The 2022 World Juniors in Edmonton are fast approaching, with the puck dropping on Tuesday, August 9th.
Three OHL players will represent Czechia at the summer showcase, one rescheduled after the originally slated December/January affair was called off due to Covid concerns.
Czechia is in the hunt for its first medal at the World Juniors since 2006. Here’s a few OHL names that will seek to help them get there.
Pavel Cajan (G) – Kitchener Rangers
Pavel Cajan impressed down the stretch and into the playoffs for the Rangers last season, earning himself a two-year AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters as he’s now out of Kitchener’s overage picture for 2022-23. Cajan represented Czechia at the 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He will be making his first trip to the World Juniors.
Jan Mysak (C) – Hamilton Bulldogs
Montreal Canadiens prospect Jan Mysak was one of several Bulldogs players who overcame injury in the OHL Playoffs and into the Memorial Cup, helping Hamilton hoist the Robertson Cup in Game 7. Mysak is no stranger to the Czech national program, making past trips to both the World Juniors and World Under-18 Hockey Championship. He wore the ‘C’ for the Czechs back in December.
Matyas Sapovaliv (C) – Saginaw Spirit
A second round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights last month, big centreman Matyas Sapovaliv will show off his game on the world stage. A native of Kladno who played part of the 2020-21 season alongside childhood hero Jaromir Jagr, Sapovaliv was effective in the faceoff circle while recording 52 points in his rookie season with the Spirit.
Other notables competing for Czechia:
Tomas Hamara (D) – Kitchener Rangers 1st round (26th overall) 2022 CHL Import Draft selection
Petr Hauser (RW) – Saginaw Spirit 2nd round (62nd overall) 2022 CHL Import Draft selection
👥 V této sestavě míří čeští junioři na odložené MS v 🇨🇦 Edmontonu! #U20CZE #narodnitym #jakolev
👉🏻 https://t.co/45BnlM7nNY pic.twitter.com/1rKQejoaeL
— Bronzový nároďák (@narodnitym) July 28, 2022
