The top highlights from Day 7 at the World Juniors
The quarterfinals are set at the World Juniors.
The final three games of the preliminary round were played out Monday, giving us the eight teams that’ll match up against one another at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in a sudden-elimination format.
Sweden finished second in Group B after dispatching Germany 4-2 with Dallas Stars prospect Daniel Ljungman scoring twice for the winning side. The loss leaves Germany in third, and a date with Finland, who finished second in Group A. The win sets Sweden up with a date against a plucky Latvia squad. Latvia finished third in Group A.
Finland’s finish came after Canada downed them with a convincing 6-3 win, thanks to the continued heroics of Mason McTavish, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft of the Anaheim Ducks. McTavish had three points (one goal, two assists), and Connor Bedard, an early No. 1 for the 2023 draft, and Ridly Greig (Ottawa Senators) each had two points (one goal, one assist).
The victory clinched Group A for the Canadians, as well as a quarterfinal clash against Switzerland, who finished fourth in Group B.
Switzerland set the date with Canada annd avoided upset with a 3-2 nail-biter over Austria in the process thanks to a late power play goal from undrafted forward Attilio Biasca.
The quarterfinal matchups are as follows:
- Finland vs. Germany
- Sweden vs. Latvia
- Canada vs. Switzerland
- Team USA vs. Czechia
Semifinals are set for August 19, with the gold and bronze-medal games coming on August 20.
Here’s a look at the plays that captivated FCHockey scouts from Day 6 at the World Juniors:
Daniel Ljungman – Sweden
Ljungman may as well have traded his hockey stick in for a baseball bat on this one. Tied 1-1 in the second period, Ljungman batted a puck out of the air in the low slot that had popped up after German goaltender and Carolina Hurricanes prospect Nikita Quapp couldn’t handle an Anton Olsson (Nashville Predators) point shot cleanly. Ljungman, who scored twice in the game, has three points (two goals, one assist) in the tournament.
A buy 1st period settled down as @trekronorse held on to the lead, ending with a 4-2 win over @deb_teams to close out the #WorldJuniors preliminary round. pic.twitter.com/4YwWprqTMo
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 16, 2022
Bennet Rossmy – Germany
Before Ljungman’s batty effort, German forward Bennet Rossmy absolutely dangled Olsson before slipping a backhander along the ice and by the pad of Ducks goalie prospect Calle Clang to give his country a quick 1-0 lead just four minutes into the contest. The finish itself might not be a highlight-reel play, but walking a quality blueliner in Olsson was certainly worthy, inside-outing the rearguard before busting in alone for the goal. Rossmy had three points (two goals, one assist) in the preliminary portion of the World Juniors.
😮 Bennet Rossmy with a nifty move scores just 4min into the 1st to put @deb_teams on the board!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/jIoi1jTo1j
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 16, 2022
Connor Bedard – Canada
What would a day at the World Juniors be without a highlight from Bedard? The 17-year-old sensation took a rinkwide pass from McTavish, gained the offensive zone, took a couple of strides, and wired a wrist shot short side over the glove of Finnish goaltender Leevi Merilainen (Ottawa Senators) and under the bar to light the lamp. The shot was clocked at 123.8 km/hr, according to the IIHF.
Mason McTavish to Connor Bedard makes it a 3-0 game! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/YBmN2zIwMv
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 15, 2022
DAY 1: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 1 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 2: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 2 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 3: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 3 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 4: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 4 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 5: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 5 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 6: THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 6 AT THE WORLD JUNIORS