Day One (Sunday, November 3 @ Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, ON)
GM 1: Canada White 6 (27 SOG), Czechia 2 (22 SOG)
Players of the Game: Forward Adam Vallentini for Canada White (USHL Chicago Steel), 3 points (2G, 1A); Goaltender Martin Psohlavec for Czechia (16 saves)
Notes: The player from Canada White making the biggest impression on me was forward Ethan Belchetz, (OHL Windsor). His combination of size (6’4″, 233 LBS.) and skill (1G,1A) is compelling. For Team Czechia, I was very impressed with their goaltender/POG Psohlavec. He has a great combination of size and athleticism. Although he allowed six goals, Canada White had a number of grade-A scoring chances. Without some spectacular saves by Psohlavec, they easily would have been in double digits.
GM 2: Canada Red 3 (32 SOG), Finland 1 (15 SOG)
POG: Defenseman Landon DuPont (1A) for Canada Red; Goaltender Pyry Lammi for Finland (29 saves)
Notes: Defenseman Landon DuPont for Canada Red came as advertised. Constantly looking for an offensive opportunity, his skating is so elite he sacrifices nothing positionally from a defensive standpoint. I also really liked what Finland forward Olli Wahlroos brought to the table. He is very physical and skates well, making him very effective on the forecheck. He struck me as a classic checking forward, not someone you want to play against.
Day Two (Monday, November 4)
Game One: Sweden 5 (38 SOG), Czechia 3 (22 SOG)
Players of the Game: Forward Viggo Bjork (2A) for Sweden; Defenseman Lukas Kachlir for Czechia (1G)
Notes: Swedish forwards Markus Nordmard (2G 1A) and Viggo Bjork (POG) are both WJC-caliber players. Czech defensemen Jakub Vanecek & POG Kachlir each possess dynamic skating and puck skills, but play a light game at this point.
Game Two: Canada Red 6 (37 SOG), Team USA 3 (32 SOG)
(Left prior to POG announcements)
Notes: The Player of the Game to me clearly was Canada Red goaltender Carter Esler (WHL Spokane). Not only did he make 29 saves on 32 shots, he surrendered no goals on ten shots in the third period when there was a big push by the Americans to tie the game. Esler was square to the puck at all times, and killed plays with excellent rebound control. Provided he grows in the next few years (right now he stands at 5’9″, 140 lbs.), he will be an elite NHL prospect.
Day Three (Tuesday, November 5)
Game One: USA 5 (26 SOG), Finland 3 (29 SOG)
Players of the Game: Forward Victor Plante (2A) for USA; Forward Olli Wahlroos (1G 1A) for Finland.
Notes: In my opinion, forwards Sammy Nelson (two shorthanded goals) and Lukas Zajic (one power-play goal) are Team USA’s best offensive players, not only because of their points in this game but more for their ability to generate offense for themselves and their team mates on a consistent basis.
Game Two: Sweden 5 (30 SOG), Canada White 4 ( 37 SOG) (OT)
Players of the Game: Forward Marcus Nordmark (1G 1A) for Sweden; Forward Tynan Lawrence (1G 1A) for Canada White
Notes: Canada White forward Mathis Preston (WHL Spokane) possesses skating skills, puck skills and vision very similar to those of Canada Red defenseman Landon DuPont. He has ten points (3G 7A) in 14 WHL games this season, and I will not be surprised at all if he is a point-per-game player for his rookie season.