[ad_1]
Kings prospect Otto Sarin suffered a hard-fought loss in the bronze medal match yesterday morning.
Sarin and his native Finland led 5-2 late in the second period and had a 5-4 lead with less than two minutes to play in regulation with a podium spot in sight. In the final minutes of a wild storm, the Czechs scored with 1:56 remaining, scoring the first of four goals in just 50 seconds, overturning a one-goal deficit to win by three, and by eight. He won the match and won the bronze medal. 5 score lines.
After Sarin’s second World Junior Championship, his time with Finland’s U-20 national team will end. Sarin was part of the Finnish squad a season ago, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals, but returned this season as captain and reserve in the top-four defense. After a slow start, Sarin and his teammates carried momentum into the final round and won their quarterfinal matchup, but two close losses meant they were sent home without hardware.
Throughout the tournament, Sarin appeared in all seven games for the team and recorded one assist. However, his assist for scoring the winning goal in extra time in the quarterfinals against Slovakia was huge. Through seven games, Sarin averaged just over 19 minutes of total on-ice time, averaging 19:05. Sarin’s most intensive games were Finland’s best as a team, logging more than 20 minutes of ice time in each of the team’s three wins, including against Latvia in Finland’s first win. This includes a team-high time of 21 minutes, 19 seconds against Latvia, and a tournament-high time of 23 minutes, 17 seconds against Latvia. Victory over Sweden. Overall, Sarin was second on the team among defensemen in TOI per game throughout the tournament.
Sarin is currently back in Finland with SM Liga club HIFK Helsinki. Sarin has played in 29 games so far this season, making him one of only two defensemen on the team to play in more games. Sarin is averaging 15 minutes per game this season and has six assists. As a 19-year-old playing in Europe’s top men’s league, he is in a good position.
Heading into next season, the Kings believe they have at least one prospect in goaltender Hump Tom Sulkinski. Sulchinski was a participant in Team USA’s summer showcase event and was perhaps the best-performing goaltender of the six invited at that camp. As an underage player who played in the USHL rather than in the U.S. collegiate ranks, Sulchinski was the No. 1 goaltender at the World Junior A Challenge in December and likely the third goaltender on the WJC roster. With another season of eligibility left, we can expect to see Sulkinski challenge for a spot on the team next season.
There is also the case of defenseman Jakub Dvořák, who did not play for the Czech Republic this season. Dvorak recently transferred from playing professionally in the Czech Republic to the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos and made his junior club debut last week. Dvorak is representing his country in the Hlinka/Gretzky Trophy, but there are reports that he has declined to participate in this season’s WJC. He would be eligible to play in 2025 if selected to the team.
If 2023 fifth-round selection Matthew Mania is selected, he will be eligible to play on Team Canada. Mania delayed the start of the season due to injury, but returned to action with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves. Mania has scored 11 points in 15 games so far this season. 2023 draft picks Kane Ziemer and Ryan Conmee are both celebrating birthdays and are not eligible to participate in the tournament, despite being in the Draft+1 season. Had both qualified, they would have garnered consideration by teams Canada and the United States, respectively.
This list is likely to grow as the tournament approaches, as the 2024 draft class is also scheduled.
[ad_2]
Source link
