Bruins fans looking for a chance to watch their top prospects will get that opportunity in the next few weeks.
The NHL Network and NHL.com will be broadcasting all of the US World Junior teams pre-tournament games as well as all world junior tournament games and 12 other World Junior games. The IIHF World Junior tournament features the best hockey players in the world under the age of 20 years old, and is the top amateur hockey tournament in the world. Current Bruins stars like Patrice Bergeron have previously starred at the World Junior stage, and its proven to be an invaluable experience in a young players growth and development.
Bruins 2012 third round pick and Boston University defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will be one of the key members of the US team playing pre-tournament games in Finland, and then taking part in the World Junior tournament in Russia. The 18-year-old Charlestown native has 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) in 15 games for the BU Terriers during a strong freshman season playing for Jack Parker. The US team won't make their final cuts before leaving for Europe, but Grzelcyk is expected to make the team and contribute heavily to a US entry that's won medals in two of the last three tournaments.
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Bruins draft picks Malcolm Subban, Dougie Hamilton and Anthony Camara have qualified for Canadas World Junior Team, and will be featured in the world class tournament as well. The 18-year-old Subban has a 15-7-3 record with a .932 save percentage and 2.17 goals against average, and qualified for the time despite a rough performance during pre-tournament scrimmages.
The 19-year-old Hamilton has 41 points (8 goals, 33 assists) and is a plus-24 in 32 games with the Niagara IceDogs this season, and should be one of the best players in the tournament after dominating the OHL over the last two seasons.
Camara, also 19, has 40 points (22 goals, 18 assists) in 30 games for the Barrie Colts, and is enjoying a breakout season after the Bs selected him in the third round of the 2011 draft.
Bs 2011 second round pick Alex Khokhlachev is also expected to star as a skilled forward for the Russian entry in the World Junior tournament. The 19-year-old Khokhlachev has seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 26 KHL games during his rookie season for Moscow Spartak.
The tourney will be broadcast games live from the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship on Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Ufa, Russia. Participating nations include Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the US.
According to the NHLs release, an additional 12 games from the IIHF World Junior Championship also will be aired live on the NHL Network-U.S. and will be re-aired later that same day, including six preliminary-round games and the entire medal round.For the latest NHL Network listings, visit http:www.nhl.comicepage.htm?id=58058Steve Mears, who handles play-by-play for Pittsburgh Penguins HD Radio and covered the NHL Playoffs and Final last year for the NHL Network, will call all U.S. games in the tournament, with NHL Networks E.J. Hradek serving as the analyst and Rob Simpson as the rink-side reporter.
NHL.com will provide a live stream of all Team USA tournament games (available only in the U.S.) with the NHL.com staff providing the latest information from the tournament, including scores and highlights.