Canada had to wait eight years for their fourth U18 World Championship title and last night the Maple Leafs crowned themselves world champions with a final victory over Russia. In the middle of focus: three potential NHL superstars.
A few weeks ago we came to know about Shane Wright and Connor Bedard Reported. It was precisely these two cracks that led Canada to gold at the championship in Frisco, Texas.
Wright, the first overall pick to be traded from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, provided nine goals and five assists in just five games. The potential # 1 bedboard had 14 points in seven games in 2023 and thus equaled 16-year-old Connor McDavid’s record.
Canada won all four group games and completed the group stage with a goal difference of 28–5. Russia’s subsequent eventual rival defeated two in Group B, but fought back against Belarus and Finland and only lost to the Maple Leafs 3: 5 in the final. Sweden secured the game for the third place with an 8–0 win over Finland.
Prospect Connor Bedard (Pic: Keith Herschmiller / WHL)
Apart from Wright and Bedard, however, another young star actually showed up. Matevi Michkov finished the tournament with an incredible twelve goals, 16 points, and was rightly named “MVP”.
He can still overtake Bedard as # 1 in the 2023 draft. Canadian goalkeeper Benjamin Gaudru was voted the best goalkeeper and Finland’s Hensi Hemosalmi was named the tournament’s best defender.
www.hockey-news.info, Bild: Kingston Frontex / Billy Kimberly
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