World Junior Summer Showcase recap: Canucks’ Wilson Björck extends point streak to three games; Sweden remains undefeated

Day Four of the World Junior Summer Showcase, which saw all four teams compete in Minnesota, is in the books.

Two Vancouver Canucks prospects — Wilson Björck and Braeden Cootes — both suited up in action as they continue to showcase themselves to their respective countries in preparation for this year’s World Junior Championships.

First up was Sweden, who took on Team USA in the first of two ice slots on the day.

In what ended as a 6-3 victory for Sweden, Wilson Björck added another (primary) assist to give him four for the tournament.

Digging in the corner — a hallmark of his tenacious game — he beat the forecheck and fed Leo Sahlin Wallenius, who snapped a shot from the high slot to help secure Sweden’s perfect 3-0 record at the showcase.

With the helper, Björck now has four assists (three primary) through three games, tying him for the tournament’s assist lead among all players.

Björck continues to float around the line combinations. Skating with his younger brother Viggo, he headlined the team’s second line, and has now seen time on three top lines.

The 2024-25 J20 Nationell scoring star (67 points in 43 games with Djurgårdens) is making a strong case for a role with Sweden at the 2026 World Juniors in Minnesota, as his combination of playmaking flair, relentless work ethic, and chemistry with his brother has turned heads.

DailyFaceoff’s Steven Ellis, who’s covering the event live, praised Björck’s performance, telling CanucksArmy: “He’s been solid. One of the best playmakers.”

Later in Steven’s Day Four recap, he had high praise for the Canuck youngster.

” You can only take so much out of a week-long summer hockey tournament, but the Canucks must be thrilled with Björck’s play. He has been Sweden’s best playmaker, and he looked great today with an assist. He thrives near the net, but he also makes great, high-quality passes under pressure better than most others on the Swedish attack. Björck has not only been one of Sweden’s best players this week, but he’s been one of the best players in the tournament, period.”

Later in the day, Team Canada faced Team Finland in their second game of the tournament.

Canucks’ first-round pick (15th overall in 2025), Braeden Cootes, initially listed as a potential scratch, drew into the lineup as the fourth-line center.

Facing a Finnish squad that had already played a pair of games together, Canada struggled to find cohesion and fell 6-3. Cootes, an 18-year-old known for his two-way play and high compete level with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, did not register a point in the loss.

Both teams will square off in their next game on Friday, August 1st at 11 AM PT.