Strbak scores for Slovakia in win over Kulich’s Czechia, Wahlberg tallies for Sweden
The Buffalo Sabres had six of seven prospects playing for five countries at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden in action on the first day of the tournament, and the stars of Day #1 were Maxim Strbak, Noah Ostlund, and Anton Wahlberg.
The 18-year-old Strbak, who was selected 45th overall at the 2023 Draft in Nashville and is currently in his freshman year at Michigan State had a goal and assist for Slovakia in their 6-2 victory over Czechia. Strbak led the Slovaks in ice time with 23:32 in his third World Junior tournament.
2022 first-rounder Jiri Kulich, who led Czechia with seven goals in seven WJC games last December, and led the AHL with 16 goals at the Christmas break, was held scoreless and went -1 in 19:21.
In Canada’s 5-2 victory over Finland, 2022 first-rounder Matthew Savoie played 17:42, had three shots on goal, and four penalty minutes. Sabres 2023 fifth-rounder Scott Ratzlaff was the third goaltender and did not dress.
In Sweden’s 6-0 victory over Latvia, Wahlberg (the Sabres other 2023 second-rounder) scored the opening goal, with Ostlund (Buffalo's second first-rounder in 2022) assisting.
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