Carolina Hurricanes send record number of prospects to 2022 IIHF World Junior tourney
Derek Stepan still recalls so much about the 2010 World Junior Championship — especially how it ended.
There was the packed rink in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and so many of the fans Canadian. The intensity of the gold-medal game between Team USA, captained by Stepan, and Team Canada, which was after a sixth consecutive gold. The noise, the clamor in the building with the championship game headed to overtime.
“We were up two goals with about four minutes left and (Canada) scored twice and then we were going to overtime,” said Stepan, now in his first year with the Carolina Hurricanes. “We were in the locker room but the building was so loud we could still hear it. It was super loud.”
And soon to be very quiet. Defenseman John Carlson scored off the rush early in overtime to give Team USA a 6-5 victory and the gold medal. The on-ice celebration was a big one, helmets and gloves quickly thrown aside for a group hug.
Advice for the next generation
Eleven years after the fact and deep into his NHL career, Stepan claims the 2010 IIHF World Juniors as one of his best hockey memories. The veteran center also hopes the 10 players from the Hurricanes organization set to compete in the 2022 World Juniors in Canada — tying a tournament record — come away with something that helps shape their hockey careers and also be a keepsake memory.
“It was kind of the first NHL exposure that landed on me, “ Stepan said Tuesday. “I was at the University of Wisconsin and I was drafted (in 2008) but I don’t think I was on any radars until after that tournament. For me, it was a big step.”
Stepan, a native of Hastings, Minnesota, made his NHL debut in the 2010-11 season for the New York Rangers. He’s now with the Canes and one of 13 Hurricane players who have World Juniors experience in their background.
“I played twice and the first time didn’t go that well but the second time we ended up winning the whole tournament,” said Canes forward Teuvo Teravainen, who was Finland’s captain in 2014. “That was for me. for sure, a big booster in my career. It was an awesome time.”
Stepan’s advice to the Canes’ group headed to the World Juniors?
“The biggest thing is that it’s easy to think there’s a lot of pressure and a lot of people watching, but you have to have fun with the tournament,” he said. “You get to play with some of the best talent in your country. It’s a blast. Try to enjoy the moment. Obviously you want to play well and you have to work hard but you’ve got to have fun with your teammates or you’re just wasting time and wasting your Christmas break.”
Starts next week
The 2022 World Juniors will be held in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from Sunday through Jan. 5, 2022. There’s always the specter of COVID-19 and the recent outbreaks, but organizers are hopeful of getting the tournament completed by taking all the proper health and safety measures. Arena capacity will be limited to 50 percent.
No NHL team will have more players in the World Juniors this year than the Canes, and four of the 10 were seventh-round draft picks by Carolina. Only the Toronto Maple Leafs, in 2002 and 2003, have sent 10 players to a single World Juniors event.
Assistant general manager Darren Yorke oversees the organization’s amateur scouting, which has been challenging during the pandemic.
“Our scouting staff did a great job the last three to four years,” Canes president and general manager Don Waddell said last week. “To have four guys drafted in the seventh round is a credit to the work they do.”
The Hurricanes’ contingent
Here’s a look at the Canes’ contingent for the 2022 World Juniors (with height, weight, current team):
D Scott Morrow, Team USA
6-2, 195, UMass, NCAA Hockey East
Taken in the second round of the 2021 draft, the 19-year-old has been a point-a-game player this season at UMass. Ranks among NCAA Division I leaders this season in goals by a D-man. A right-shot defenseman.
D Ronan Seeley, Canada
6-0, 176, Everett Silvertips, Western Hockey League
Taken in the seventh round (208th overall) in 2020, Seeley serves as the Silvertips captain and has been among the WHL’s top D-men in points this season.
D Aleksi Heimosalmi, Finland
5-11, 170, Assat, Liiga
Played for Finland in the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, where he was named best defenseman. Second-round pick in 2021.
F Ville Koivunen, Finland
5-11, 161, Karpat, Liiga
A second-round pick in 2021, the 18-year-old also has represented Finland internationally as a junior. In his first pro season, he has been among the points leads for Karpat in the Finnish Liiga.
G Nikita Quapp, Germany
6-3, 187, Krefeld Pinguine, DEL
A sixth-round pick by the Canes in 2021, the 18-year-old goalie competed for Germany in the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
F Nikita Guslistov, Russia
5-10, 178, Severstal Cherepovets, KHL
The 19-year-old forward, a seventh-round pick in 2021, has played 30 KHL games this season and has two game-winning goals. Said to be the youngest player to score a KHL hat trick.
F Alexander Pashin, Russia
5-8, 154, Toros Neftekamsk, VHL
Another seventh-rounder, he won gold medals in the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Also named Best Forward at the Under-20 Four Nations Tournament. Competes in the VHL, Russia’s second-highest pro league.
F Vasily Ponomarev, Russia
5-10, 180, Spartak, KHL
Taken in the second round in 2020, the 19-year-old had a team-high three goals for Russia in the 2021 IIHF World Juniors. The Moscow native has split the 2021-22 season with Spartak (KHL) and Khimik Voskresensk (VHL).
F Zion Nybeck, Sweden
5-6, 182, HV71, HockeyAllsvenskan
Played in the 2021 IIHF World Juniors and 2019 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, which was won by Sweden. Plays for HV71 of HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-highest pro league. Taken in second round by Carolina in 2020.
D Joel Nystrom, Sweden
5-11, 170, Farjestad BK, SHL
A seventh-round draft pick in 2021, he competes for Farjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League this season, leads team defensemen in goals and is third in points.
This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Carolina Hurricanes send record number of prospects to 2022 IIHF World Junior tourney."
