NEW YORK Beginning on Jan. 2,the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship heads into the medal rounds and this year's tournament is shaping up to have quite a finish.
Every roster is littered with future NHL stars. Some players, such asCanada's Barrett Hayton, have already brokeninto the NHL ranks this season.
It's a unique moment these current players are experiencing: playing for national pride,wearing a jersey that represents not only theirhomelandbut years of building a program to the point of reaching one of the most prestigious stages in juniors. All with one goal: to finally hear theircountry's anthem with a medal around theirneck.
Sporting News recently spoke to a few current NHLers about their experiences playing in Ronald Darby Jersey IIHF World Junior Championship.
Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
World Juniors experience: 2015gold medal for Canada
Best memory: I think just winning really . . . the whole tournament was a blur and it was an honor to wear that jersey and represent the country and, we had an amazing team behind us. It was just a lot of fun.
On 2015 team: I think we had a really really tight, tight group.I mean, it helps when you have the best player on the planet on your team in Connor McDavid. I thought we had a good solid d corps.Just it was a lot of fun and I think we cherish every moment.
Pavel Buchnevich, New York Alshon Jeffery Jersey Rangers
World Juniors experience: 2014 bronze medal, 2015 silver medal for Ru sia
Best memory:Always good memories. I played two world juniors and both good memories, good things.We had a great team both years and everybody was close and good memories.Still talk to guys on that team. I think it was the final in Canada against Canada was kind of shy. Don't remind me, don't remind me one time(laughing).
On 2015 final: We play final in Air Canada Centre, fans are all in red and of course, you're nervous. But if you play a couple of shifts the nerves go away and you just play for your country. A lot of people from Europe come, especiallyfrom Ru sia, a lot of guys watching but you have to play well and forget you're nervous.
World Juniors primer:
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
World Juniors experience: 2010 fourth-place finish for Switzerland
Best memory: Probably when we gotfourth place in Canada. It was pretty cool, it wasin Saskatoon. I got hurtactually. I wasn't part of the quarterfinals, Philadelphia Eagles Jersey but our team went on and beatRu sia in the quarterfinals. It was pretty cool.
It was awesome, especially the one in Canada was pretty cool with, obviously, so many people at the games and was really excited about the world juniors. But every world juniors I played,it was really cool. I played in the lower Division I once too and it was back in Switzerland and we won that so, that was pretty cool too. Fun tournament. Every one was different but fun.
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
World Juniors experience: 2016 sixth-place finish for Canada
On playing in tournament: The year I went, it wasn't a succe sful tournament for us. It wasn't anything to brag about but I just think the overall, just being with the guys, having your family over and kind of just experiencing it with them. It's every kid's dream to play in that tournament so that's it. Just getting to wear that jersey again, being a part of that team. Like I said, it wasn't a succe sful tournament for us at that time but still a lot of fun to be a part of.
WORLD JUNIORS 2020:
Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers
World Juniors experience: 2012gold medal for Sweden
Best memory: The highlight of it was obviously to win it. Just the whole tournament as a whole,we started in Sweden with our camp and stuff and had a good feeling actually;had a good feeling about the group, about the way we practiced, the way we prepared. We came to the games andI thought we had a special group and thementality of that group, how it was in the locker room, at the hotel at the games, and everything. It was a really good feeling we had andno matter what kind of obstacles we faced we found a way to kind of get through it, around it, whatever. That was a fun tournament.
Kyle Turris, Nashville Predators
World Juniors experience: 2008gold medal for Canada
Best memory:Oh, man. Winning the gold Andre Dillard Jersey medal in overtime againstSweden is something I'll never forget. Just the whole tournament. Hockey Canada is such an amazing organization. They treat you so well and to have the opportunity to play for your country especially on that stage . World juniors in Canada is like the Super Bowl, right? Everybody grows up watching it and it's a dream come true when you get the opportunity. Yea, it's definitely one of the best hockey experiences I've ever had.
On the pre sure of playing in the tournament: When I was growing up it was always gold medal, so Wendell Smallwood Jersey it's kinda, that's the mentality going in and it's a good mentality to have because in Canada hockey is the game and you want to bring home a gold. There's pre sure but at that point, if you've made the world junior team you're used to handling pre sure and dealing with pre sure and it's just so much fun.
Ryan Strome, New York Rangers
World Juniors experience: 2012bronze medal, 2013 fourth-place finishfor Canada
Best memory: Well, we didn't win so not many but no, for me, the world juniors I played one in Canada and one in Ru sia and I think the one in Canada was just unbelievable. I remember the one game, it was New Year's Eve and it was in Edmonton. We went out and we played the Americans and like the whole arena was the loudest I had ever heard a hockey rink and just had complete chills. I mean, you're 18 years old on top of the world, right? So, I think any time you represent your country it's special but doing it in Canada was unbelievable.
On the importance of playing in the tournament for career development: I think it's huge. It's moments like that I think, other than playing junior hockey or whatever, next to the Stanley Cup that's probably the highest-watched moment you'll ever have. So, I think it's good to experience the highs and lows. Whether it goes good or bad I think, you've been there, you've experienced either the great joy of winning or the depre sion of Nelson Agholor Jersey losing and you've kind of been through that. Especially being a Canadian, how many people watch it? There's so much pre sure on you. It's great to compare yourself to other players in the world but as well have so many eyes on you. Gives you invaluable experiences that one day you can draw from.
Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
World Juniors experience: 2012bronze medal for Canada
