Canucks Prospect Wilson Björck Selected To Sweden's 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase Roster
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39 minutes ago
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What Rangers want to see from EJ Emery, Malcolm Spence at 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase
Though much of hockey's day-to-day business has slowed considerably by this point of the summer, there's still a very important event that the New York Rangers and other teams will keep an eye on this week in Minneapolis. The 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase features many top prospects from the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland. Each of the four countries is getting an early look at roster and lineup options for the 2026 World Junior Championship, which will be held in Minneapolis/St. Paul. The week-long showcase features practices every day and at least four games for each county. The United States, the two-time defending champion at the World Juniors, has 42 players at the showcase this week. They began by splitting up into two teams — White and Blue — each of which will play two games, before a combined U.S. squad plays three games later in the week. The Rangers have two very important prospects taking part in the showcase — defenseman E.J. Emery of the United States and forward Malcolm Spence of Canada. Let's examine what the Rangers are looking from each of their youngsters. Related: E.J. Emery This is Emery's second appearance at the World Junior Summer Showcase. He took part a year ago and was later among the final cuts when the 25-man roster was finalized in December. Though a disappointment that he didn't make the team, it was an excellent experience for Emery, who nearly landed a spot on an absolutely stacked roster. The U.S., with Rangers prospects Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue playing major roles, went on to repeat as WJC champion. There are nine players returning from the 2025 gold medal-winning team, including three defensemen. They are Team USA's leaders at this showcase, but Emery is considered to be a part of that leadership group, as well, now that he's 19, heading into his sophomore season at North Dakota and came so close to being on last year's team. 'Coming in as a bit of an older guy to the '07s (players born in 2007) here — younger guys, new guys — just try to show them that we're all one team and we're all trying to do the same thing,' the Rangers first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft explained. 'Obviously, there's a final team everyone wants to make, but we're all here to win Gold at the end of the day.' Related: The Rangers want to see Emery not only make the U.S. squad this year, but they'd love for him to stand out and be a clear-cut top-six defenseman. There's an important role for him to strive for, that of a dependable shutdown defenseman, which is what Fortescue did for Team USA the previous two World Juniors. A year after being one of the youngest players at the showcase for the United States, Emery is now considered more of a veteran. So, the Rangers will also watch closely to see what type of leader Emery is among his peers. Lastly, is there more to Emery's offensive game than what he showed as a North Dakota freshman last season? Emery had one point (an assist) in 31 games last season. As much as the Rangers love his defensive play, they want to see him show more on the other side of the puck this week. Malcolm Spence New York's top pick in this year's draft, second round (No. 43 overall), Spence is one of 36 players present at the showcase for Canada, and one of 20 forwards. Those odds weigh somewhat in Spence's favor of making the team if he has a good showing in Minneapolis and a strong start to his freshman season at the University of Michigan. However, these numbers are deceiving because there are eight forwards — each a first-round draft pick — who were invited to the showcase by Hockey Canada but couldn't or didn't attend. Among those are 2024 draft standouts Tij Iginla and and Beckett Sennecke, and 2025 first-rounders Caleb Desnoyers and Roger McQueen. So, the Rangers want to see Spence stand out this week and put himself solidly in the middle-six conversation. That means playing to his strengths — committed to a 200-foot game, standing out on special teams when/if given that opportunity, putting up points and using his ample size (6-foot-1, 203 pounds) to be a physical force. A solid first impression this week should keep Spence in the mix even if some of those big names are available to play for Canada in the tournament. But this week feels like a crucial one for Spence, as far as the WJC is concerned. Related Headlines Jonny Brodzinski preps for Rangers season with summer league hat trick in Da Beauty League Rangers legend 'never really had a chance to say goodbye' until Chris Drury phone call changed everything Rangers top draft pick Malcolm Spence earns praise at World Junior Summer Showcase Rangers' most memorable regular-season games from 2000-25, including Mika Zibanejad's 5-goal night
Yahoo
an hour ago
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Rangers top draft pick Malcolm Spence earns praise at World Junior Summer Showcase
Though Malcolm Spence won't be in the lineup for Canada when they play their first game at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase on Wednesday, the New York Rangers top pick from this year's NHL Draft has already made a solid first impression. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff listed Spence as a top standout from Canada's intrasquad game Tuesday. Spence played left wing on the second line for Canada White, which defeated Canada Red 4-3 in a shootout. Though he didn't score, 'Spence was one of the more energetic forwards for Canada White. I loved how hard he chased after Red's top players and didn't seem to care that it was an intrasquad game,' Ellis noted. That tenacity, focus and willingness to play a 200-foot game are among the reasons that the Rangers selected Spence in the second round (No. 43 overall) of the 2025 draft. It didn't hurt that the 18-year-old forward, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs a solid 203 pounds, scored 32 goals and had 73 points in 65 games with Erie of the OHL last season, either. But it's the intangibles that impressed Ellis most in the scrimmage Tuesday. 'Spence has never been the most skilled or offensive player, but he never takes a shift off and is always trying to make things happen,' Ellis remarked. Reading that comment, it's no wonder why the Rangers jumped at the chance to select Spence, after he somehow slipped through the first round. The Rangers clearly lacked enough players with that intensity last season. Though Spence is nowhere near NHL ready and will be a freshman at the University of Michigan this coming season, he fits what the Rangers are looking to add as a person, leader and player. Related: Can Rangers top pick land spot on Canada's WJC roster? Despite that build up, Spence is a healthy scratch for Canada's game against Finland on Wednesday. Canada has 36 players on its showcase roster, including 20 forwards, so there'll be plenty of mixing and matching, and players coming in and out of the lineup, this week. There are also eight forwards — each a first-round draft pick — who were invited to the showcase by Hockey Canada but couldn't or didn't attend. Among those are 2024 draft standouts Tij Iginla and and Beckett Sennecke, and 2025 first-rounders Caleb Desnoyers and Roger McQueen. Related: So, what are the chances that Spence lands a spot on Canada's roster for the 2026 World Junior Championship, which will be played in Minneapolis/St. Paul beginning in late December? 'Spence could make it as a fourth-liner, unless the team elects to take more skilled players instead,' Ellis said. 'But Spence feels like a player built for this team.' That's music to the Rangers ears. Even playing a fourth-line role in such a prestigious international tournament would be a tremendous experience for such an important prospect like Spence. First, let's see if he can build on that solid first impression when he sees some game action later this week at the showcase. Related Headlines Jonny Brodzinski preps for Rangers season with summer league hat trick in Da Beauty League Rangers legend 'never really had a chance to say goodbye' until Chris Drury phone call changed everything Rangers' most memorable regular-season games from 2000-25, including Mika Zibanejad's 5-goal night Understanding no-trade/no-movement protection for Rangers veterans, including Mika Zibanejad
Yahoo
13 hours ago
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Canucks Prospect Cootes & Team Canada Red Fall To Team USA Canada White 4-3 At The 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase
Team Canada kicked off their 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase with an intersquad game between Team Red and Team White. During the game, Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes and Team Red fell 4-3 to Team White in a shootout. Canada will now mix up their squads for their remaining three games of the event. As for Cootes, he spent the game as Canada's 13th forward. He was held off the scoresheet and did not participate in the shootout. Cootes will get another opportunity in this tournament, but it is unclear how many games he will play. Latest From THN's Vancouver Canucks Site: Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Season Series Preview: Edmonton Oilers Vancouver Canucks 2024–25 Report Card: Arshdeep Bains Canucks Prospect Björck & Team Sweden Defeat Team USA White 4-3 At The 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase Up next for Canada is a battle against Finland on July 30. Finland has played twice already and has a record of 1-1-0. Puck drop for Canada's next game is scheduled for 1:30 pm PT. Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more from The Hockey News. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.
