Rossi of Wild to play for Austria at World Juniors
First-round pick at 2020 Draft to be joined by Ducks' fourth-round selection Nickl at camp
© Chris Tanouye/Getty Images
The tournament is scheduled to be held Dec. 25-Jan. 5 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, with no fans in the building and in a secure zone similar to what the NHL used for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Teams are scheduled to arrive in Edmonton on Dec. 13.
Austria will begin camp Dec. 6 in Saint Polten, Austria.
Rossi (5-foot-9, 183 pounds) led the Canadian Hockey League last season with 120 points (39 goals, 81 assists) in 56 games for Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League. The 19-year-old forward was second in points per game (2.14) behind forward
Alexis Lafreniere
, who was chosen No. 1 by the New York Rangers in the 2020 draft (2.15).
Wild general manager Bill Guerin said Rossi's chances of competing for an NHL roster spot at training camp will not be affected by playing at the World Juniors.
"My opinion is that him as one of the elite players from Austria that he's got this opportunity to represent his country and be a leader on that team," Guerin said Thursday. "It's the best tournament in the world for players that age. The experience of being in that tournament is a huge benefit in a player's development and we just put a huge importance on that.
"Training camp is training camp. It's important, but if somebody is playing in the World Juniors at this time, that's a big deal. I think where he is right now in his career, it's an incredibly big honor for him to do that and a good steppingstone."
Defenseman
Thimo Nickl
(6-2, 176), selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round (No. 104) in the 2020 draft, is the only other NHL draft choice among 36 players invited to Austria's camp. Nickl, a right-handed shot, scored 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) in 58 games for Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season.
Austria will be participating in the top division of the World Junior Championship for the fourth time (1981, 2004, 2010). It will begin play in Group B in the preliminary round against the United States on Dec. 26, followed by games against Sweden (Dec. 28), Russia (Dec. 29) and Czech Republic (Dec. 31). Group A consists of Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Germany.
"We can learn so much at this tournament," Rossi said. "There are not that many chances we play in the top group. Comparing us at the same age to the best hockey players in the world is going to be good for us because then we know where we are and what we have to improve.
"For some players, this is maybe the last time they play against Russia, the United States, Sweden and so on. We should just enjoy this moment and learn as much as possible at this tournament."
Games will be broadcast in the United States on NHL Network.
AUSTRIA WORLD JUNIOR EVALUATION CAMP ROSTER
GOALIES: Felix Beck, Bregenzerwald, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Jakob Brandner, Titaanit, FIN-3 (2021 draft eligible); Lukas Moser, Villach Jr., AUT-JR (2021 draft eligible); Alois Schultes, Red Bull Hockey Juniors, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Leonhard Sommer, Linz 2, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Sebastian Wraneschitz, Vienna, AUT (2021 draft eligible)
DEFEENSEMEN: Luis Lindner, Boston Jr. Bruins, NCDC (2021 draft eligible); Moritz Molls, Okanagan Jr., AUT-JR (2021 draft eligible); Lukas Necesany, Red Bull Hockey Akademia, CZREP-JR (2021 draft eligible); Thimo Nickl, Rogle Jr., SWE-JR (Anaheim Ducks); Timo Pallierer, Vienna, AUT (2021 draft eligible); Jacob Pfeffer, Graz, AUT (2021 draft eligible); Bernhard Posch, Bregenzerwald, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Christoph Tialler, Klagenfurter 2, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Martin Urbanek, Villach, AUT (2021 draft eligible); Niklas Wetzl, Tuto Jr., FIN-JR (2021 draft eligible); Philipp Wimmer, Red Bull Hockey Juniors, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Kilian Zundel, Red Bull Hockey Juniors, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible)
FORWARDS: Mathias Bohm, Vienna Jr., AUT-JR (2021 draft eligible); Kilian Fruhwirt, Linz 2, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Tim Harnisch, Red Bull Hockey Juniors, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Maximillian Hengelmuller, Red Bull Hockey Juniors, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Fabian Hochegger, Klagenfurt 2, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Adem Kandemir, EC Bregenzerwald, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Marco Kasper, Rogle Jr., SWE-JR (2022 draft eligible); Clemens Krainz, Graz, AUT (2021 draft eligible); Oskar Maier, Red Bull Hockey Juniors, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Julian Pauschenwein, Graz, AUT (2021 draft eligible); Senna Peeters, Halifax, QMJHL (2021 draft eligible); Lukas Pohl, Vienna 2, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Marco Rossi, Ottawa, OHL (Minnesota Wild); Marco Sunitsch, Klagenfurter 2, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Lucas Thaler, Mora Jr., SWE-JR (2021 draft eligible); Dominik Unterweger, Feldkirch, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Finn van Ee, Klagenfurt 2, AUT-2 (2021 draft eligible); Leon Wallner, Sodertalje Jr., SWE-JR (2021 draft eligible)
