SUNRISE, Fla. -The Florida Panthers will have five prospects competing in the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship from Friday, Dec. 25, 2020 to Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Exhibition games will be played Dec. 20-23.
All games can be seen on NHL Network. The Gold Medal game will take place on Jan. 5 at 9:30 P.M. (ET), while the Bronze Medal game will occur prior at 5:30 P.M. (ET).
5 Florida Panthers Prospects Named to 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship
Panthers prospects participating in the World Junior Championship:
Knight, 19, will represent the United States at the World Junior Championship for the second consecutive year. Over four games as a sophomore with Boston College in 2020-21, the 6-foot-3, 192-pound native of Stamford, Conn., has posted a 4-0-0 record, 1.50 goals against average, .955 save percentage and two shutouts.
Selected by Florida in the first round (13th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, he posted an outstanding 23-2-8 record as a freshman with BC in 2019-20 and notched a 1.97 goals against average, .931 save percentage and five shutouts. He was named to the 2019-20 Hockey East All-Rookie Team and Second All-Star Team.
On the international stage, Knight has won a Silver Medal with USA at the 2019 World Junior Championship and won Bronze with USA at the 2019 World U18 Championship.
Lundell, 19, will represent Finland at the World Junior Championship for the second time and will serve as the team's captain. Over 17 games in 2020-21 with HIFK of Finland's Liiga, he has produced a team-leading 20 points (12-8-20) ranking fourth in the league in points and tied for second in goals.
Selected by Florida in the first round (12th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of Espoo, Finland, amassed 28 points (10-18-28) over 44 games with HIFK as an 18-year-old.
On the international stage, Lundell won Gold Medals with Finland at the 2019 World Junior Championship and 2018 World U18 Championship. He missed the 2020 World Junior Championship with injury.
Heineman, 19, will represent Sweden at the World Junior Championship for the first time. Through 19 games in 2020-21 with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), he has recorded three points (2-1-3).
Selected by Florida in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of Leksand, Sweden made his SHL debut in 2019-20, playing 11 games for Leksands IF. Over 29 games with Leksands' J20 team, Heineman produced 41 points and a team-leading 26 goals.
Puutio, 18, will represent Finland at the World Junior Championship for the first time. Over eight games with Kärpät (Liiga), Puutio has tallied one goal.
Selected by Florida in the fifth round (153rd overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Vasaa, Finland was the first overall selection of the 2019 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, where he was selected by the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Through 56 WHL games in 2019-20 with Swift Current and the Everett Silvertips, Puutio amassed 28 points (5-23-28).
Levi, 18, will represent Canada at the World Junior Championship for the first time. The 6-foot, 184-pound native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, is committed to Northeastern University.
Selected by Florida in the seventh round (212th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Levi was named the Central Canadian Hockey League's (CCHL) best goaltender and Most Valuable Player after posting a sterling 34-2-1 record, eight shutouts and a league-leading 1.47 goals against average and .941 save percentage. He was named the 2019-20 Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top Rookie, Top Goaltender and Player of the Year.
On the international stage, Levi represented Canada at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, earning a Silver Medal and was named Tournament MVP.
The full NHL Network broadcast schedule for the World Junior Championship will take place as follows:
NHL Network's 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship Live Game Schedule
\all times ET; subject to change
Tuesday, December 22 - Exhibition
4:00 p.m. - Switzerland vs. Austria
7:30 p.m. - Finland vs. USA
Wednesday, December 23 - Exhibition
4:00 p.m - Canada vs. Russia
7:30 p.m. - Slovakia vs. Czech Republic
Friday, December 25
2:00 p.m - Switzerland vs. Slovakia
6:00 p.m. - Germany vs. Finland
9:30 p.m. - Russia vs. USA
Saturday, December 26
2:00 p.m. - Sweden vs. Czech Republic
6:00 p.m. - Germany vs. Canada
9:30 p.m. - USA vs. Austria
Sunday, December 27
2:00 p.m - Finland vs. Switzerland
6:00 p.m - Slovakia vs. Canada
9:30 p.m - Czech Republic vs. Russia
Monday, December 28
6:00 p.m. - Austria vs. Sweden
9:30 p.m. - Slovakia vs. Germany
Tuesday, December 29
2:00 p.m. - USA vs. Czech Republic
6:00 p.m. - Canada vs. Switzerland
9:30 p.m. - Austria vs. Russia
Wednesday, December 30
2:00 p.m. - Finland vs. Slovakia
6:00 p.m. - Switzerland vs. Germany
9:30 p.m. - Russia vs. Sweden
Thursday, December 31
2:00 p.m. - Czech Republic vs. Austria
6:00 p.m. - Canada vs. Finland
9:30 p.m. - Sweden vs. USA
Saturday, January 2
12:00 p.m. - Quarterfinal: TBD
3:30 p.m. - Quarterfinal: TBD
7:00 p.m. - Quarterfinal: TBD
10:30 p.m. - Quarterfinal: TBD
Monday, January 4
6:00 p.m. - Semifinal: TBD
9:30 p.m. - Semifinal: TB
Tuesday, January 5
5:30 p.m. - Bronze Medal Game: TBD
9:30 p.m. - Gold Medal Game: TBD
Take a Virtual Tour and learn how you can join Panthers Territory today. Visit FloridaPanthers.com/Memberships or call 954-835-PUCK for more information.
\Photos courtesy of:
Knight - BC Athletics
Lundell - HIFK/Juuso Pellava
Levi - Hockey Canada Images/Matthew Murnaghan
Puutio - Chris Mast
