Nazar selected in 2022.Four of the Chicago Blackhawks top prospects will skate for the gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship on Friday when Team USA meets Sweden in the tournament final.
Frank Nazar III, Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel and Gavin Hayes advanced with their American teammates after the U.S. rallied from an early two-goal deficit to edge Finland 3-2 in its semifinal game on Thursday. None of the Blackhawks draftees hit the scoresheet in the contest, but Cutter Gauthier scored a power-play goal with 3:13 left in regulation to break a tie with the eventual game-winner.
Gauthier, a sophomore at Boston College, was Philadelphia's first-round draft pick, fifth overall, in 2022. Ironically, the 2024 WJC points leader was born in Sweden.
Oliver Moore at 2023 NHL Draft.The Americans and Swedes square off on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Central European Time/12:30 p.m. Central North American time in Göteborg at the Scandinavium.
At last year's WJC, five current Blackhawks players or draftees skated for champion Team Canada. Connor Bedard broke tournament scoring records while Kevin Korchinski was a mainstay on defense. Nolan Allan, Eathan Del Mastro and Colton Dach, all now with Rockford of the AHL, also were on Canada's squad.
Nazar, drafted in the first round, 13th overall, has been the most visible Blackhawks prospect at this year's WJC. The slick center from the University of Michigan hasn't scored, but has eight assists in six games. He had 17:10 of ice time on Thursday against Finland.
Moore, a center, and Rinzel, a defenseman, are Twin Cities area products and roommates as freshmen at the University of Minnesota this season. Moore was selected 19th overall by Chicago in 2023 and Rinzel was taken 25th overall in 2022.
Hayes, a forward who plays for the OHL Flint Firebirds, was a third-round pick in 2022.