Since the mid- to late-‘70s, the World Junior Championship has taken over television screens around the world during the holiday season as individual countries compete for a medal and fans get an up-close look at potential NHL stars.
The current Tampa Bay Lightning roster has over a dozen players (and general manager) who suited up for his respective country. Check out the full list below, and watch some good quality clips, and not-so-great ones.
Steven Stamkos
Team Canada, 2008
Stamkos scored six points in seven games as Canada eventually won gold over Sweden, the fourth straight gold for Canada in the WJC. Watch some highlights from their opening game and Stamkos speak on the excitement of the tournament and playing on a line with John Tavares.
Victor Hedman
Team Sweden, 2008, 2009
Hedman won the silver medal both years that he suited up for the World Juniors, where he scored one point the first year and two points the next year. This highlight clip shows Hedman dropping the gloves as he comes to the defense of his goaltender after he got run over.
Nikita Kucherov
Team Russia, 2012, 2013
In a silver and bronze medal finish, Kucherov had seven points and eight points, respectively. He won those two years with both Andrei Vasilevskiy and Nikita Nesterov. Watch one of Kucherov’s goals.
Tyler Johnson
Team USA, 2009, 2010
Twice Johnson represented the United States. In 2009, he had one point and the team came in fourth but a year later, Team USA won gold over Canada, ending Canada’s quest for a sixth straight gold medal. Johnson had five points and 25 penalty minutes in seven games. Watch the team singing along to the national anthem after winning.
Jonathan Drouin
Team Canada, 2013, 2014
Team Canada came in fourth both years Drouin participated. He was only 17 when he played the first time and had four points. The following year, he scored nine points. Watch Drouin score a pretty one on the breakaway that year.
Ondrej Palat
Team Czech Republic, 2011
Palat chipped in three points in six games as the Czech finished in seventh place.
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Team Russia, 2012, 2013, 2014
Vasilevskiy collected a trio of WJC medals: the silver and two bronze, and started as a 17-year-old. Watch a save from 2012.
Ryan Callahan
Team USA, 2005
Callahan chipped in three points and 29 penalty minutes as the Americans came short of a medal, coming in fourth.
Anton Stralman
Team Sweden, 2005, 2006
Stralman appeared in 11 games for his country at the World Junior level, but Sweden finished sixth and fifth, respectively.
Valtteri Filppula
Team Finland, 2003, 2004
After one point in his first bronze medal, Filppula broke out for nine points in seven games as Finland won another bronze the following year.
Vladislav Namestnikov
Team Russia, 2010
During the Russians’ fourth-place finish, Namestnikov had seven points in seven games.
Brayden Point
Team Canada, 2015, 2016
Point had four points in seven games as part of the Canadian team that ended a WJC medal drought from 2012, and without a gold medal since 2009. The following year, Canada ended up sixth, and Point and five points in five games. Watch a nice highlight reel from 2015.
Nikita Nesterov
Team Russia, 2012, 2013
Nesterov was teammates with Vasilevskiy and Kucherov as Russia won a silver and bronze medal. Nesterov had five and four points in seven games each year. Watch Nesterov’s goal in 2012.
Andrej Sustr
Team Czech, 2010
Sustr suited up in five games as the Czech team came in seventh.
Braydon Coburn
Team Canada, 2004, 2005
Coburn won a silver and gold medal, respectively, playing in six games each year, contributing three points and two points.
Steve Yzerman
Team Canada, 1983
The Lightning general manager collected the bronze medal, scoring five points in seven games. Watch Yzerman’s recent comments as he reflects on playing in the tournament.
