It is now October and it’s never too early to be looking at which of the Boston Bruins prospects have a chance at representing their countries at the 2022 World Junior Championships over the holidays. If you’re looking to watch Bruins prospects and how they excel against the best players in their age group, you might be a little disappointed.
Fabian Lysell is about as close as you’ll get to a sure thing to represent his Native Sweden. Lysell has represented Sweden at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17, the World Junior Championship Under-18 but he has also represented Sweden at other Under-20 international competitions.
Barring a superb season with Djurgardens IF J20 squad, Lysell’s fellow countryman Oskar Jellvik appears to be a long shot but could make a case for himself for 2023 as he is still 18 years of age. Jellvik has represented Sweden at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 as well us other international Under-17 and Under-18 competitions. Jellvik was the Bruins fifth round pick in 2021.
Boston’s second pick in the 2021 Draft, in the third round, Brett Harrison is in the same shoes as Jellvik. Canada is just so deep down the middle that the only option for Harrison is on the wing and I don’t think his game is suited for that position. Harrison has represented Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 and the World Junior Championship Under-18.
The only other players eligible are: Riley Duran (USA), Ty Gallagher (USA), Andre Gasseau (USA), Ryan Mast (USA), and Philip Svedeback (Sweden).
I think it’s safe to say that these players are longshots for the World Juniors. Unless Svedeback plays every game for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL like his first game, then he might get some attention.
To be eligible for the World Juniors, a player must be 19 years of age on January 1, 2022. A player who turns twenty after January 1 and January 5, 2022 (the end of the tournament) is still eligible. That takes several of the “better” Bruins prospects out of the competition.
At the 2021 World Juniors, two Bruins took part: Matias Mantykivi (Finland) and Roman Bychkov (Russia). In 2020, the Bruins had three prospects at the Tournament: John Beecher (USA), Curtis Hall (USA) and Jakub Lauko (CZE)
The 2022 WJC is scheduled to take place in Edmonton and Red Deer Alberta, Canada beginning on December 16, 2021 and ending on January 5, 2022. The IIHF and Hockey Canada were hopeful to have fans in attendance but Alberta is going through another COVID-19 problem and just recently has asked the army for assistance. The IIHF and Hockey Canada are monitoring the situation.
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Dom - Hockey 