• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Sunday's games at the World Under-18 Championship tournament in Russia offered draft prospects a chance to shine, and many took full advantage. In fact, there were so many strong showings that it was hard to settle on the top five performances for the list below. All five of these players came from the World U-18, as there was relatively little action in other leagues
Speaking of other leagues, most of the Tier II circuit has determined its champions, including the OJHL, which concluded its finals on Sunday. Congratulations to the following Tier II championship teams and related draft prospects: AJHL -- Spruce Grove Saints (Sean Comrie); BCHL -- Wenatchee Wild (Slava Demin); CCHL -- Ottawa Jr. Senators (Ethan Manderville); MJHL -- Steinbach Pistons (Riese Gaber); OJHL -- Wellington Dukes (Mason Snell and Declan Carlile).
Obviously, players on championship teams deserve extra credit in their draft stock, but so do those in the World Under-18 tourney. Check out these stars from Sunday:
OLOF LINDBOM -- Sweden's goaltender is one of the hottest players in the World Under-18 tournament after a 36-save effort in a 3-1 win over defending champion Team USA. Lindbom stopped eight of nine first period shots, all 13 in the second, and all 15 in the third. After giving up an early goal, he pitched a shutout for 57:35. Lindbom is now 2-0 in the tournament with a 1.00 GAA and .966 save percentage. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
NIKLAS NORDGREN -- The diminutive Finnish winger scored two goals in a dramatic 5-4 win over World Under-18 host Russia. Nordgren opened the scoring at 4:52 of the first period and closed it by breaking a 4-4 tie with the game-winner at 12:55 of the third. Among the tournament's leading scorers, Nordgren has posted two points in each of Finland's three games for a total of four goals and six points over the span. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
OLIVER OKULIAR -- What a day for Okuliar, as the Slovak forward erupted for two goals and two assists in his team's 7-1 rout of France at the World Under-18's. He began the point parade with the lone assist on the game-winning goal for a 2-1 lead at 15:40 of the first period. He then scored on a power play to make it 3-1 at 1:01 of the second, assisted on a 4-1 goal nine minutes later at 10:10, and pushed the lead to 6-1 with a goal at 1:00 of the third.
OLIVIER RODRIGUE -- Arguably the top North American goalie in the draft pool, Rodrigue made a statement for Team Canada by shutting out Switzerland in his World Under-18 Championship debut. He only had to make 17 saves -- stopping four shots in the first period, five in the second, and eight in the third. It was a big rebound for Rodrigue, who lost four consecutive starts for Drummondville as the Voltigeurs were bounced from the QMJHL playoffs. (Note: 15th appearance on this list in 2017-18)
LUKAS WERNBLOM -- Wernblom was the hero of Sweden's 3-1 World Under-18 win over Team USA -- scoring two goals and assisting on another. He got the primary assist on a power-play goal at 10:51 of the first period, pulling the Swedes into a 1-1 tie. The game remained tied until late in the third period, when Wernblom delivered the winner at 18:26. He added an empty-netter to close out the scoring with four seconds remaining. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)