Here’s who coaches voted as the top players at the World Juniors
Macklin Celebrini left his mark on the World Juniors.
Though Canada couldn’t advance beyond the quarterfinal and did not compete for a medal, the 2024 NHL Draft’s consensus top pick had himself a showing at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. And it didn’t go unnoticed.
Celebrini was one of the three skaters named as Canada’s top skaters, as judged by the team’s coaches. The 17-year-old, who has 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 15 games back at Boston College, paced Canada with eight points (four goals, four assists) in five games and was a factor in all three zones.
“Celebrini was by far the most impactful Team Canada’s player,” FCHockey scout Joey Fortin Boulay said. “He’s been dangerous shift after shift in an astonishing way for a 17-years-old. His most impressive trait is the way he attacks the interior ice and creates high-danger opportunities from there. He’s shown he’s already a very complete two-way player as well. If there’s been little doubt about his No. 1 status for the 2024 draft, it’s now all gone. He’s the best available prospect in his draft class.”
Celebrini isn’t the lone member of the 2024 draft class to receive recognition. Either.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who held a share of his country’s lead in scoring with five points (three goals, two assists) received a nod from Norway’s coaches.
Here’s a look at the best players from each country, as judged by the team’s coaches:
TEAM | PLAYER | NHL | PLAYER | NHL | PLAYER | NHL |
Canada | Maveric Lamoureux | ARI | Macklin Celebrini | DRAFT | Denton Mateychuk | CBJ |
Czechia | Michael Hrabal | ARI | Marek Alscher | FLA | Jiri Kulich | BUF |
Finland | Kasper Kulonummi | NSH | Jere Lassila | DRAFT | Tommi Mannisto | DRAFT |
Germany | Samuel Schindler | DRAFT | Roman Kechter | DRAFT | Matthias Bittner | DRAFT |
Latvia | Dans Locmelis | BOS | Sandis Vilmanis | FLA | Niks Feneko | DRAFT |
Norway | Gabriel Koch | DRAFT | Petter Vesterheim | DRAFT | Michael Brandsegg-Nygard | DRAFT |
Slovakia | Adam Gajan | CHI | Maxim Strbak | BUF | Servac Petrovsky | MIN |
Sweden | Hugo Havelid | DRAFT | Noah Ostlund | BUF | Jonathan Lekkerimaki | VAN |
Switzerland | Alessio Beglieri | DRAFT | Rodwin Dionicio | ANA | Jonas Taibel | DRAFT |
Team USA | Cutter Gauthier | PHI | Gavin Brindley | CBJ | Lane Hutson | MTL |