For the fifth tournament in succession, there will be Detroit Red Wings prospects adorned with medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Sweden is playing the USA for the gold medal on Friday. Detroit picks Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th, 2023) and Anton Johansson (105th, 2022) play on the Swedish defense. Trey Augustine (41st, 2023) is a goaltender for Team USA.
Augustine made 19 saves to earn the win as the USA edged Finland 3-2 in one of Thursday’s semifinal games. The Michigan State Spartans netminder won a bronze with the American squad at last year’s tournament, prior to his being selected by the Red Wings in the NHL entry.
Sweden downed Czechia 5-2 in the other semifinal. The host nation for the tournament got a goal and an assist from Sandin Pellikka, who plays for Skelleftea in the SHL. Sandin Pellikka shot the puck into a gaping Czech net to put the Swedes ahead 2-1.
“As soon as I look up, there is basically no goalkeeper there,” Sandin Pellikka told Swedish website Aftonbladet.se. “Then it was just a matter of sending it in.”
Later, he drew the primary assist on the power-play goal that gave Sweden the lead for good at 3-2.
It was Sandin Pellikka’s overtime goal giving Sweden a 3-2 victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals.
The Swedes were receiving a surprise visit from a Swedish hockey icon prior to Thursday’s game. Hockey Hall of Fame netminder and 2006 Olympic gold medalist Henrik Lundqvist game the squad a pre-game pep talk.
“It was perhaps what made us win,” Sandin Pellikka said. “It is difficult to understand what he has done for the New York Rangers as an organization and how great he really is. It’s great fun.”
Red Wings Pick Savage Earned Bronze in 2023
Last year, Red Savage (114th, 2021) was the only Red Wings pick playing in the WJC. Currently a teammate of Augustine’s at Michigan State, Savage was part of the USA squad that won bronze.
In 2022, Detroit picks gathered up a half dozen medals. Goalie Sebastian Cossa (15th, 2021) and defenseman Donovan Sebrango (63rd, 2020) won gold with Canada. Defenseman Emil Viro (70th, 2020) was picking up a silver with Finland. Forward Theodor Niederbach (51st, 2020) and defensemen Simon Edvinsson (6th, 2021) and William Wallinder (32nd, 2020) won bronze with Sweden.
Viro also won a bronze medal with Finland at the 2021 tournament. In 2020, center Joe Veleno (30th, 2018) and defenseman Jared McIsaac (36th, 2018) were golden with Canada. Forward Jonatan Berggren (33rd, 2018) and goalie Jesper Eliasson (84th, 2018) were earning bronze for Sweden.
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