SJHN Daily: World Juniors Begin Today for Gaudreau, Bystedt

The San Jose Sharks are sending two of the organization’s top prospects to the 2023 World Junior Championships.

Taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick, the World Junior Hockey Championship showcases the top under-20 talent on an international stage. Last year the San Jose Sharks did not send top prospect William Eklund as a COVID outbreak delayed the tournament until late August, interfering with the normal offseason schedule. American Thomas Bordeleau and Swede Mattias Havelid represented San Jose at the tournament.

This year, the Sharks will send 2022 first-rounder Filip Bystedt along with 2021 third-round pick Benjamin Gaudreau. Recent second-round selections Cameron Lund and Havelid were thought to have a shot at making their teams, but unfortunately missed out. USA dismissed Lund in the late rounds of roster cuts, while Havelid has been out injured since early December.

Bystedt, the 27th-overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, has cooled from his hot start to his SHL season. He remains at four goals and 11 points in 26 games so far. For the Swedish junior team, Bystedt is currently a mainstay in the top-six, currently on a line full of physically imposing players. 6-foot-2 Oskar Pettersson is the shortest forward on that line.

Laget för dagen 🇸🇪 🏒

Så här formerar förbundskapten Magnus Hävelid sitt lag i träningsmatchen mot USA.

🇸🇪 🆚 🇺🇸
🕣 Nedsläpp 20:30
📺 SVT Play pic.twitter.com/zKEdGBwsXj

— Tre Kronor (@Trekronorse) December 21, 2022

Gaudreau, however, does not have a secure spot in the Canadian junior team’s lineup. About a year-and-a-half ago, Canada iced a tandem of Gaudreau and Thomas Milic in the under-18 championships. Gaudreau helped the team to a gold medal, and was drafted 81st by the San Jose Sharks at the following NHL Draft. This season in the Ontario Hockey League, Gaudreau sports a .868 save-percentage on a competitive Sarnia Sting team.

The San Jose Sharks goaltender will start Canada’s opening matchup against Czechia, however the team’s head coach sees the goaltending competition as ongoing.

Thomas Milic starts for 🇨🇦 tonight against 🇫🇮

Ben Gaudreau starts on Boxing Day against 🇨🇿

Coach Dennis Williams says they feel like they have two No. 1 goalies … the crease competition continues @TSN_Edge

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 23, 2022

The Sharks will be looking forward to seeing two of their best prospects compete against the top level of junior competition. The tournament begins today with Sweden facing Austria at 10:30am PST and Canada taking on Czechia at 3:30pm PST as the Sharks-adjacent games. Check out the full round-robin schedule here, elimination games begin on Jan. 2. Games will be broadcast on TSN and NHL Network.

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We’ve got some BIG Home Alone fans 🏠🎄 pic.twitter.com/yYI6IBZxmP

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 23, 2022

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Canadiens’ rookie Arber Xhekaj has already impressed this season with his fighting.

Still out ‘indefinitely’ from hockey, but John Carlson was discharged from the hospital.

Czech hockey star David Jiricek is still missing his gear ahead of the World Junior Championships.

Bruins’ goaltender Jeremy Swayman dressed as Santa for the Ullmark family.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now details the best Pittsburgh Penguins locker room stories of the season.

Marc and Eric Staal spend Christmas together as teammates in Florida.

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