BostonBruins.com - The 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship got underway on Wednesday with five of the six Bruins prospects at the tournament in action. Here's a look at how they did:
Kyle Keyser
The 19-year-old netminder, making his World Juniors debut, helped pace the United States to a 2-1 victory over Slovakia in Victoria, British Columbia. Keyser made 13 saves, including a crucial stop on Andrej Kukuca's penalty shot with 6:45 to play. "I just saw him come in wide and I tried to stay as patient as possible and not give up my ice," Keyser, who leads the OHL with a .931 save percentage, told the IIHF's website. "I know with my quickness I can get to pucks on my back post if I need to. I just wanted to hold my ground as much as I can. I could see he was trying to shoot five-hole, so I tried to close it as quick as possible."
The Bruins' third-round pick in last June's draft, Lauko picked up a helper - providing the screen in front - on David Kvasnicka's winner just 52 seconds into overtime, as the Czech Republic sneaked by Switzerland, 2-1. Lauko has 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 26 games for Rouyn-Noranda of the QMJHL this season, his first playing in North America. Bukac, a defenseman and Boston's seventh round pick in 2017, played 13 minutes, 11 seconds, for the Czechs in the win.
Jack Studnicka
The 19-year-old notched a goal and an assist in Canada's 14-0 thumping of Denmark. Studnicka, who competed for a job with Boston during training camp, also landed four shots on goal with a plus-2 rating in 11:34 of ice time. Studnicka has compiled 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 29 games for Oshawa this season.
The blue liner played 23:25, the second-highest total for the Fins, and landed two shots on goal. It was Vaakanainen's first game since suffering a concussion in his second NHL contest on Oct. 23 in Ottawa.
