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World Juniors Special 2025
In this issue of The Hockey News, we feature wall-to-wall coverage of the 2025 World Junior Championship, complete with previews of all 10 teams plus some of the most prominent players involved. Also in this issue, we shine the spotlight on San Jose's Tyler Toffoli, Philadelphia's Travis Konecny and a team from Haida Gwaii that really goes the extra mile.
SCOUTING REPORT
COMING OFF BACK-TO-BACK medals at the WJC, the Czechs have stepped up their game in recent tourneys. That said, some of the high-end talents who propelled them – Jiri Kulich and Matyas Sapovaliv, for example – have aged out. A decent amount of experience will be back in Ottawa, so the Czechs will be in the mix. But expectations should be tempered, as this team must play as an unflinching unit – as they did in last year’s quarterfinal win over Canada – to beat better foes. There will be new blood, too. Big St. Louis Blues pick Adam Jecho has been fantastic for the Czechs in tune-up tourneys, as has Vojtech Hradec (UTH) and Miroslav Holinka (TOR). If Seattle first-rounder Eduard Sale returns for a third WJC, the Czechs will…
DRESSING ROOM TO BOARDROOM
JASON SPEZZA WAS BORN to lead. And now, after 19 seasons and 1,248 NHL games with Ottawa, Dallas and Toronto, he’s set for a fruitful front-office career. After joining the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant GM in June 2023, Spezza further established himself as a key cog in the Pens’ system by taking on the role of GM of the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ahead of 2024-25. “It’s been great,” he said. “It’s fun to watch the young players we have and try to make sure we’re getting the most out of them. The team’s gotten off to a good start, which is obviously enjoyable to watch your team win games. Everything we’re doing down there is to get these guys ready to come up and be part of the Penguins. “Obviously, we’re…
UNDERDOG HOPE
THE LAST TIME Kazakhstan played at the WJC in Canada, they became the darlings of Victoria, with fans in B.C. cleaning out the gift shop of their jerseys along the way. We’ll see if the merch flies off the shelves as fast in Ottawa, but the Kazakhstanis will obviously be focused on the ice again either way. After earning promotion by winning the Div. I-A title last year, Kazakhstan will undoubtedly be an underdog in the big bracket – as they have been whenever they’ve made the top tier – but there are some positive markers for the program. Perhaps most important for Kazakhstan is the fact the team can return 14 players from last year’s Div. I-A championship squad, including leading scorer Davlat Nurkenov. But if the team is going to…
A ROAD TRIP LIKE NO OTHER
THE HECATE STRAIT lies between the Haida Gwaii archipelago and mainland British Columbia at the tail end of the Yellowhead Highway, the northern route of the Trans-Canada Highway. Named after the Greek goddess of witchcraft and sorcery, its shallow waters, strong currents and high winds are a witch’s brew that can turn a smooth 80-mile ferry crossing into a rollicking ride of toppled-over vending machines, flying saucers and frisbee plates in the cafeteria kitchen. Modern maritime technology has managed to tame much of the Hecate’s fury, but it can still make for blue-faced seasickness (one of the route’s vessels is nicknamed the ‘Vomit Comet’), a long delay or even cancellation if the waves get too high. WE HAD A REALLY CALM CROSSING, WHICH WAS GREAT. THAT KIND OF SHOWED THAT THE…
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