2023 World Junior Summer Showcase set to open play in Michigan

The 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase will start the road to the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship for the United States, Sweden and Finland.

The event will be held at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, from July 27 to Aug. 4. It's the first step toward those countries selecting their teams for the 2024 WJC, which is scheduled for Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Sweden.

The U.S. will have 45 players taking part, among them eight players from the team that finished third at the 2023 WJC in Halifax, Nova Scotia: goalies Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings) and Andrew Oke (2024 NHL Draft eligible); defensemen Ryan Chesley (Washington Capitals) and Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens); and forwards Gavin Brindley (Columbus Blue Jackets), Cutter Gauthier (Philadelphia Flyers), Rutger McGroarty (Winnipeg Jets) and Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues).

Snuggerud was second for the U.S. with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in seven games, and Gauthier tied for third with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games.

"I think experience is important," U.S. coach David Carle said. "Those nine, for them to have that experience of coming up short a year ago, I think is a motivating factor in speaking with some of them. They are very excited to help build this team and to have the opportunity to be a part of it potentially again and try and go further and do what we want to do right."

Carle, who is entering his sixth season as coach at the University of Denver, said what has impressed him is the speed, skill and depth of the group that will be in Michigan.

"I'm excited to get on the ice with them and to work on that and use our speed to create that transition when we don't have the puck as well by taking away time and space, and then being able to quick-strike from those moments," he said.

Some of that speed will be supplied by forwards Cole Eiserman, a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft, and James Hagens, a favorite to be selected high in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Eiserman (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), a left wing who turns 17 on Aug. 29, had 32 points (26 goals, six assists) in 20 games for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team, and led the NTDP U-17 team with 72 points (43 goals, 29 assists) in 42 games last season. He also tied for the tournament lead with nine goals in seven games to help the U.S. win the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Hagens (5-9, 155) a 16-year-old center, was second on the NTDP U-17 team with 66 points (26 goals, 40 assists) in 43 games and had five points (one goal, four assists) in seven games at the World U-18s.

"I'm excited to see both of them in this environment," Carle said. "I would expect them to be themselves and to go do what they do best. When you're that caliber of player, they're very confident in their abilities and what they can do.

"They want to be difference makers. They want the puck on their stick, and when they have it on their stick, they have a real ability to make something special happen."

Sweden, which lost to the U.S. in the bronze medal game at the 2023 WJC, will have seven players back from that team, including forward Filip Bystedt (San Jose Sharks), who tied for the Sweden lead with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games.

"He's big (6-2, 187), he moves well, he's got skill, he's smart," Sharks director of player personnel Scott Fitzgerald said. "He had a real good World Junior last year, we suspect that will continue to grow with Sweden this year on their World Junior team coming up this winter. He's moving along nicely development wise."

Finland will have five players back from the team that finished fifth at the 2023 WJC. They also will have two top prospects for the 2024 draft, defenseman Aron Kiviharju and forward Konsta Helenius.

Kiviharju (5-9, 170) had three assists in 21 games with TPS in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland. The 17-year-old also had 20 points (two goals, 18 assists) in 22 games in Finland's junior league and seven assists in five games for Finland at the World U-18s.

"Kiviharju has high hockey IQ and passion for the game," Janne Vuorinen of NHL Central Scouting said. "He really wants to get better on daily basis and is a very mature kid. He reads the game really well and has the ability to set the tempo of the game when on the puck. He has good vision and passing ability, moves well at the point and can run the power play effectively. He's a bit smallish, but uses his stick well defensively to steal the puck."

Helenius (5-11, 180) had 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 33 Liiga games with Jukurit. The 17-year-old also had 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 19 games in Finland's junior league and six points (two goals, four assists) in five games at the World U-18s.

"Helenius has really good hockey sense, has good speed and soft hands," Vuorinen said. "Plays well under pressure and can make plays in tight areas. Moves the puck very effective and can be dangerous on the power play."

WORLD JUNIOR SUMMER SHOWCASE ROSTERS

UNITED STATES

GOALIES: Trey Augustine, Michigan State, NCAA (Detroit Red Wings); Jacob Fowler, Boston College, NCAA (Montreal Canadiens); Tyler Muszelik, New Hampshire, NCAA (Florida Panthers); Andrew Oke, Saginaw, OHL (2024 draft eligible); Hampton Slukynsky, Northern Michigan, NCAA (Los Angeles Kings)

DEFENSEMEN: Vinny Borgesi, Northeastern, NCAA (2024 draft eligible); Garrett Brown, Denver, NCAA (Winnipeg Jets); Hunter Brzustewicz, Kitchener, OHL (Vancouver Canucks); Zeev Buium, Denver, NCAA (2024 draft eligible); Seamus Casey, Michigan, NCAA (New Jersey Devils); Ryan Chesley, Minnesota, NCAA (Washington Capitals); Jackson Dorrington, Northeastern, NCAA (Vancouver Canucks); Tyler Duke, Ohio State, NCAA (2024 draft eligible); Paul Fischer, Notre Dame, NCAA (St. Louis Blues); Drew Fortescue, Boston College, NCAA (New York Rangers); Lane Hutson, Boston University, NCAA (Montreal Canadiens); Charles Leddy, Boston College, NCAA (New Jersey Devils); Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, NCAA (2024 draft eligible); Eric Pohlkamp, Bemidji State, NCAA (San Jose Sharks); Sam Rinzel, Minnesota, NCAA (Chicago Blackhawks); Zachary Schulz, Wisconsin, NCAA (New York Islanders)

FORWARDS: Gavin Brindley, Michigan, NCAA (Columbus Blue Jackets); Cole Eiserman, USA U-18, NTDP (2024 draft eligible); Quinn Finley, Wisconsin, NCAA (New York Islanders); Cutter Gauthier, Boston College, NCAA (Philadelphia Flyers); James Hagens, USA U-18, NTDP (2025 draft eligible); Gavin Hayes, Flint, OHL (Chicago Blackhawks); Isaac Howard, Michigan State, NCAA (Tampa Bay Lightning); Devin Kaplan, Boston University, NCAA (Philadelphia Flyers); Cole Knuble, Notre Dame, NCAA (Philadelphia Flyers); Ryan Leonard, Boston College, NCAA (Washington Capitals); Cruz Lucius, Wisconsin, NCAA (Carolina Hurricanes); Tanner Ludtke, Nebraska-Omaha, NCAA (Arizona Coyotes); Cameron Lund, Northeastern, NCAA (San Jose Sharks); Rutger McGroarty, Michigan, NCAA (Winnipeg Jets); Oliver Moore, Minnesota, NCAA (Chicago Blackhawks); Quentin Musty, Sudbury, OHL (San Jose Sharks); Frank Nazar, Michigan, NCAA (Chicago Blackhawks); Danny Nelson, Notre Dame, NCAA (New York Islanders); Gabe Perreault, Boston College, NCAA (New York Rangers); William Smith, Boston College, NCAA (San Jose Sharks); Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota, NCAA (St. Louis Blues); Charlie Stramel, Wisconsin, NCAA (Minnesota Wild); Carey Terrance, Erie, OHL (Anaheim Ducks); William Whitelaw, Wisconsin, NCAA (Columbus Blue Jackets)

SWEDEN

GOALIES: Hugo Havelid, Djurgarden, SWE-2 (2024 draft eligible); Alexander Hellnemo, Rogle, SWE (2024 draft eligible); Kevin Reidler, Dubuque, USHL (Ottawa Senators)

DEFENSEMEN: Mattias Havelid, Linkoping, SWE (San Jose Sharks); Anton Johansson, Leksands, SWE (Detroit Red Wings); Theo Lindstein, Brynas, SWE-2 (St. Louis Blues); Jakob Noren, Modo, SWE (2024 draft eligible); Calle Odelius, Djurgarden, SWE-2 (New York Islanders); Elias Pettersson, Orebro, SWE (Vancouver Canucks); Elias Salomonsson, Skelleftea, SWE (Winnipeg Jets); Axel Sandin Pellikka, Skelleftea, SWE (Detroit Red Wings)

FORWARDS: Isac Born, Frolunda, SWE (2024 draft eligible); Filip Bystedt, Linkoping, SWE (San Jose Sharks); David Edstrom, Frolunda Jr., SWE-JR (Vegas Golden Knights); Zeb Forsfjall, Skelleftea, SWE (Seattle Kraken); Hannes Hellberg, Vasteras, SWE-2 (2024 draft eligible); Linus Hemstrom, Kingston, OHL (2024 draft eligible); Felix Nilsson, Rogle, SWE (Nashville Predators); Oskar Pettersson, Rogle, SWE (Ottawa Senators); Rasmus Rudslatt, AIK, SWE-2 (2024 draft eligible); Otto Stenberg, Frolunda, SWE (St. Louis Blues); Alexander Suzdalev, Regina, WHL (Washington Capitals); Felix Unger Sorum, Leksands, SWE (Carolina Hurricanes); Fabian Wagner, Linkoping, SWE (Winnipeg Jets); Anton Wahlberg, Malmo, SWE (Buffalo Sabres)

FINLAND

GOALIES: Niklas Kokko, Karpat, FIN (Seattle Kraken); Noa Vali, TPS, FIN (2024 draft eligible); Visa Vedenpaa, Karpat, FIN (Seattle Kraken)

DEFENSEMEN: Otto Heinonen, Ilves, FIN (2024 draft eligible); Aron Kiviharju, HIFK, FIN (2024 draft eligible); Kasper Kulonummi, Tappara, FIN (Nashville Predators); Niko Minkkinen, JYP, FIN (2024 draft eligible); Emil Pieniniemi, Karpat, FIN (Pittsburgh Penguins); Otto Salin, HIFK, FIN (Los Angeles Kings); Topi Vuori, Assat, FIN (2024 draft eligible); Joona Vaisanen, K-Espoo Jr., FIN-JR (2024 draft eligible)

FORWARDS: Samu Bau, Ilves, FIN (Arizona Coyotes); Kasper Halttunen, HIFK, FIN (San Jose Sharks); Konsta Helenius, Jukurit (2024 draft eligible); Lenni Hameenaho, Assat, FIN (New Jersey Devils); Jessie Kiiskinen, Pelicans, FIN (Nashville Predators); Max Koskipirtti, Michigan Tech, NCAA (2024 draft eligible); Jere Lassila, JYP, FIN (2024 draft eligible); Kasper Lundell, HIFK, FIN (2024 draft eligible); Tommi Mannisto, Michigan State, NCAA (2024 draft eligible); Janne Naukkarinen, SaiPa Jr., FIN-JR (2024 draft eligible); Jesse Nurmi, KooKoo, FIN (New York Islanders); Jani Nyman, Ilves, FIN (Seattle Kraken); Topi Ronni, Tappara, FIN (Calgary Flames); Venni Tolppola, Lukko Jr., FIN-JR (2024 draft eligible)

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