The 2024 World Juniors are upon us.
All four Blue Jackets prospects opened up World Juniors play on Tuesday, with Team USA forward Gavin Brindley highlighting the day with a pair of goals in the USA's 4-1 win over Norway.
USA Beats Norway 4-1
Brindley scored the first of two second-period goals with a left-circle power-play tally from one knee.
Heres Gavin Brindleys power-play goal for Team USA. A great shot from one knee. #CBJ #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/dpquK2tEkA
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 26, 2023
He followed that up with a great forecheck and drive to the net where he went top shelf from the doorstep.
Heres Gavin Brindleys second goal of the game for Team USA. A great drive to the net and top-shelf shot. #CBJ #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Ma49qIzYxA
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 26, 2023
Brindley was named Team USA's player of the game and has now doubled his goal total from the 2023 World Juniors.
Gavin Brindley's stats today: 2-0--2, 6 SH, +0, 16:00 TOI#CBJ #WorldJuniors https://t.co/L45Z8H7uGc
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 26, 2023
Canada Beats Finland 5-2
Blue Jackets prospects Jordan Dumais and Denton Mateychuk helped the two-time defending champions open up its title defense with a three-goal win over fellow Jackets prospect Oiva Keskinen's Finland squad.
Mateychuk had a secondary assist on Canada's opening goal, was a +3, and logged 25:25 in his first game at the World Juniors.
Heres Denton Mateychuks secondary assist on Canadas first goal.#CBJ #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/d2l2xJ1mDu
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 26, 2023
He also made an incredible move in the offensive zone that almost led to a primary assist.
Beck and Mateychuk show off some great vision but Danielson is unable to find the back of the net.
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023
Canada leads 2-1 after the 2nd period.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/KfVFFdzpTZ
Mateychuk looked like a future No. 1 defenseman and is poised to have a monster tournament with Canada. On a blueline that's not loaded with top prospects, Mateychuk has the chance to remind the hockey world why he was the No. 12 pick in the 2022 Draft.
Dumais also had a good game, setting up multiple chances and hitting the post on a breakaway. It seems like a matter of time before he breaks out.
Keskinen, the 194th pick in the 2023 Draft, stood out for Finland while playing as its third-line center.
Canada (w/#CBJ prospects Jordan Dumais and Denton Mateychuk) beat Finland (Oiva Keskinen) 5-2 in group play at the #WorldJuniors.
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 26, 2023
Stats:
Dumais: 0-0--0, 0 SH, +0, 13:11 TOI
Mateychuk: 0-1--1, 1 SH, +3, 25:25 TOI
Keskinen: 0-0--0, 0 SH, -1, 4/9 FO, 19:57 TOI
Like Dumais, this is Keskinen's first and only chance to play at the World Juniors. He didn't come to development camp over the summer so this is the first time Blue Jackets fans will be able to get a good look at him.
Up Next
- Dec. 27: Finland vs. Germany, 8:30 a.m. ET, NHL Network
- Dec. 27: Canada vs. Latvia, 1:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network
- Dec. 28: USA vs. Switzerland, 11 a.m. ET, NHL Network
