The OHL's leading scorer may be starting as the 13th forward, but with his dominant scoring ability, he won't finish there by the end of the tournament.
Carson Rehkopf hasn't stopped scoring this season, as he currently leads the OHL in goals and points.
The Seattle Kraken prospect was selected to Canada's final World Junior roster on behalf of the Kitchener Rangers, after an impressive performance at camp. Rehkopf did not hold his shot back in the selection camp games, and his finishing ability is what earned him this spot.
Rehkopf has one of the best shots in junior hockey. His ability to curl the puck into his feet and get the shot off is undeniable. He is able to score from far out, and from in-tight, which makes him dangerous all over the offensive zone.
His shot power is off the charts, and he has the ability to deceive goaltenders with his curl and drag release.
In Canada's pre-tournament games, Rehkopf has been playing as the 13th forward. He hasn't been able to get many opportunities offensively with the limited ice time, but the minute he does, you can bet that he will capitalize.
He may not be as quick or gritty as some players in this lineup, but when Rehkopf gets open with the puck in the offensive zone, he can finish better than most.
I would expect to see Rehkopf earn an elevated role at some point throughout this tournament, whether that is through injury or line-shifting.
His shooting ability has proven to be something that this team needs. If Rehkopf can play with players that can get him the puck in the offensive zone, his success is inevitable.