Prospects to watch at WJC from every Canadian team

NHL fans usually don’t have much to watch most summers once the draft wraps up and free agency dies down. But this year is different with the rescheduled World Junior Championship kicking off Tuesday in Edmonton.

In late December, multiple positive COVID-19 cases in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., bubbles forced the IIHF to call off the men’s tournament with the possibility of rescheduling it for later in the year hopeful but uncertain. Seven months later, it’s time to drop the puck.

With the rescheduled World Juniors finally getting underway on Tuesday, here is a look at the participating players from Canadian NHL teams.

F Ridly Grieg (CAN) F Zack Ostapchuk (CAN) F Roby Jarventie (FIN) D Tomas Hamara (CZE) D Tyler Kleven (USA) G Leevi Merilainen (FIN)

The Ottawa Senators have the most prospects at the 2022 World Juniors among Canadian teams with six, including Brandon Wheat Kings forward Ridly Greig. The 20-year-old from nearby Lethbridge, Alta., was selected No. 28 overall by Ottawa in the 2020 draft and was second on the Wheat Kings with 26 goals and third in points (63) in just 39 games played last season.

He was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in Ottawa’s system behind Jake Sanderson by TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button in his Top Canadian Teams Prospect List from April.

Greig has been playing on a line with fellow Sens prospect Zack Ostapchuk at camp, who joins Canada’s squad as an injury replacement. The Vancouver Giants winger had 26 goals and 43 points in 60 WHL contests last season.

“It caught me by surprise when they called, but I was ecstatic,” the 19-year-old Ostapchuk told TSN’s Mark Masters last week.

F Riley Kidney (CAN) F Joshua Roy (CAN) F Jan Mysak (CZE) F Oliver Kapanen (FIN) D Petteri Nurmi (FIN)

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