So Hawks have 2 players in the world juniors only, Moore and Felcman. Let's look through our draft picks from the last two years and see why
2023:
Bedard - 05, young enough but too in the NHL
Moore - 05, on team USA
Gajan - 04, too old
Kantserov - 04, too old and too Russian
Misiak - 04, too old
Lardis - 05, young enough, maybe even good enough, but not picked by Canada
Felcman - 05, on Czechia
Pharand - 05, not good enough, not picked by Canada
Marcel - 03, too old
Oscarson - 03, too old
Peltonen - 05, young enough, idk if good enough, not picked by Finland
2024:
Levshunov - 05, young enough, but too Belarusian
Boisvert - 06, young enough, maybe even good enough, but Canada doesn't pick 18 year old NCAA players unless they have to, not picked by Canada
Vanacker - 06, too injured to really be in mix, not picked by Canada
Mustard - 06, if Boisvert isn't on the list, he obviously wouldn't be, not picked by Canada
Spellacy - 06, had a shot, one of last roster cuts for USA
Pridham - 05, late birthday 3rd rounder wouldn't have had much of a shot at Canada, especially when he begun year in BCHL
Svensson - 05, young enough but not picked by Sweden
Henry - 06, not good enough, not picked by Canada
Boisvert, Vanacker, maybe (but probably not) Mustard have shots at Canada next year. Spellacy will probably be in USA next year. The dearth of any 2nd rounders eligible for the tournament, and Bedard/Levshunov both not being there for their reasons lead to light representation for the Hawks this year.