Penguins fans haven't had many reasons to tune in for the World Junior Championship in recent years.
While goaltending prospects Calle Clang (third-round, 2020) and Joel Blomqvist (second-round, 2020) made their respective countries' squads for the 2021 tournament, both were cast in backup roles and didn't play in a game. The last Penguins prospect to actually play in the tournament was Filip Hallander, who went scoreless in five games for Sweden in a fourth-line role in the 2019 tournament. Before that, the Penguins had Kasper Bjorkqvist play six games for Finland and then-goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson play a game for Sweden in 2017.
This year, the Penguins could have three prospects playing in the tournament, which will take place from Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 in both Edmonton and Red Deer in Alberta, Canada.
This past week Sweden, Finland, Russia and the Czech Republic participated in the U20 Four Nations tournament, which functions as part of the evaluation process in constructing the rosters for the main World Junior Championship.
The Penguins had three prospects participate in the Four Nations tournament, all with good chances of making the final rosters next month.
Clang (Sweden) and Blomqvist (Finland) participated in the tournament and are competing for the starting roles on their teams. Forward Kirill Tankov, the Penguins' 2021 seventh-round pick, played in the tournament and will look to make Russia's final roster.
TEAM SWEDEN
Calle Clang after Game 1 of the Four Nations tournament.
Clang started the first of Sweden's three games, and posted an 18-save shutout in a 5-0 win over the Czech Republic.
"I think I got great help from the whole team so it felt good," Clang said after the win. "It was very nice to start like this."
Clang, who plays for Rogle BK in the Swedish Hockey League, is competing with Lulea goaltender Jesper Wallstedt for the starting job with the junior team. Wallstedt started the final two games of the Four Nations tournament, a 3-0 loss to Finland and a 5-2 loss to Russia.
"I'm not happy with sitting on the bench, I want to play," Clang said after Game 1. "I have proved it before and I proved it again today that I am at this level and can win matches for us."
LEIJONAT
Joel Blomqvist makes a save in Finland's game against Russia in the Four Nations tournament.
Blomqvist started for Finland in Game 1 of the tournament against Russia, and made 26 saves on 31 shots in the loss, including this save on a penalty shot:
Blomqvist earned a primary assist in the game, setting the puck and starting Finland's breakout:
Blomqvist was held out of the second game of the tournament in what the national team said was a precautionary measure, which forced the Finnish team to borrow a Swede from the local SHL team to serve as the emergency backup. Kind of funny.
Blomqvist is competing with Juha Jatkola for the starting job. Jatkola started the last two games of the tournament, a 3-0 shutout of Sweden and a 4-2 win over the Czech Republic, and was named the top goaltender of the tournament.
ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION OF RUSSIA
Kirill Tankov battles for a puck in Russia's game against Sweden.
Tankov's Russian team won the tournament, sweeping their three games.
Tankov played second-line center for the first two games, and third-line center in the final game of the tournament. He had a primary assist in the opening game against Finland:
Tankov scored a power play goal against the Czech Republic the following day with this rocket of a shot:
____________________
Here's how the Penguins' prospects in junior, college, and Europe did this week.
FORWARDS
Raivis Ansons
Position: Right wing/left wing
Size: 6-1/190
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2021, fifth round
Team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Season totals: 12 games, 3 goals, 12 assists
Ansons scored a goal and an assist in his two games this week. His goal came off of a breakaway, capitalizing on an opponent's turnover:
Tristan Broz
Position: Center/wing
Size: 6-0/179
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2021, second round
Team: University of Minnesota (NCAA)
Season totals: 12 games, 2 assists
Broz was scoreless in two games. Minnesota coach Bob Motzko spoke highly of Broz' effort last week and said that he'd be rewarded. Broz was bumped up from the third line to the second-line left wing for this week.
Judd Caulfield
Position: Right wing
Size: 6-3/207
Shoots: Right
Drafted: 2019, fifth round
Team: University of North Dakota (NCAA)
Season totals: 11 games, 3 goal, 5 assists
Caulfield was scoreless in two games.
Liam Gorman
Position: Center
Size: 6-3/199
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2018, sixth round
Team: Princeton University (NCAA)
Season totals: 5 games, 1 goal
Gorman played in two games and scored his first goal of the season, a shorthanded breakaway tally:
Lukas Svejkovsky
Position: Center/right wing
Size: 5-9/170
Shoots: Right
Drafted: 2020, fourth round
Team: Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Season totals: 13 games, 8 goals, 15 assists
Svejkovsky scored a goal and two assists in two games. His goal was a power play goal.
Kirill Tankov
Position: Center/wing
Size: 6-2/190
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2021, seventh round
Team: SKA-Neva (VHL)
Season totals: 20 games, 6 goals, 5 assists
Tankov was away from SKA-Neva for the Four Nations tournament, where he scored a goal and an assist in three games.
Chase Yoder
Position: Center
Size: 5-11/185
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2020, sixth round
Team: Providence College (NCAA)
Season totals: 13 games, 2 goal, 3 assists
Yoder recorded an assist in two games.
DEFENSEMEN
Santeri Airola
Size: 5-9/163
Shoots: Right
Drafted: 2019, seventh round
Team: Ilves (Liiga), KOOVEE (Mestis)
Season totals: 2 games (Mestis)
Airola missed the start of the Liiga season with a lower-body injury. His team announced on Oct. 14 that Airola underwent surgery and is expected to be sidelined for 6-8 months.
Isaac Belliveau
Size: 6-2/185
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2021, fifth round
Team: Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Season totals: 16 games, 1 goal, 6 assists
Belliveau played in three games and scored his first goal of the season:
Daniel Laatsch
Size: 6-5/190
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2021, seventh round
Team: University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
Season totals: 12 games
Laatsch was scoreless in two games.
Ryan McCleary
Size: 6-2/180
Shoots: Right
Drafted: 2021, seventh round
Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Season totals: 10 games, 1 goal, 1 assist
McCleary was scoreless in two games.
Clayton Phillips
Size: 6-0/195
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2017, third round
Team: Penn State University (NCAA)
Season totals: 9 games, 3 goal, 4 assists
Phillips was scoreless in two games.
GOALTENDERS
Joel Blomqvist
Size: 6-1/183
Catches: Left
Drafted: 2020, second round
Team: Karpat (Liiga), Hermes (Mestis)
Season totals: 4 games, 0.57 GAA, .973 SV% (Liiga), 3 games, 2.07 GAA, .902 SV% (Mestis)
Blomqvist's only game this week was in the Four Nations tournament, making 26 saves on 31 shots in Finland's loss to Russia.
Calle Clang
Size: 6-2/176
Catches: Left
Drafted: 2020, third round
Team: Rogle (SHL)
Season totals: 5 games, 2.63 GAA, .890 SV%
Clang's only game this week was his 18-save shutout over the Czechs in the Four Nations tournament.