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Sharks prospects prepare for IIHF World Juniors

The San Jose Sharks will be well represented at the World Junior Championship (WJC) in Sweden as several prospects prepare to represent their countries at the annual tournament. While the tournament officially starts on Dec. 26, the exhibition games are already underway. The IIHF WJC tournament will run for ten days, with the Championship and third place games happening on Friday, Jan. 5. You can find the full IIHF World Junior Championship schedule on the NHL website.

Of the Sharks’ prospects, a pair of defensive prospects may be the biggest surprise. Jake Furlong was added to Team Canada. Will Smith and Eric Pohlkamp will represent Team USA. Look for Filip Bystedt and Mattias Havelid on Team Sweden. And Kasper Halttunen is expected to represent Team Finland. Six prospects from the last two drafts isn’t bad.

Here’s what to look out for when it comes to Sharks’ prospects.

Jake Furlong trustworthy defensively for Team Canada

This is Furlong’s first time representing Team Canada on the world junior stage. He was left off the rosters for the U17 World Hockey Challenge, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the U18 World Championships. As a result, he told a reporter with the CHL that he’s playing with a chip on his shoulder.

“It’s always been a goal of mine. It’s been in the back of my head since the end of last year and I’m really excited to be here,” said Furlong in an interview a few weeks ago. “I always have a chip on my shoulder. I’ve been overlooked before and I’m not going to take it for granted being here. I’m going to leave everything on the ice, and hopefully, it works out.”

Though Furlong scored a few goals in camp, he will mostly be relied on for his defensive skills. Furlong is a shutdown player expected to spend a lot of time on the penalty kill. He has some familiarity with fellow Team Canada teammates Jordan Dumais (F) and Mathis Rousseau (G), both of whom play with him on the Halifax Mooseheads in the CHL.

Don’t expect Furlong to put up big numbers, but expect him to be on the ice when Canada needs to hold onto a lead late in a game.

Eric Pohlkamp adds depth defense to Team USA

Another Sharks’ defensive prospect, Eric Pohlkamp, seemingly came out of nowhere to make the U.S. World Junior roster. Pohlkamp is in his first season with Bemidji State and has nine points. While he’s not an offensive powerhouse like some of the others on the U.S. roster, as Fear the Fin previewed in the summer, Pohlkamp has a heavy shot and he’s a heavy hitter. Expect him to add some grit when he’s in the lineup for Team USA.

Here’s another fun tidbit: Pohlkamp is the first player ever to represent his college, Bemidji State, on the USA Junior national team.

Will Smith centers explosive Team USA line

When Team USA is looking for offensive chemistry, all the coaches need to do is send Will Smith’s line onto the ice. The forward will be joined by fellow Boston College teammates Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard to form America’s second line. Smith, Perreault and Leonard came together last season in the USHL and carried their phenomenal play to the NCAA this season. Smith is also expected to center the second power play unit for the Americans.

This is Smith’s chance to carry over his play from the U18 World Junior Championship last season. That’s when he scored 20 points in 7 games.

Filip Bystedt looking to reset with Team Sweden

When Filip Bystedt appeared with Team Sweden at the IIHF 2023 World Junior Championship, he stunned the world, ranking seventh in scoring with 10 points in 7 games. No one expected the young Swedish forward to have that big of an impact. This year, the storyline surrounding the 19-year-old is a little different.

Bystedt has not taken the step forward that Sharks’ management has hoped. He has 9 points in 27 games at Sweden’s highest level of competitive hockey, the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). While Bystedt’s game has fallen off this season, he’s still an explosive skater who picks up speed fast and has a quick shot. This year’s WJC is an opportunity for Bystedt to find that scoring touch again and reset his play for a better second half to his season.

A healthy Mattias Havelid joins Team Sweden

Bystedt will be joined on Team Sweden by fellow Sharks’ prospect and SHL teammate Mattias Havelid. Havelid missed last year’s WJC because of an injury. However, he’s played for Team Sweden before on the national stage. Like Pohlkamp and Furlong, he plays more of a shutdown game on defense. He will do what needs to be done to keep the puck out of the net.

Following the Summer Showcase a few months ago, Steven Ellis of The Daily Faceoff wrote, “His brother might have been the one in the Swedish net, but it was Mattias that was doing a lot of the goal-saving out there. He was blocking shots, breaking up stretch passes and keeping the puck in scoring position at the blueline.”

Look for Havelid to do more of the same during this tournament.

Fun Fact: Havelid will share the ice with his twin brother Hugo, who plays goaltender for Team Sweden. Their uncle, Magnus Havelid, will coach Team Sweden at the WJC.

Kasper Halttunen ready to make an impact for Team Finland

Forward Kasper Halttunen has had a pretty good start to his season. The developing power forward has 31 points in 28 games with the London Knights of the OHL and he’s already hit that 20-goal mark for the season. Many of those goals have come on the power play, and that could be where Halttunen does the most damage this tournament.

Ellis of The Daily Faceoff is excited to see what Halttunen will do in the tournament and the NHL in the future.

“Few players can shoot and hit with the pure violence that Kasper Haltunen (SJS) can,” wrote Ellis. “The London Knights standout plays a heavy, throwback-style game, and the results are looking good with London. He’s not afraid to rough up your team’s favorite stars, and he’s bound to be a fan-favorite in the NHL one day.”

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