GDT: 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

[TheDaysOf 04]

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TV BROADCAST SCHEDULE:

• NHL NETWORK
• TSN

LIGHTNING PROSPECTS:

• ETHAN GAUTHIER // 2023 2nd round pick

• JOONA SAARELAINEN // 2024 5th round pick

Click to read more...

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

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."

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

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

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Gauthier vs Saarelainen tonight

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Canada wins 4-0



Turnover for Saarelainen



Defensive play/breakaway attempt for Gauthier

 

[ccman68]

gauthier was one of canada’s best players with lots of good passes to scoring areas. saarelainen looks like barre-boulet out there, slow and gets pushed off the puck easily

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Hoping Gauthier puts one in tonight

 

[JoVel]

Looks like Saarelainen was dropped out of the lineup.

 

[Felonious Python]

Are we seeing Latvia's Miracle on Ice?

edit: Everybody's got that goldfish brain, because Latvia won the bronze against the US at the 2023 Worlds, but winning in a SO over Canada in the round-robin is also their Miracle On Ice.

x.com

x.com

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Ethan Gauthier knows the best way to reach the NHL is to keep his feet moving.

That was the directive the Tampa Bay Lightning forward prospect received during training camp.

"Their message after camp was to make sure I was good on the forecheck, to be first on the puck, to move my feet and to finish my checks," the 19-year-old said. "It was getting back to basics. They told me that it was something they had seen a little less at camp compared to the year prior. I take that as a constructive element to try to build on that. I want to work on the details of my game, whether it’s in the offensive zone or in the defensive zone, to improve my game and bring it to the professional level. That's the goal."

"The games in which I have more success are when I’m moving my feet, when I’m in motion," he said. "That's really the key. When I play with pace, when I move my feet, when I overtake the defenders, that's when I have success. If I don't do that, I have good games but not excellent games. It's getting back to basics, making sure I have the mentality to move my feet and be in motion."

"His 200-foot game, obviously he's gotten stronger, gotten quicker," Lightning assistant GM/director of player development Stacy Roest said. "His offensive play, his defensive play. We just love his all-around 200-foot game, all three zones. He's a good player and a good prospect."

during training camp with the Lightning, he got into three preseason games.

"You earn your opportunity for another opportunity, and that's what he kept doing," Roest said. "He had a good camp. He got nicked up a little bit during camp, so he missed a few practices, and then he gets in one game, and it's an opportunity to earn another opportunity, and that's what he just kept doing at camp.

"Very excited, very happy for how he played there. And then he goes back to junior, and you're excited ... when he comes and shows that well and plays that well, it's exciting for the Lightning for sure."

"Anytime your prospects get a chance to play for their country ... with the elite group of players that are there, it's a special moment," Roest said, "and it's going to help you with your belief in your game and where you're at in your career.

"For him, he's earned it. He's had a great couple seasons. He's played really well this year. And I think it's huge he gets a chance to play for Canada, and I know he'll do a great job."

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

shorthanded assist for Saarelainen