The World team is primed and ready for the upcoming BRHL World Junior Championships, with the talent spread all across the globe, it will be most likely the most diverse team in the tournament, and after a ton of time researching, here is your team World.

 

 

 

Goalies

 

Joren Van Pottelberghe (BRHL Caps) will be the starter, and the only true eligible guy for the team, anywhere in the world. He’s playing in the NLA this season and is trending well. He’s going to be leaned on by the World team to keep them in many a game.

 

 

 

Lasse Petersen a Danish bred rookie, was actually born in Manitoba, but is needed to fill out the roster. He will likely be the backup for the World team.

 

 

 

Jonas Arntzen from Norway will be the other goalie, with only 1 game in the SHL, he’s the next closest eligible, and despite having a fantastic year in the SuperElite league, he’s created with awful rating (and he got shelled in the only SHL game he played in). A good actual prospect though, look for him to be drafted in the NHL this upcoming draft.

 

 

 

Defensemen

 

Kristians Rubins from Latvia and playing in the WHL for the Medicine Hat Tigers the big Latvian has decent puck skills, and is very mobile for his size, he’s going to be counted on to help anchor the top pair along with…

 

 

 

Leon Gawanke from Germany, the mobile dman is nearly a point per game player in the Q with Cape Breton. A 99 birthday, the 17 year old will likely be a top three round pick in the NHL this season, and his elite puckmoving skills will be on full display for the World team at the BRHL WJC, as he is expected to play top pair, and anchor the powerplay.

 

 

 

Igor Merezhko another dman from the WHL, plies his trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and is one big mean hombre. He’s been playing on the Ukranian u20 team since he was 16, and will be expected to lead a shutdown pairing for the World team at the WJC.

 

 

 

Anatoli Yelizarov is yet another WHL dman, this Kazakhstan native plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings, whch means there’s a 90% chance that the BRHL Flyers draft him at some point. A solid all around defenseman, his offensive game hasn’t developed as hoped, but he plays a steady, fluid game, and has an underrated first pass. He too will be leaned on, likely in a second pairing role for the World team.

 

 

 

Tobias Fohrier is a massive German born dman who suits up for EV Zug in the NLA. While there hasn’t been much offense in his game, he’s garnering a reputation as a big, bruising dman, whose defensive positioning is superb. While the NHL may not be in his future, a long productive European career is seemingly assured.

 

 

 

Karlis Cukste is another Latvian born player to make the squad, he will be relied upon to be a jack of all trades as his offensive game continues to develop in his freshman year at Quinnipac in the ECAC of the American collegiate system. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the NHL in the 5^th round in 2015, but went undrafted in the BRHL last season. His overall game is a good fit for the overall World team, and he fits the mold of a big body, as the World team likely has the biggest D core in the tournament.

 

 

 

Kristaps Zile is a rapidly rising dman in the Russian hockey system, this Latvian born player has dominated the MHL this season, but seen limited success in the KHL. While his stats underscore his true talent, he will be a rotational guy for the World team in case of injury, and his pro experience will be a welcome addition to the squad.

 

 

 

Vladislav Yeryomenko is the final member of the teams defense core. This Belorussian defenseman is another 99 birthday with a bright future, who plays for the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL. He’s playing top minutes for the Belorussian team in the second division of the current WJC, and is a key element to the Belorussians hopes to make it back to the big boy division next year. For this year he will be a spare part, but will be expected to be a key member of the team for the next two years along with Leon Gawanke.

 

 

 

 

 

Forwards

 

Denis Malgin (BRHL Islanders) is the lone NHL player on the roster. The diminutive Swiss born player is having a good rookie year with the Panthers in the NHL. He was dominant last year in the WJC for Switzerland, and similar production will be needed this year for the World squad to have a chance to compete.

 

 

 

Nico Hischier is another Swiss who will be counted on to lead the offense, he is tearing up the Q this year with 48 points in 31 games for Halifax, and will be a first round pick, if not a top 10 guy. A 99 birthday, Hischier is expected to lead the World squad at the WJC for the next few years.

 

 

 

Rudolfs Balcers (BRHL Flames) is the other high end player on the squad. He’s a former NHL Sharks pick, and has been a point per game player this year for the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. Along with Malgin and Hischier, Balcers, who hails from Latvia, will be expected to help carry the load offensively.

 

 

 

Joachim Blichfeld this 98 birthday winger who hails from Denmark is playing for Portland in the WHL and is nearly a point per game player. A former Sharks NHL draft pick, he was undrafted in the most recent BRHL draft. After a strong year, and an upcoming feature at the WJC, we doubt he stays unknown for long.

 

 

 

Martins Dzierkals (BRHL Wings) This shifty sniper is over a point per game in the Q this year with Rouyn Noranda. He continues to play well in Quebec, and has long been a catalyst for the Latvian team, even on the National team already. His strong performance last year at the WJC is a big reason why Latvia is playing in the top group this year, and will once again be a feature at the real WJC, as well as in the BRHL WJC.

 

 

 

Lukas Haudum is the lone Austrian on the squad, this winger from Malmo of the SHL is starting to turn heads internationally, and will like factor into the top 6 in some form or fashion. A smooth skating player, who is equal parts sniper and playmaker, he will hopefully be a factor for the team at the WJC.

 

 

 

Philipp Kurashev is a 99 birthday who is enjoying a breakthrough QMJHL season with nearly a point per game. The Swiss born player also has a Russian citizenship, but has been in Switzerland for most of his life and will be playing for them in the WJC. He is eligible for the 2017 NHL draft and surely will find some interest in the mid rounds. A smooth skating playmaker, he’s expected to help the depth scoring on the squad

 

 

 

Maxim Sushko is a Belarus native playing for Owen Sound in the PHL. He’s having a solid rookie season, especially considering he’s still 17 as he’s a 99 birthday. Sushko looks to continue to build his game, and could be a factor in this tournament in upcoming years. As is, he’s going to play third line, and hopefully keep his lines head above water in the BRHL WJC.

 

 

 

Calvin Thurkauf is a big winger, currently in his second season in the WHL with Kelowna. The Swiss native will be at the WJC again for Switzerland after a solid showing last year, and will be expected to bring more offense this year. He’s BRHL draft eligible for the first time this season, after being a Jackets 7^th last year in the NHL.

 

 

 

Alexander True is a big, wiry center playing for Seattle in the WHL is in the midst of a solid season, this Denmark native is heading to the WJC again for the Danes, and will look to center the third line of the World team in the BRHL WJC. His scoring ability will hopefully help the line chip in occasionally, but will be treated as more of a shutdown line than typically used on their junior teams.

 

 

 

Dmitri Buinitsky currently plays for the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. The big Belorussian center is known for his two-way game, and has shown flashes of a solid playmaking game. He will be one of the fourth liners on the team who will give the team some added depth in case of injury.

 

 

 

Axel Simic is a diminutive center for Blainville-Boisbriand in the QMJHL, he is eligible for the 2017 NHL Entry draft. The 99 birth year centerman is having an OK rookie year in the Q, and will be expected to continue his upward projectory. He will be the 4^th line center for the World team this year in the BRHL WJC, with the hopes he will be a much improved, and more integral member next season.

 

 

 

Renars Krastenbergs Oshawa in the OHL is having an OK rookie season, and like Simic, will be expected to have a bigger role on next years team. For this year, any contributions will be an added bonus as he expects to be one of the two extra forwards for the World team.

 

 

 

Kirill Panyukov from Barys Astana of the KHL will be one of the spare forwards with the team at the BRHL WJC. Panyukov hails from Kazakhstan, and has been a regular in the KHL this year, albeit with minimal icetime and production.