As we approach the world juniors, it's time for some of THN.com's contributors to bravely guess the medalists and top players.
Happy Holidays to one and all. The world juniors start in just a few days, which has become a holiday tradition as we cap off the calendar year and start the new one. The contributors across TheHockeyNews.com will be tuning into the action in Atlantic Canada.
Some of those writers, podcasters and editors participated in a poll to give us their predictions of what will happen ahead of the annual U-20 event. Thank you to all who participated.
Ryan Kennedy (Editor in Chief)
Tony Ferrari (NHL Draft/Prospect Analyst)
Jonathan Tovell (Web Editor)
Adam Proteau (Columnist and Feature Writer)
Jason Chen (Fantasy Hockey and Feature Writer)
Jacob Stoller (Feature Writer/Host of THN On The 'A' Podcast)
Will MacLaren (Host of THN On The 'Q' Podcast)
Brock Otten (Host of THN On The 'O' Podcast)
Lizz Child (Host of THN On The 'Dub' Podcast)
Who shares your opinion? Who is off their rocker? What are your picks? Let us know.
Which player will win WJC Top Forward?
Kennedy: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Ferrari: Shane Wright (CAN)
Tovell: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Proteau: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Chen: Dylan Guenther (CAN)
Stoller: Connor Bedard (CAN)
MacLaren: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Otten: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Child: Logan Stankoven (CAN)
Which player will win WJC Top Defenseman?
Kennedy: Olen Zellweger (CAN)
Ferrari: Aleksi Heimosalmi (FIN)
Tovell: Luke Hughes (USA)
Proteau: Luke Hughes (USA)
Chen: Luke Hughes (USA)
Stoller: Brandt Clarke (CAN)
MacLaren: Luke Hughes (USA)
Otten: Olen Zellweger (CAN)
Child: Olen Zellweger (CAN)
Which Player will win WJC Top Goaltender?
Kennedy: Tomas Suchanek (CZE)
Ferrari: Tomas Suchanek (CZE)
Tovell: Carl Lindbom (SWE)
Proteau: Kaidan Mbereko (USA)
Chen: Thomas Milic (CAN)
Stoller: Whichever one stops the most pucks
MacLaren: Carl Lindbom (SWE)
Otten: Ben Gaudreau (CAN)
Child: Thomas Milic (CAN)
Which player will win WJC MVP?
Kennedy: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Ferrari: Shane Wright (CAN)
Tovell: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Proteau: Luke Hughes (USA)
Chen: Dylan Guenther (CAN)
Stoller: Brandt Clarke (CAN)
MacLaren: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Otten: Connor Bedard (CAN)
Child: Logan Stankoven (CAN)
Who earns end-of-tournament all-star recognition?
Kennedy: F Connor Bedard (CAN), F Fabian Lysell (SWE), F Logan Cooley (USA), D Olen Zellweger (CAN), D Luke Hughes (USA), G Tomas Suchanek (CZE)
Ferrari: F Shane Wright (CAN), F Fabian Lysell (SWE), F Adam Fantilli (CAN), D Aleksi Heimosalmi (FIN), D David Jiricek (CZE), G Tomas Suchanek (CZE)
Tovell: F Connor Bedard (CAN), F Logan Cooley (USA), F Joakim Kemell (FIN), D Luke Hughes (USA), D Olen Zellweger (CAN), G Carl Lindbom (SWE)
Proteau: F Connor Bedard (CAN), F Logan Cooley (USA), F Adam Fantilli (CAN), D Luke Hughes (USA), D Tyson Hinds (CAN), G Kaidan Mbereko (USA)
Chen: F Dylan Guenther (CAN), F Shane Wright (CAN), F Fabian Lysell (SWE), D Luke Hughes (USA), D David Jiricek (CZE), G Thomas Milic (CAN)
Stoller: F Connor Bedard (CAN), F Logan Cooley (USA), F Joakim Kemell (FIN), D Brandt Clarke (CAN), D Luke Hughes (CAN)
MacLaren: F Connor Bedard (CAN), F Logan Cooley (USA), F Logan Stankoven (CAN), D Luke Hughes (USA), D Olen Zellweger (CAN), G Carl Lindbom (SWE)
Otten: F Connor Bedard (CAN), F Shane Wright (CAN), F Logan Cooley (USA), D Olen Zellweger (CAN), D Luke Hughes (USA), G Ben Gaudreau (CAN)
Child: F Logan Stankoven (CAN), F Jimmy Snuggerud (USA), F Noah Ostlund (SWE), D Olen Zellweger (CAN), D David Spacek (CZE), G Thomas Milic (CAN)
Who wins/plays for the bronze medal?
Kennedy: Czechia over USA
Ferrari: Finland over Czechia
Tovell: USA over Finland
Proteau: Finland over Sweden
Chen: Finland over Czechia
Stoller: Sweden over USA
MacLaren: Finland over Sweden
Otten: Czechia over Slovakia
Child: Czechia over Finland
Who wins the gold medal?
Kennedy: Canada over Finland
Ferrari: Canada over Sweden
Tovell: Canada over Sweden
Proteau: USA over Canada
Chen: Canada over USA
Stoller: Canada over Finland
MacLaren: Canada over USA
Otten: Canada over USA
Child: Canada over USA
Check back on Jan. 5 to find out who was right and who was oh so not.
In the meantime, stay tuned to THN.com for more world juniors coverage and check out The Hockey News' World Juniors Preview magazine issue, currently in stores and available for free with a one-year subscription to the magazine.