The World Junior Championships is one of the most highly anticipated hockey tournaments every season. Since 1977, the best and brightest U20 players have converged to try and bring gold back for their respective countries. Emanating from the State of Hockey this December and January, this season's tournament will see the United States go for its third straight gold medal.
The Carolina Hurricanes aren't expected to have anyone represented in Minnesota, so, in celebration of the 50th tournament, I want to spend the lead-up to this year's festivities by highlighting what some of the players on the active roster and on the farm did when they earned a chance to represent their countries. To start, I want to give the goalies some love.
There is plenty of World Juniors experience for many of the goalies under contract throughout the organization. While we'll be looking at everyone currently in the organization, most of them played after being drafted by other NHL teams. From leading a country in their first appearance to a clash between future teammates, there is a lot to talk about.
Frederik Andersen earned three chances to represent Denmark
Denmark isn't what you would call a "goalie factory." Danish goalies have won 324 games in NHL history. Frederik Andersen has won 313 of them. Before being drafted for the first time by the Hurricanes in 2010, Andersen represented Denmark three times at the World Juniors. He was first named to their U20 team in 2007, though he didn't see the ice.
Playing in Division I, Denmark earned a promotion in 2007 by winning their group. Making their first appearance in the big tournament the following year, Andersen assumed control of the net. It wasn't a pretty tournament for the Great Dane. He lost all four of his decisions and posted a tournament-worst .854 save percentage and 5.64 GAA. Denmark went 0-6-0, getting sent back to Division I.
Suffering relegation for 2009, Andersen was once again the starter for Denmark for the second-tier tournament. Things were going smoothly through four games. Andersen led his team to four straight wins, setting up a must-win tilt against Austria to secure the group and earn the promotion. Instead, the Danes allowed five goals in the third period and lost, 8-3, to stay in Division I another year.
A Russia-US clash in 2019 pits future Hurricanes against each other
A decade after Andersen led Denmark, a trio of future Hurricanes secured spots on their respective rosters in 2019. For Russia, Pyotr Kochetkov and Amir Miftakhov formed two-thirds of the country's trio, while Cayden Primeau was set to lead the Americans. Miftakhov didn't appear for the Russians that year, but Kochetkov and Primeau put in some incredible performances.
Splitting time during the group stage, Primeau asserted himself as the clear #1, winning both starts before making 18 stops in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic. Kochetkov had a little more competition with Daniil Tarasov. They also split starts in the group stage, but a 30-save performance to beat Canada and win the group pushed Kochetkov to the top.
With Russia's dominant win over Slovakia in the quarterfinals, Kochetkov and Primeau collided in the semifinals. With a spot in the Gold Medal Game up for grabs, the American was one save better. Primeau made 34 stops in a 2-1 win, being named player of the game for the U.S. The Americans lost 3-2 to Finland for the gold, while Kochetkov stopped 34 shots to help the Russians win the bronze.
One year later, Miftakhov got his chance. In tandem with Yaroslav Askarov, Miftakhov did one better than his teammate in 2020. Despite shutting out Canada in the group stage, Miftakhov took a backseat to Askarov in the playoffs. He relieved Askarov in the semifinals, helping Russia come back against Sweden. He started in the Gold Medal Game against Canada, losing 4-3 to take the silver.
In recent years, a pair of draft picks have gotten their opportunity
After big performances in 2019 and 2020, Nikita Quapp and Jakub Vondras had a lot to live up to. Quapp represented Germany in 2022 and 2023. In his first tournament, he drew the unenviable task of facing the United States and Sweden in the group stage. He lost both starts, and Germany was quickly ousted in the quarterfinals by Finland.
Quapp was back at it in 2023 for Germany, stuck in another tough group. He got his tournament started with a 43-save performance against Sweden, though his offense didn't show up in a 1-0 loss. A win over Austria prevented Germany from facing relegation, but poor starts against Czechia to finish the group stage and the US in the quarterfinals resulted in another exit in the playoff opener.
While representing Czechia in 2024, Vondras didn't see the net at all during the group stage. Utah prospect Michael Hrabal played every second. The same was true in the quarterfinals and the semifinals. When Hrabal allowed two early goals in the Bronze Medal Game, Vondras got his chance. He proceeded to stop 17 of 20 shots as Czechia came back to beat Finland and claim the bronze.