NEWSLETTER
The 2024 Men’s World Junior Championship tournament is taking place in Sweden this year between Dec. 26 and Jan. 5 and the Chicago Blackhawks have six prospects participating for two countries.
Unfortunately for Blackhawks fans, all six of the team’s prospects will be in Group B for pool play. Group A is composed of Canada, Sweden, Finland, Germany and Latvia. Group B includes the United States, Slovakia, Czechia, Switzerland and Norway.
United States
Game 1: Dec. 26 vs. Norway — 10 AM CT
Game 2: Dec. 28 vs. Switzerland — 10 AM
Game 3: Dec. 29 vs. Czechia — 10 AM
Game 4: Dec. 31 vs. Slovakia — 5 AM
Thoughts: It will be interesting to see how the US deploys the Blackhawks’ four prospects in this tournament. Nazar and Moore are known for their elite speed, and Nazar figures to be one of the top three centers. But Moore may be a wing in the bottom six used in a defensive role and in penalty killing situations; he may, as he was in the warm-up game against Canada, be a wing on the top line as well (he scored in that game). Similarly, Hayes is a terrific scorer but his 200-foot game and physical play could place him in a defensive-focused role as well. Rinzel may be the seventh defenseman in this tournament like Kevin Korchinski was for Canada last year.
Slovakia
Game 1: Dec 26 vs. Czechia — 5 AM
Game 2: Dec. 27 vs. Switzerland — 5 AM
Game 3: Dec. 29 vs. Norway — 5 AM
Game 4: Dec. 31 vs. USA — 5 AM
Thoughts: Gajan was the best goaltender in last year’s tournament and it’s rare that the winner of that award returns, so he could be one of the stars of this entire field — which is awesome from a Blackhawks’ fan perspective. I’ll be watching to see how Misiak is used; he’s a good center who could be asked to drive offense or play a shut-down role.
2024 NHL Draft-Eligible Players to Watch
Here are a few guys who showed up in my recent 2024 NHL Mock Draft and who might be on the Blackhawks’ radar in June who might be worth circling on your rosters at home:
Finally, here’s the broadcast info for our friends in Canada:
