2024 World Juniors: Standout Performers with Positive First Impressions

The 2024 world juniors are underway, meaning many teams and players are finally getting to show what they're made of. While the tournament is in the very early stages, multiple players have already begun to separate themselves from the rest.

The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship kicked off yesterday and through two days, we’ve seen some impressive performances, to say the least. We’ve already seen what might be the upset of the tournament as Germany defeated Finland. Slovakia looks like a force at this year’s tournament. Canada, Sweden, and the Americans look like the favorites we all thought they were.

Let’s take a look at a few individual standout performances throughout the tournament.

For the first time in 26 games against the Finns, Germany came away with a victory and so much of the credit goes to the man in the crease, Phillipp Dietl. The German netminder didn’t have to do much work early in the game as the Germans outshot Finland 13-2 to start the game but the rest of the way, Finland turned up the heat and outshot them 41-16.

Dietl saved the day many times for the Germans, stopping Finnish sniper Kasper Halttunen all alone late in the game and stopping another late chance by Jani Nyman with the knob of his stick. Germany got a pair of goals from Veit Oswald, including the game-winner, but it was Dietl who made save-after-save, each more important than the last, leading the Germans to a historic win for the nation. The German win all but guarantees that they will advance to the quarterfinals.

After playing a depth role and standing out at last year’s tournament, University of Michigan winger Gavin Brindley was a man on a mission in the American's first game. His speed put defenders on their heels, playing at a breakneck pace. Brindley scored two goals and could have easily had a couple more in the game against Norway, despite the Norwegians pushing the Americans for more of the game.

Brindley was used as the puck transporter on the power play as he was virtually a guaranteed zone entry as he blended his speed and skill so efficiently. Brindley was able to evade pressure and generate chances at will it seemed. His first goal was an outstanding shot from the left faceoff dot, beating the moving goaltender. His second came off an excellent forecheck where he collected the puck, walked out of the corner and sniped it from out front. Brindley was filthy in this game.

Despite being listed as the third-line center, Celebrini has been the Canadian's best player. The youngest player on the Canadian roster has displayed a high level of skill, offensive intelligence, and excellent vision. Celebrini works as hard as anyone on the ice, jumping on loose pucks and playing a workmanlike game without losing his flair and puck skill.

Last year it was Connor Bedard that led Team Canada to gold as a draft-eligible prospect and this year, Celebrini is going to be looking to do the same thing. Although Celebrini will almost certainly not have the same impact that Bedard did, he will be integral to any success Canada has as they need someone to establish themselves as a dynamic offensive presence. Celebrini might be their best chance.

Throughout their two games, Vesterheim was their most dynamic and dangerous player. His speed has been a factor and his level of skill was clearly higher than almost everyone on their team aside from linemate Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. Vesterheim plays in all situations, scoring a short-handed goal against the Americans in a game they had no business being as competitive as they were in.

His high-energy game helped keep Norway in the game against the powerhouse Americans but the team seemed to have lost steam in their second game against Czechia. Norway will go as far as Vesterheim and Brandsegg-Nygard take them. They aren’t a particularly good team but they have some talent that should help keep them competitive in most games, especially when they push like they did against the U.S.

After two games, the Slovaks' most consistent player has been Calgary Flames prospect Samuel Honzek. The winger had a goal and an assist in game one against Czechia and then scored the game's only goal against a goalie as Slovakia beat Switzerland in a bit of a tired effort that ended up being a 3-0 win with two empty-netters.

Slovakia is one of the most exciting teams at the tournament and even without having their strongest game on the second day of a back-to-back against a lesser opponent, they found a way to win. Honzek was a big part of that, playing a smart, grind-it-out style of hockey that worked in a game where the team didn’t quite have their wheels. Honzek’s three points may not seem like much but he’s been a factor throughout both of Slovakia’s games.

The host’s only played one game so far but Filip Bystedt picked up exactly where he left off last year, scoring two goals as the Swedes took down the Latvians in convincing fashion. Bystedt scored the team's first 5-on-5 goal of the tournament after Sweden scored three times on the power play, with Bystedt chipping in there as well.

Bystedt has emerged once again as an important piece for the Swedes, solidifying the middle of the ice for Sweden. His ability to play at both ends of the ice and elevate his game offensively whenever he puts on the Tre Kronor sweater have made him an integral piece to this team the last two years. He was tied for the team lead in scoring last year and should be right up there once again this year.

Although he wasn’t much of a factor in their first game against Slovakia despite leading the team in shots, Kulich showed up in a big way against Norway in their second game. The Buffalo Sabres prospect scored the first two goals of the game with the laser beam of a shot that he possesses, putting the Czech squad up by two at the end of the first period.

Kulich capped off the hat trick with an opportunistic goal, pouncing on a rebound on the backside and beating the sprawling netminder late in the game. He also registered an assist on the power play which gave him four points on the night. Kulich’s performance gave him the outright lead for all-time scoring for Czechia at the World Junior Championship and ties him for the nation's all-time goal-scoring lead. Now you have to assume his sights are set on setting the single tournament record for the Czechs.

The Seattle Kraken prospect was actually the first Czech player to register a hat trick against the Norwegians. Kulich may have set the tone for the game but Sale ended the Norwegian’s hopes of coming back by scoring two goals in the final eight minutes of the second period before adding a dagger in the third period.

Sale has always played second fiddle to Kulich but he’s been such an effective driver of play and has found ways to be a bit more diverse with his scoring. He was all around the net in the offensive zone against Norway and won puck battles to generate scoring chances consistently. While Kulich is certainly the more lethal shooter, Sale does more to get his goals and could be slated to have a big tournament if Czechia can advance into the medal rounds.

Finland has struggled to start the tournament with two losses including the upset of the tournament through two days as Germany took them down on day two. Kasper Halttunen may only have one goal so far but he’s been consistently their best forward. His shot has been a real weapon but unfortunately, he’s been on the receiving end of a couple of ten-bell saves so far.

Halttunen was creating chances against both Canada and Germany but couldn’t find twine – much like the rest of the Finns. They need someone to step up and be the difference maker when they need a goal and Halttunen has the opportunity to be that guy. He’s been a chance-generating machine, now he needs to cash in on a few.

Just as he was last year, the Chicago Blackhawks draft pick has been a difference-maker for the Slovaks. His shutout against the Swiss helped ensure that Slovakia would stay undefeated as they struggled to generate much in the way of offensive chances in their second game. Gajan made a number of massive saves en route to a 36-save shutout.

Gajan is going to be a major factor throughout the tournament. If he can play as well as he has to this point in the tournament, the Slovak team has the chance to beat anyone. Gajan has been a revelation for Slovakia once again in this tournament.

Who would have thought that through two games, Owen Allard would be among Canada’s most consistent players? The hard-working forward was a long shot to make the Canadian team’s roster and he’s found a way to score in each game. Allard isn’t going to dazzle the way that Celebrini does and he isn’t a big name like Matthew Savoie or Conor Geekie but he is making his mark.

Allard works tirelessly on the forecheck and at both ends of the ice to ensure that he earns every minute of ice time that he gets. Rarely is he going to lack effort. Allard knows his role on this team is to be a high-energy support player and because he is playing within himself, he is finding the scoresheet. Sometimes playing a simple, smart game pays off.