Buckle up hockey fans, because the IIHF World Junior Championships is finally us!
The tournament has become a major part of Canadian hockey throughout the years, as numerous players have stepped up on one of the country’s biggest stages and managed to make a heroic impact. With the tournament set to kick off in less than a month, we took a look back at the six Canadian participants who sit atop of the team’s all-time points list.
6) John Tavares
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‘JT’ managed to capture back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009. After recording a respectable four goals and single assist in his first appearance, Tavares led the way with eight and seven respectively the following year. In the 13 total games, the Mississauga, Ontario native collected 20 points. Tavares was named the best forward of the tournament his second time around.
5) Jason Allison
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Allison enjoyed a solid NHL career, but may be remembered most for his stellar World Junior Championship performances. Before accumulating 485 points in 552 games with the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs, Allison won gold medals in both the 1994 and 95’ tournaments. Over a combined 14 games, he managed to score six goals and eighteen assists for 24 points.
4) Ryan Ellis
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After participating in three separate tournaments, Ellis finished his World Junior career as Canada's all-time point leader for defencemen. Over a brilliant 19 game stretch, the Preds blueliner averaged more than a point per contest with 25 in 19. After helping Canada win Gold in 2009, Ellis suffered devastating losses in the following two tournament finals. The 26-year-old’s strongest statistical performance came in 2011 when he scored three goals and seven assists as the team’s captain. He became just the seventh player in Canadian history to participate in the World Juniors on three separate occasions.
T-2) Brayden Schenn
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Schenn’s breakout 2017-18 NHL campaign is reminiscent of the goalscoring he displayed as a member of Canada’s World Junior team. The 2009 fifth overall pick competed on both the 2010 and 2011 rosters, winning silver in both and collecting 26 points along the way. In his second tournament, Schenn incredibly picked up eight goals and ten assists en route to being named the tournament’s best forward. It was later revealed that Schenn had been playing through a separated shoulder he suffered in the team’s quarter-final victory over the Swiss.
Pretty incredible stuff.
T-2) Jordan Eberle
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He may not be at the top of the list, but Eberle is viewed by many as the greatest World Junior player in Canadian history. In one less game than Schenn, Eberle scored 14 goals and 12 assists, good enough for a 2.17 points per game average. It was the timing of Eberle’s goals, though, that made him a glorified icon in the country. In 2009, Eberle scored what is remembered as the greatest goal in tournament history when he tied the Russians with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation in the semi-finals. Canada went on to win in a shootout and defeated the Swedes in the championship.
“Can you believe it?”
1) Eric Lindros
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Touted as the best prospect in years, Lindros simply tore up the tournament in his three appearances. Through 21 games, the first overall pick of the 1991 draft racked up 12 goals and 19 apples in 31 games. Lindros helped lead Canada to consecutive gold medals from 90-91 and currently ranks 10th on the tournament’s all-time points list.
