Dec. 24: World Junior tournament starts New Year early
As the NHL takes a three-day pause on games, player transactions, and overall news, the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship can get hockey fans on a fast start to the New Year with an elite tournament among the top Under-20 players in the world. Kraken fans can follow Team Canada forward and 2023 second-round draft choice Carson Rehkopf, who leads the Ontario Hockey League in goals (31) and points (55), plus 2023 first-rounder Eduard Sale as a leader for Team Czechia. Forward Jani Nyman figures to be a force for Finland with fellow countryman and Kraken goalie prospect Niklas Kokko (both Finns were picked in the 2022 second round). Zeb Forsfjall (2023 sixth-rounder, forward, Team Sweden) and Ty Nelson (2023 third-rounder, defenseman, Team Canada) are two more Kraken prospects fans can follow during the next two weeks of elite play.
All games will be on NHL Network and you can follow the Seattle prospects and tournament developments on our WJC Live Blog. Fans will have to be awake early (or even stay up late on the West Coast to see some of the action, with early games starting as early as 3 a.m. Pacific time and the next group on the ice at 5:30 a.m. Time to make sure your recording methods are in place.
Dec. 24: Kraken 2022 second-rounders Nyman, Kokko face 2023 second-rounder Carson Rehkopf
Finland opens World Junior play in a matchup with Canada (Tuesday, 5:30 a.m. NHL Network). That means 2022 second-rounders Jani Nyman and Niklas Kokko will face 2023 second-rounder Carson Rehkopf. Just this week, two-time defending champion Canada added Kraken defenseman prospect Ty Nelson to the roster due to injuries. Kokko will start in goal against Canada on Tuesday. The Kraken’s first-round draft choice this past summer, Eduard Sale, will be the first Seattle prospect to play at this World Juniors tourney when Sale and his Czechia take on Slovakia (3 a.m.)
Dec. 24: Full Schedule for 2024 World Junior Championship
(All games Pacific time on NHL Network)
The 2024 version of this compelling tournament will be played in Gothenburg, Sweden, from Tuesday to Jan. 5. Ten teams will compete in World Juniors. The United States will be in Group B for the preliminary round at Frolundaborg arena in Gothenburg, along with Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Norway. Group A consists of Canada, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Latvia at Scandinavium arena in Gothenburg. Russia…
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