The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championships began Sunday in Alberta (Edmonton and Red Deer), where a substantial amount of the best young hockey players will compete for international bragging rights.
Many of the top NHL prospects will be competing for their respective nations, including Boston Bruins winger Fabian Lysell. He's actually the only Bruins prospect playing in this year's tournament.
Lysell, who the Bruins selected in the first round (21st overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, is part of a Sweden team that entered the tournament with the third-best odds of winning the gold medal.
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Examining the state of the Bruins during their unexpected hiatus
He did not play in Sweden's 6-3 win over Russia on Sunday due to illness, although it doesn't sound like he'll be out of the lineup for long.
Let's look at why Bruins fans should pay attention to Lysell and how they can watch Sweden during the WJC over the next two weeks.
Why you should watch Fabian Lysell
Boston Bruins
Lysell is the top prospect in the Bruins' system. He's one of the few players in Boston's prospect pool with high-end offensive skill and a strong chance to be a top-six forward at the NHL level someday.
The Swedish winger is a very good skater with impressive speed, an excellent shot and improving playmaking ability.
Lysell enters this tournament playing very well for the WHL's Vancouver Giants. He's tallied 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 23 games for the Giants.
This is an important tournament for young players. It gives them a valuable opportunity to play against the best competition in their age group, as well as experience playing on the international stage. This tournament also gives players experience in high-pressure situations, and that will serve them well later in their careers when they play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and/or Olympic matchups.
How to watch Fabian Lysell
All games will be broadcast on NHL Network in the United States. Canadian viewers can watch on TSN and RDS.
- Sunday, Dec. 26: Sweden 6, Russia 3
- Monday, Dec. 27: Sweden vs. Slovakia, 9:30 p.m. ET (in Red Deer)
- Wednesday, Dec. 29: Sweden vs. United States, 9:30 p.m. ET (in Red Deer)
- Friday, Dec. 31: Switzerland vs. Sweden, 4:30 p.m. ET (in Red Deer)
- Sunday, Jan. 2: Quarterfinals
- Tuesday, Jan. 4: Semifinals
- Wednesday, Jan. 5: Final and third-place game