Brunicke and Kufterins join long list of players at World Juniors
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The World Juniors are set to kick off in Minnesota, where the Kamloops Blazers will once again be represented on the international stage, as Harrison Brunicke suits up for Canada and Ivans Kufterins straps the pads on for Latvia. Also representing Canada this year is goaltending coach Dan De Palma.
Over the past decade, the Blazers have become a steady pipeline of talent for the World Juniors, with 15 players proudly representing their nations between 2015 and 2026.
Last year, Blazers defenceman Matteo Kočí suited up for Czechia, marking his second appearance on the international stage. In 2023, Kočí played in all seven games for Czechia, helping secure a bronze medal. While Brunicke was also selected to represent Canada last year, an injury kept him out of the tournament.
In previous years, the Blazers have seen Fraser Minten, Logan Stankoven, Caedan Bankier and Dylan Garand all suit up for Canada, with everyone but Minten winning a Gold medal.
Representing Canada two years in a row, Stankoven dominated with an impressive 21 points across 14 games and claimed back-to-back gold medals. His electrifying performance included playing a key role in Canada’s overtime-winning goal in 2023.
In 2021, Connor Zary donned the Canadian maple leaf. That same year, Inaki Baragano represented Switzerland, serving as an alternate captain.
The Blazers’ presence at the World Juniors goes back even further. Connor Ingram stood between the pipes for Canada in 2017, earning a silver medal. That same year, Rudolfs Balcers represented Latvia, while Ondrej Vala represented Czechia, making 2017 a year with three Blazers on the international stage.
In 2016, Slovakia’s roster featured two Blazers in Patrik Maier and Jiří Smejkal. The Blazers’ influence over the last 10 years extends back to Michael Fora’s appearance for Switzerland in 2015.
Each of these players has left a unique imprint on the World Junior Championships. Their journeys are a testament to the Blazers’ dedication to developing world-class talent and ensuring that the Blazers’ name remains synonymous with hockey excellence on the global stage.
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