2024 World Junior Summer Showcase: Who stood out on Day 5
PLYMOUTH, Mich. – And that’s that. The World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena is complete.
Nobody technically won the tournament, but the United States and Finland capped off the action with wins on Saturday afternoon. The Finns found themselves trailing throughout most of the day against Sweden, but a late third-period comeback saw them finish with a 5-3 victory.
The United States also led for most of their game with Canada, but the 2023 World Junior champions fought back to make it 4-4 midway through the third period. Brodie Ziemer scored the shootout goal to give the Americans the win in what was easily the most exciting game of the tournament.
The week-long affair was an excellent opportunity for the four teams to gauge where their players are before the start of the World Junior Championship, taking place in Ottawa from Dec. 26 – Jan. 5. For now, players will return home for a bit of rest before the start of their respective hockey seasons – but getting the chance to represent their nation for the world to see this winter will be on their minds all year long.
Here’s a look at how everyone looked on the fifth and final day of game action at the World Junior Summer Showcase:
USA
#22 Brodie Ziemer, RW (Buffalo Sabres): Ziemer was more impressive in the early going, but he was all over the ice to help set the tone in the first period. He had a couple of excellent looks, and while he didn’t score in regulation, he made sure to keep Canadian goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen on his toes early. Ziemer did cap things off with the shootout game-winner, which felt well-deserved given how good he looked this week. Of all the prospects I’ve watched since the 2024 NHL Draft, I honestly think Ziemer has impressed me the most. Between the Buffalo Sabres development camp and now this, he’s showing an energy level that I didn’t think he’d possibly be able to hit.
#23 Cole Hutson, D (Washington Capitals): After registering a secondary assist early in the first, Hutson found his long-time buddy Cole Eiserman for the 4-3 power-play goal midway through the third. Hutson had some ups and downs in Plymouth this week, but he seemed to be playing to his strengths and improving with every single game. He upped his pace, his mistakes started to dwindle and he really looked comfortable leading the power play. A nice game for the youngster to finish off the week.
#8 AJ Spellacy, RW (Chicago Blackhawks): Spellacy is far from a lock to make this team but I thought he hustled so hard out there. He scored the 2-0 goal after fighting through the Canadian defenders to get in front of the net, and he also landed a couple of big hits along the way. The fast, physical winger brings energy and violence and the ability to jam home goals from in close, and the past two games could help his case to make it as a fourth-liner – just like Gavin Hayes a year ago.
#28 Brandon Svoboda, C (San Jose Sharks): With his first-period goal, Svoboda is up to six points in five games as he looks to secure a bottom-six spot with the Americans. His energy and drive to do whatever it takes to generate a scoring chance has been noticeable, and he never left anything on the line. Like Spellacy, this tournament did a lot to help his stock heading into December’s selection camp.
#30 Hampton Slukynsky, G (Los Angeles Kings): In case there was any doubt, Slukynsky has essentially won the backup role behind Trey Augustine. Slukynsky was rock solid during the first half against Canada and didn’t make a ton of mistakes in the second half, even as Canada started to draw near. For the most part, there wasn’t much more Slukynsky could have done. I like how athletic he is and how quickly he gets from post to post. Few goalies in this tournament did as good of a job covering the bottom of the net as Slukynsky, too.
Canada
#1 Carson Bjarnason, G (Philadelphia Flyers): In all fairness to Bjarnason, not many people can stop a Cole Eiserman shot. But beyond that, Bjarnason was lights out, playing some of the best hockey we saw of any goaltender in this tournament. It’s not easy to come in cold midway through the game, and I think Joshua Ravensbergen did a good job. But when the going got tough, Bjarnason kept Canada in it with multiple big saves, helping them get back into the tight affair.
#21 Berkly Catton, C (Seattle Kraken): It felt like Catton was making smart, effective plays in both ends more often than not. For a summer game, his footwork looked like he was in midseason form already and his pass to Jett Luchanko on the 3-2 goal late in the second was huge for Canada’s momentum. He then won a race for the puck while shorthanded in the third and fed Denver Barkey for the 3-3 goal – that was pretty. There’s going to be plenty of competition for a spot on center at the WJC, but I think Catton’s speed and smarts will lift him over.
#24 Sawyer Mynio, D (Vancouver Canucks): Mynio has never represented Canada internationally, so getting the chance to play as well as he did today was a good thing. There’s a ton of defensive depth vying for seven spots this year, and Mynio is on the outside looking in, but I like how good he was at clearing space around his net and keeping the puck away from danger.
#18 Jett Luchanko, C (Philadelphia Flyers): Luchanko was one of Canada’s best players in Plymouth over the past two days, and he was rewarded with the 3-2 goal. He sent a few dangerous shots toward Slukynsky and was the glue that made the high-energy, high-attack fourth line so effective. I’m not sure if he makes the main team given the competition down the middle but Luchanko helped his case.
#10 Malcolm Spence, LW (2025 NHL Draft): Spence was especially good in the D-zone today, breaking up multiple players before they could get near the crease. He has an active stick, likes to play aggressive and made himself useful without being too involved on the scoresheet. I think Spence is a longshot to make the main team but his competitive, fiery nature makes him intriguing as a potential 13th forward if he starts the year off hot.
Finland
#21 Joona Saarelainen, LW (Tampa Bay Lighting): The Bolts got a gem in the fifth round, I’m telling you. The 5-foot-9 forward has no problem putting points on the board and has been the Finns’ most productive player through two summer tournaments already. He just wants the puck on his stick and he’s got the release to make it work, especially on the power play. Saarelainen also killed some penalties, too.
#25 Emil Kuusla, LW (Undrafted): If any player has helped their case to get drafted as an overage, it’s Kuusla. The 5-foot-9 winger has been one of Finland’s best players all week long and he scored to bring his team back within one late in the second. He’s quick and skilled, has a great shot release for a player who isn’t packing much muscle, and he’s quite good in physical battles along the boards, too. I think he’ll make the main team in December, but will his size be an issue for NHL teams as a re-entry? He’s already been passed up twice as it is.
#28 Emil Hemming, RW (Dallas Stars): Hemming was a buzzsaw at both ends, showing his usual energy and grittiness you’ve come to expect from the winger. He also scored the goal that tied it up at 3-3 after a few chances earlier in the game were stopped. Hemming is going to play a bigger role on this Finnish team than he did as a fourth-liner a year ago, but he’s versatile enough to play anything the coaching staff asks him to do.
Sweden
#18 Victor Eklund, RW (2025 NHL Draft): Eklund opened the scoring with a nice wrister and nearly had another on a later power-play chance. Eklund played a pair of good games to close out the tournament and I felt like he brought a bit more intensity through the slot that he was missing during the U-18s. He has a chance to go quite early in the NHL Draft and should be a middle-six scoring threat in December.
#1 Marcus Gidlof, G (New York Islanders): Gidlof wasn’t tested early, but his big-time paddle save about halfway through the first helped spark the momentum Sweden needed to take the early lead. He was so sharp today, doing an excellent job as the busier of the two goaltenders. At 6-foot-6, he takes up so much of the net and plays a similar style to that of Jesper Wallstedt a few years back. The Finns got a few goals on the power play that he couldn’t have done too much more on, but he still held his own.
#19 Jack Berglund, C (Philadelphia Flyers): Berglund is a small ice fiend who loves to take space away whenever he can. He helped set up the third Swedish goal with a great feed and nearly had another of his own in the second period. He’s got the size and work ethic you want from players who project to be a top-six player, and I think he was one of Sweden’s better players this week.