There was a lot less drama for Blackhawks goaltending prospect Adam Gajan in his return to the World Junior Championship on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old stopped 27 of 29 shots as Slovakia skated past its national cousin, Team Czechia, 6-2 in the teams' tournament opener in Göteborg, Sweden. The Slovaks scored the most goals against and posted their biggest margin of victory over the Czechs ever in a meeting between the two squads in WJC play.
Gajan was named best goalie in the WJC last year. He appeared in four games for the Slovaks, going 2-2-0 with a 2.40 goals against average and .936 save percentage. The tournament was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick.
Gajan's play at the WJC upped his stock heading into the 2023 NHL Draft. Chicago selected the 6-foot-2, 180-pound netminder in the second round, 35th overall.
Gajan might be best remembered, however, for his reaction after current Blackhawk center Connor Bedard scored a highlight-reel overtime goal for Canada in the quarterfinal at Halifax. Now the NHL's rookie scoring leader, Bedard stick-handled through three Slovak defenders, then slipped the puck past Gajan who reclined on the ice and remained on his back after the score. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYjpz12HYaY
On Tuesday, the Slovaks pulled away with four goals in the third period. Martin Misiak, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound center drafted by the Blackhawks the second round (55th overall) in 2023, had an assist.
Team USA Wins 4-1.
Four Blackhawks draftees are skating on Team USA at the WJC. Speedy Frank Nazar, one of two Chicago first-round picks (13th overall) in 2022, had an assist in the Americans' 4-1 win over Norway on Tuesday. Nazar plays for the University of Michigan.
Gajan and Misiak in North America, too.
Both Gajan and Misiak have been playing in North America this season.
Gajan has been getting a lot of playing time with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL this season. He's 14-4-2 with a 3.03 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. Gajan has committed to play NCAA Division I next season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Misiak played for Slovakia at last year's WJC, then began his transition to North American hockey with 23 games for Youngstown of the USHL. He's upped his junior league and play this season with Erie of the OHL, a team's that's produced plenty of NHLers from Connor McDavid on down. The man-sized Misiak has 13 goals and 13 assists in 28 games with the Otters.