Avalanche prospect hopefuls for the 2022 WJC
From this point forward it is a quick descent into World Junior Championship season and time to look at how many Colorado Avalanche prospects have shot at representing their country in Edmonton over the holidays.
Lock
LW Oskar Olausson 🇸🇪
As a returning player and a regular staple on the national team Olausson should have a leg up on the competition for a WJC roster spot to begin with but after he flashed at Avalanche training camp and a strong start with the Barrie Colts in the OHL there’s no doubt that Sweden will count on him. Some projections have Olausson as the top line left wing on the team. This will be Olausson’s last year of eligibility as a 2002 born player.
Possible
LD Sean Behrens 🇺🇸
Though Team USA has a lot of talent to choose from Behrens should get a long look from the powers that be. As a graduate of the National Team Development Program this is something Behrens has been preparing for his whole career. The only reason why the Americans might give pause is that Behrens is a 2003 born player and can participate next year meanwhile defaulting to some older defensemen. However, Behrens’ strong start in the NCAA and a good performance at the summer showcase should help his cause and facilitate earning one of the third pair spots on the blue line.
Long Shot
C Jean-Luc Foudy and C Colby Ambrosio 🇨🇦
Both of these forwards are in the same boat of thriving in leagues against men (AHL and NCAA respectively) but since they are playing outside of Canada won’t get much consideration, which is a shame. Foudy and Ambrosio played in the U17 tournament so there is some familiarity with Hockey Canada and then Foudy also played in the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup winning a silver medal. It is their last year of WJC eligibility so the possibility exists even if it’s remote.
And that concludes the list of Avalanche eligible players. There’s a very real possibility only Behrens will represent the organization at the 2023 WJC after an expected very thin 2022 draft class.
