Everyone has thought of the World Juniors as a 19-year-old's tournament. It's the best under-20 players on the planet facing off, and it's the elder statesmen (all things being relative...) most often taking centre stage. They’re older, stronger and oftentimes, better prepared for the grind.

Outside of elite talent, the draft-eligible kids from the Big Five countries (Canada, USA, Russia, Finland and Sweden) are usually left watching from home. The auxiliary squads will bring a few youngsters, and they can sometimes work their way up to a major role. It’s an opportunity that is forged from a smaller talent pool to pull from.

The 2021 version of the World Juniors was no different. In total, there were 17 2021-draft eligible players in the Edmonton Bubble, and a handful more for the 2022-class