[sureLoss]

With the preliminary WJC or Selection Camp rosters set to be announced this week, it is time to look at which Flames prospects are potentially playing at the WJC!


Canada
D'Artagnan Joly - 2017 Flames 6th round QMJHL
27gp 11g 12a 23pts
Chances for Selection Camp invite: slim to none
Eligible for the 2020 WJC: no

While his stats aren't horrible, getting on the Canadian roster is extremely difficult and Joly is not even among the top 5 forwards on his team. No invite to the summer camp. Impossible to see how he makes the selection camp let alone the team.



USA
Demetrios Koumontzis - 2018 Flames 4th round NCAA
16gp 1g 7a 8pts
Chances for Selection Camp invite: longshot
Eligible for the 2020 WJC: yes

USA's projected final roster has better pedigree and former USNTDP which makes Koumontzis' chances slim this year. Not invited to USA's summer camp. Maybe he has a shot next year if he can have a strong finish to this season.



Sweden
Flip Sveningsson - 2017 7th round Allsvenskan
23gp 9g 9a 18pts
Chances for Selection Camp invite: good
Eligible for the 2020 WJC: no

Playing against men and producing, Sveningsson has turned many heads and forced his way into serious consideration for Sweden's WJC team. He wasn't invited to their North America summer camp, but has been in Sweden's European tune up tournaments leading up to the WJC.



Russia
Dmitry Zavgorodniy - 2018 7th round QMJHL
27gp 14g 19a 33pts
Chances on preliminary roster: good
Eligible for the 2020 WJC: yes

The skilled Russian forward put up a great October campaign in the QMJHL but not so great November. Also had a good showing in the Canada Russia series and potted the series clinching goal for the Russians. I do wonder if the Russians decide to pass on him this year and maybe take him next year as a 19 year old after some more physical maturity.



Slovakia
Adam Ruzicka - 2017 4th round OHL
27gp 8g 19a 27pts
Chances on preliminary roster: virtual lock
Eligible for the 2020 WJC: no

Milos Roman - 2018 4th round WHL
27gp 15g 13a 28pts
Chances on preliminary roster: virtual lock
Eligible for the 2020 WJC: no

Martin Pospisil - 2018 4th round USHL
17gp 10g 21a 31pts
Chances on preliminary roster: excellent
Eligible for the 2020 WJC: no

Given that Ruzicka and Roman have been on Slovakia's last two WJC teams, it seems like they are locks to go again this season. Pospisil with his amazing USHL season so far should also figure into their plans. There is the potential to have the top 3 centers on the Slovakian team as all Flames prospects.

The only question is how will the members from the Slovakian Orange National U20 team affect decisions in terms of who makes the final roster and playing time. That team is the full time U20 team in Slovakia and a large number of their players end up on the WJC roster. But given the current state of Slovakian hockey, they would be idiots not to use NHL drafted players that are producing in North America.



Honorable Mention: Norway
Mathias Emilio Pettersen - 2018 6th round NCAA
12gp 5g 9a 14pts
Chances at playing at the 2019 WJC: none
Eligible for the 2020 WJC: yes, if Norway can get promoted from Division 1A

While the skilled forward has impressed some with great freshman numbers in the NCAA, sadly he won't be playing in the WJC this year. Norway has not qualified for the WJC... yet.

Emilio Pettersen will however be playing for Norway in the WJC Division 1A tournament from December 9 to December 15. If Norway wins the Division 1A tournament they will be playing in the 2020 WJC and Emilio Pettersen should feature prominently there. Norway plays against Belarus (relegated from the WJC last year), Latvia, Germany, France, and Austria. Norway just got into D1A by winning the D1B tournament.




If a prospect isn't listed here that means they are too old to be part of this tournament. Yes that includes Valimaki.