Over the weekend, the 2022 World Junior Championships concluded. Canada was the runaway favorite, never losing a contest throughout group or tournament play.
All of the prospects representing the Philadelphia Flyers participated in tournament play. Their respective countries earned a spot in the final bracket to crown a champion. Tyson Foerster and Emil Andrae were standouts.
Along the way, there were upsets. Finland and Czechia pushed deep into the World Junior Championships. The USA fell to Czechia in the quarterfinal round. Finland blanked Sweden in the semifinals, earning their place in the championship game versus Canada.
Concluding the 2022 World Juniors, how did the Flyers’ prospects perform?
Emil Andrae
At the end of group play, Andrae had quite a stat-line (3G, 4A, 17SOG, +4.)
Then, in the quarterfinal round, he put Sweden over Latvia with the game-winner. Andrae might’ve scored his highest profile goal of the 2022 World Juniors during this game.
Favored to defeat Finland, Sweden went cold in the semifinals. Shutout, 1-0, Sweden wasn’t as efficient or disciplined. Andrae served a boarding penalty, but it didn’t result in a powerplay goal for Finland. Eventually, penalties soured the momentum for Sweden. Kasper Puutio put the final nail in the coffin for Sweden during the second period, a powerplay goal due to Sweden playing too-many men on the ice.
Overall, Andrae finished the 2022 World Juniors with 4G, 4A, 23SOG, and a +5 rating. His stock rose during this 2022 World Juniors. Frankly, he is a prospect to be excited about in Philadelphia.
Brian Zanetti
Switzerland won once during the 2022 World Juniors. That win did not include Zanetti. The only victory for Switzerland came at the expense of Austria, 3-2.
Entering the quarterfinals, Switzerland ran into the eventual 2022 World Junior champions. Canada soundly won, 6-3.
A first-round exit was inescapable. Switzerland was not a match for Canada. During the loss, Zanetti recorded an assist. The defenseman made the most of his 5:51 on the ice. Against the most dominant team in the 2022 World Juniors, Zanetti held his own defensively while contributing in the offensive zone.
Overall, Zanetti finished the 2022 World Juniors with 2A, 1SOG, and a -3 rating.
Tyson Foerster
Until the championship game of the 2022 World Juniors, Canada defeated opponents by a minimum margin of three goals. Foerster had a lot to do with the success, keeping busy throughout group play and the elimination tournament.
Beginning with a 6-3 victory over Switzerland, Foerster had a multiple-point performance (1G, 1A.) He smoked the puck past Noah Patenaude and later secured a secondary assist on a scoring play against Kevin Pasche. He remained consistent.
Next was Czechia, fresh off of a win against the USA. Foerster secured another assist. Consistency was key. In another victory by a three-goal margin, Canada defeated Czechia 5-2.
Finally, Canada defeated Finland in overtime. Finland, following their surprising victory versus Sweden, gave Canada their only true test of the entire 2022 World Juniors. A one-goal victory sealed the 2022 World Juniors Championship for Canada. Foerster had four shots on goal. It was the only game in elimination tournament play where Foerster didn’t tally a point.
Along with the 2022 World Juniors Championship, Foerster finished with the entire showcase with 3G, 3A, and 20SOG.
Elliot Desnoyers
Mostly a defensive presence in the forward lines, Desnoyers didn’t secure his first point in the 2022 World Juniors until the 6-3 victory versus Switzerland. He entered the offensive zone cleanly, turned around Matyas Sapovaliv, and turned a shot on goal into a scoring play once Nathan Gaucher crashed the net.
Desnoyers stock improved during the 2022 World Juniors, too. On a juggernaut team, his ice time steadily increased during the elimination tournament play. His contributions mostly don’t show on the stat sheet, but they resulted in the 2022 World Juniors Championship.
Overall, Desnoyers finished with 1A and 6SOG.
(Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)
