On Nov. 30, forwards Ty Smilanic and Mackie Samoskevich both received invites to attend USA's selection camp, which will take place at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan from Dec. 13-15.
Taken by the Panthers in the third round (74th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, Smilanic, 19, has notched 16 points (eight goals, four assists) through the first 16 games of his sophomore season at Quinnipiac. In 2020-21, he was named a finalist for the ECAC'S Rookie of the Year after scoring 14 goals in 29 contests.
The 24th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Samoskevich, 19, has produced 10 points (four goals, six assists) through the first 17 games of his freshman season at Michigan. Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, he helped Chicago win the USHL's Clark Cup with 10 points in eight playoff games in 2020-21.
On Dec. 1, forward Justin Sourdif was invited to attend Canada's selection camp, which will run from Dec. 9-12 at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. In addition to earning rave reviews at Canada's summer showcase camp, the 19-year-old has been tearing up the WHL early on this season.
A third-round pick (87th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, Sourdif currently leads Vancouver in scoring with 29 points and is also fifth in the WHL in assists (21). This strong season comes on the heels of a breakout 2020-21 campaign in which he finished tied for third in the WHL with 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists).
Rounding out the invites, forward Jakub Kos was invited to attend the Czech Republic's pre-tournament camp on Thursday. A sixth-round pick (184th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old previously competed at the U-18 World Juniors in 2021, registering a goal and an assist in five games at the event.
While those four Cats prospects are still looking to secure spots, two others already punched their tickets.
Earning his first-ever trip to the World Juniors, forward Elliot Ekmark was named to Sweden's roster on Monday. A seventh-round pick (198th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old has suited up in 24 games with Linkoping HC in the SHL this season, posting a goal and an assist while adjusting to the pros.
Also on Monday, defenseman Kasper Puutio, 19, was named to Finland's roster for the second straight year. In his debut trip to the World Juniors in 2021, he took home a bronze medal after dishing out two assists over seven games during the tournament. In the midst of his second season playing in Liiga, he's already set new career-highs in both goals (3) and points (5) through 25 games with KalPa in 2021-22.
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