BLOG: Four Prospects Headed to 2022 World Junior Championship

Four Blackhawks prospects will be representing their countries when the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship gets underway on Dec. 26 in Alberta.
Drew Commesso, Wyatt Kaiser and Landon Slaggert will all be representing Team USA at the annual showcase, while Michael Krutil will represent Czechia. All four are members of the 2020 NHL Draft class for the Blackhawks -- Commesso (2nd Rd., 46th Ovr.), Kaiser (3rd Rd., 81st Ovr.), Slaggert (3rd Rd., 79th Ovr.) and Krutil (4th Rd., 110th Ovr.).

Slaggert has been named an alternate captain for the Americans in his second tournament, playing in all seven games en route to a gold medal at last year's competition. Krutil also makes his return to the tournament, playing an all four preliminary round games for Czechia a year ago. Commesso was originally slated to be part of the championship U.S. team, but had to withdraw just days before the final selection camp due to COVID-19 protocols.
The trio of Americans all are in their sophomore seasons at the collegiate level. Commesso is the lead netminder for Boston University with a 6-7-1 record and .900 save percentage in 17 games this season. Kaiser has seven points (1G, 6A) in 14 games for Minnesota-Duluth and Slaggert boasts 10 points (5G, 5A) in 17 games at Notre Dame.
Krutil is in his second season with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs, appearing in seven games this season.

USA Schedule

• Dec. 26: vs. Slovakia - 8:30 p.m. (NHLN)
• Dec. 28: vs. Switzerland - 3:30 p.m. (NHLN)
• Dec. 29: vs. Sweden - 8:30 p.m. (NHLN)
• Dec. 31: vs. Russia - 8: 30 p.m. (NHL)

Czechia Schedule

Quarterfinal round games will be played on Jan. 2, with the semifinal round to follow on Jan. 4 before the gold medal and bronze medal games on Jan. 5.