from Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star,
The world junior hockey showcase is about to begin. Here’s a team-by-team look at the contenders and what makes them tick:
CANADA
Last year: Sixth
Overall: 16 gold, eight silver, five bronze
Skinny: Canada last won gold on Canadian soil, in 2015 in Toronto . . . Dylan Strome (Erie Otters) will captain a team that lacks star power but may make up for it with team play. Strome is one of five players returning from last year, along with Mitchell Stephens, Thomas Chabot, Julien Gauthier, Mathew Barzal . . . Taylor Raddysh (Erie) leads all of the CHL in scoring with 61 points in 28 points . . . Every player on the team has been drafted by an NHL team . . . Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips) will be counted on as the No. 1 goalie. He was the 2015-16 CHL goalie of the year.
UNITED STATES
Last year: Bronze
Overall: Three gold, one silver, five bronze
Skinny: This core of this team won gold at the world under-18 championship in 2015 . . . A year after former Leafs coach Ron Wilson led the Americans to a third-place finish, the U.S. returned to the college coaching ranks, naming St. Cloud State University’s Bob Motzko the bench boss . . . The team leans heavily on college players, including Leafs goaltending prospect Joseph Woll (Boston College) . . . U of Wisconsin forward Luke Kunin (Minnesota Wild) was named captain . . . Another Leaf prospect, Kitchener’s Jeremy Bracco, should provide top-line offence along with Erie’s Alex DeBrincat, who has 30 goals in 28 OHL games.
WJC TV schedule if you missed the post from yesterday.
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