GDT: 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

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TV BROADCAST SCHEDULE:

• NHL NETWORK
• TSN

LIGHTNING PROSPECTS:

• ETHAN GAUTHIER // 2023 2nd round pick

• JOONA SAARELAINEN // 2024 5th round pick

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The first of Canada's 3 pre-tournament games start tomorrow

Dec. 19th vs Switzerland
Dec 21st vs Sweden
Dec 23rd vs Czechia

Gauthier made it clear he's ready for any assignment in Ottawa.

"I'm ready to play any role," he said. "It's one thing that's easy to say, but I've proved it in the past. At the [2023] Hlinka Gretzky Cup I played on every single line during the tournament. I played on power play, played on PK. I'm just that type of player that can play up and down your lineup and play any role."

Father Denis Gauthier, a former NHLer and gold medalist at the 1996 World Juniors, helped instill this mentality in his son.

"Being grateful for what you get," Ethan said when asked what words from his dad resonate the most. "We put so much work and time and effort in this so we should be grateful for everything we have and every chance we get. This is a great opportunity here on the biggest stage in the world for junior hockey. He's been through it as well. Definitely just be grateful and always keep working, and never take anything for granted."

"I've played with Yager quite a bit," Gauthier noted. "We played together at the Hlinka. We had an amazing tournament. Me and Beauds are kind of similar ... We're two guys that like the physical game, guys that are good on the forecheck and relentless on pucks. Hopefully we get some pucks for Yags and get a few goals there."

 

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Tampa Bay Lightning product Joona Saarelainen, a 5-foot-9 forward, has been one of Finland’s most productive 2006-born forwards the past few years and should remain that as an energetic, two-way scoring threat.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Assist for Gauthier on the game winner in Canada’s last pre tournament game