootout markers including the game winner in a 4-3 triumph over Switzerland. Bjorkstrand scored a goal in the tournament opener last Friday as Denmark nearly stunned Russia in a narrow 3-2 loss. He scored again in Denmark’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Czech Republic on Monday.
Bjorkstrand is in his third season with Portland after winning a WHL title and making a MasterCard Memorial Cup appearance with teammate Petan in 2013 the same year he led league rookies in scoring. The 6’0″, 170Ib winger led the WHL Playoffs in scoring last season with 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points in 21 games as Portland lost to Edmonton in Game 7 of the WHL Finals.
CANADA – Max Domi (London Knights)
A purveyor of speed, grit and puck smarts, Max Domi has certainly made an impression at the 2015 WJC. Spending much of his time on a line alongside Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice) and Anthony Duclair (New York Rangers/Quebec Remparts), Domi has been a catalyst for offence at both even strength and on special teams. The Arizona Coyotes first round pick has four goals and three assists through four games along with a plus-6 rating. With two goals and an assist through Canada’s first two victories over Slovakia and Germany, Domi pitched in with two helpers and played a prominent role in a 4-1 victory over Finland on Monday. He then earned Player of the Game honours on Wednesday with a pair of goals in Canada’s 5-3 win over the United States. His presence has been felt offensively in the zone and off the rush as he continues to be a key piece to Canada’s puzzle of success.
Recently named the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 7, Domi has come on strong over the last two months of the season to post 17 goals and 41 assists through 27 games in total, including seven powerplay goals and a plus-15 rating. The captain of the London Knights, Domi has played in three MasterCard Memorial Cup tournaments and is a two-time OHL Champion.
UNITED STATES – Sonny Milano (Plymouth Whalers)
The United States has a deep pool of offensive talent to draw from and have boasted a well balanced scoring attack throughout the tournament. Among their elite options is Plymouth Whalers forward Sonny Milano, an 18 year-old first round draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets. A forward with experience in the US National Program, Milano won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2014 World Under-18 Hockey Championships where he registered 10 points (3-7–10) in seven games. Appearing in his first World Junior Championship, Milano has a pair of goals in four games, including one in a 6-0 USA victory over Germany and another in a 3-0 win over Slovakia.
Milano has eight goals and 23 assists for 31 points in 20 games in his first season with the Plymouth Whalers. The native of Massaapequa, NY, has recorded 10 multi-point efforts, six of which were three point outings.
CANADA – Anthony Duclair (New York Rangers/Quebec Remparts)
A few months of NHL exposure primed Anthony Duclair for the 2015 WJC. On loan from the New York Rangers, the former Quebec Remparts forward has been a key performer for Canada, with two goals and two assists in four games with a plus-5 rating. Duclair has taken full advantage of the opportunity to play in front of his hometown of Montreal, QC, providing a speedy presence up front for Canada. His goal and assist in Monday’s 4-1 win over Finland included five shots on goal.
Duclair has recorded a goal and six assists in 18 games with the New York Rangers this season after banging in 50 goals and 99 points in 59 games with the Quebec Remparts last year. The former Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament gold medalist and QMJHL First Team All-Star has produced an impressive total of 215 points (101-114–215) in 177 career QMJHL games.
SWITZERLAND – Timo Meier (Halifax Mooseheads)
A big, draft eligible winger from the Halifax Mooseheads, Timo Meier has made a strong impression at the 2015 WJC. The native of Baden, Switzerland leads his team in scoring through round-robin play, recording a goal and three assists with a plus-1 rating. Meier has worked well alongside Nashville Predators first round pick Kevin Fiala, pitching in with assists on two of his goals in a 5-2 win over the Czech Republic on Saturday. He contributed with a goal, assist and shootout tally in Switzerland’s 4-3 shootout loss to Denmark on Monday.
Meier is currently second in scoring for the QMJHL’s Mooseheads behind Danish teammate Nikolaj Ehlers. Meier leads the team in goals with 21 while adding 25 assists for 46 points in 33 games. Meier also leads the team with 10 powerplay goals and 171 shots on goal. He was Halifax’s first round (12th overall) pick in the 2013 CHL Import Draft.
The 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship continues with the Quarter-Finals on Friday. For full coverage of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, including updates and schedules, visit worldjunior2015.com or hockeycanada.ca.