World Junior Summer Showcase: Top performers from Day 2

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
World Junior Summer Showcase: Top performers from Day 2
Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

We’ve now completed two days at the World Junior Summer Showcase, with all four teams having won games.

Neither game was particularly close, with USA Blue stomping beating Finland by a convincing 4-1 score to open the action. In the evening, USA White crushed Sweden 8-1, a game that was never particularly close.

There’s a four-way tie between the competitors, with just two more game days – Wednesday and Friday – left on the schedule. There’s nothing but pride on the line, but the competitors are hoping to use this as a springboard for a successful season – both in club play, and, hopefully, at the World Junior Championship in December and January.

Here’s a look at the top performers from today’s action:

USA Blue

  • #1 Jacob Fowler, G (Montreal Canadiens): Goaltending was NOT a strength of USA’s on Saturday, but Fowler was the best American not on the team’s top line. He stopped 17 of the 18 shots sent his way, with the lone goal coming on an amazing individual effort. He was tracking pucks much better this time and easily seeing through traffic. Trey Augustine is expected to be USA’s starting goalie in December, but Fowler will get a few starts after the dominant season he had last year.
  • #14 Gabe Perreault, LW (New York Rangers): Perreault grabbed an assist and a goal as USA’s top line laid on the pressure. Perreault was one of Saturday’s biggest standouts, but he had the production to show for it today. USA will be golden as long as Perreault is with Will Smith in December.
  • #2 Will Smith, C (San Jose Sharks): Speaking of Smith, what a night. The tremendous playmaker had a pair of primary assists while showing off his usual hard-working play style. I expect to be writing about Smith every day during this tournament given how he’s a step ahead of most.
  • #27 James Hagens, C (2025 NHL Draft): It’s been interesting to see what Hagens can do away from Cole Eiserman. This has been an excellent display of just how good Hagens can play with high-quality talent. He’s a set up guy, he’s engaged physically, he’s evading defenders. Just playing some excellent hockey.
  • #4 Gavin Brindley, RW (Columbus Blue Jackets): I hope Brindley is given every opportunity possible to play a scoring role for the Americans in December. They’ll have quite a few options to choose from, and he’ll likely land on the third line, but the way he finishes around the net makes him so dangerous.
  • #5 Hunter Brzustewicz, D (Vancouver Canucks): While it wasn’t an overly difficult afternoon for the American defenders, Brzustewicz’s game was simple, yet effective. He did a good job of forcing attackers to the perimeter and pinched in a few times without taking himself out of position. He’ll have stiff competition to make the team, but he’s been good in both games.

Finland

  • #12 Lenni Hämeenaho, RW (New Jersey Devils): It’ll be hard to top the goal Hämeenaho scored today, streaking through the slot before undressing a defender and scoring. Hämeenaho is a smart player with good hands, and after a quiet showing last winter, expectations are higher this time around. So far in camp, he has looked like one of Finland’s best forwards.
  • #3 Otto Salin, D (Los Angeles Kings): It felt like the Finnish defenders were practicing penalty killing for a good majority of it. Salin was one of the few who consistently got his stick into passing lanes and made something happen. He was good on Saturday, too.

USA White

  • #20 Lane Hutson, D (Montreal Canadiens): What else is there to say about Hutson that hasn’t been said already? The kid’s incredible. He played on the penalty kill, he played on the power play and excelled at 5-on-5. He scored one of the nicest goals he has ever scored. He grabbed an assist on William Whitelaw’s goal that made it 2-0. But that goal he scored himself… dang.
  • #19 Cutter Gauthier, C (Philadelphia Flyers): Expected to be the No. 1 center for USA, Gauthier scored twice and generally played like what we know he’s capable of with Boston College. He’s a pro-quality player putting a beating on his own age group. USA is going to be better because of it.
  • #2 Rutger McGroarty, LW (Winnipeg Jets): Playing as part of the team’s red-hot top line, McGroarty had a pair of assists and a pair of penalties, too. He was aggressive at both ends, won a load of puck battles and his passes kept turning into gold. McGroarty will be a huge part of the team in December.
  • #23 Eric Pohlkamp, D (San Jose Sharks): The blast that led to his goal was great. An old-time slapper. Given the way he played through the first four periods, he deserved something on the scoresheet. He’s in a tough spot to make USA’s roster, but he’s giving it everything he has.
  • #36 Frank Nazar III, C (Chicago Blackhawks): It’s safe to say there’s nothing to worry about regarding his health. After missing most of 2022-23, Nazar looks healthy and playing like he did when he was a dominant junior player. He had four goals and five points to bounce back after a frustrating first game against Finland. With Michigan looking a bit different this year, Nazar will play a big part. And that’s true for the world juniors, too.

Sweden

#5 Mattias Havelid, D (San Jose Sharks): It was a rough night for the Swedish blueline, but Havelid at least looked up for the challenge. He nearly scored late in the second and landed some solid hits. It’s a game he’ll want to forget, but he was solid.

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