The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship has returned and the Flyers will be well represented.. After being canceled last December due to COVID-19 issues, the tournament will take now place from August 9-August 20 in Edmonton, Alberta. Due to events that happened earlier in 2022, Russia will not be competing in the tournament.
The Philadelphia Flyers will have four prospects competing in the tournament with their respective countries: Tyson Foerster (Canada), Elliot Desnoyers (Canada), Emil Andrae (Sweden), and Brian Zanetti (Switzerland). Foerster is the newest name on the list as he was not on Team Canada’s roster in December due to injury.
Flyers prospect rundown
Tyson Foerster & Elliot Desnoyers
Foerster and Desnoyers are looking to contribute to a loaded Canada team before heading to Flyers training camp.
Foerster will be eager to produce, as he could’ve been on Canada’s roster last year if he wasn’t injured. The scoring centerman/winger played in nine games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021-2022 after returning from injury in scored three points (2G, 1A). He played in 13 games with the Barrie Colts and scored 11 points (6G, 5A). It’s been a rough past year for Foerster but the former 20th overall pick in 2020 can now show off his elite scoring potential on the national stage.
Desnoyers dominated with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads as the team captain in 2021-2022. He scored 88 points (42G, 46A) in 61 games. He scored three points (3A) in two games before the WJC was canceled late last December. Desnoyers was a fifth-round selection by the Flyers in 2020 and is one of the most exciting prospects in the system.
Emil Andrae
Andrae is a Swedish defenseman for HV71 in the SHL. He was selected in the second round by the Flyers in 2020 and will be making his second appearance with Sweden at the WJC. Andrae competed with the Swedes in 2021 and scored one point (1A) in five games. With HV71 during 2021-2022, he scored 33 points (9G, 24A) in 41 games.
Standing at 5’9”, Andrae isn’t the largest defenseman but his puck moving, skating, and shooting brings high upside. He’s flying under the radar regarding Flyers prospects.
Brain Zanetti
Zanetti will help control the blue line for Switzerland. He was drafted by the Flyers in the fourth round in 2021 and played with the Peterborough Petes in the OHL during 2021-2022 scoring 26 points (4G, 22A) in 56 games.
Zanetti is a native of Varese, Italy, but has seen most of his junior career played with and in Switzerland.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
