World Juniors Day 4 Three Stars: Sandin-Pellikka, Sale and Willander

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Sandin-Pellikka has been on fire through the tournament’s first three games, leading Team Sweden in points. Detroit Red Wings fans have been as excited for his development as any in their prospect pool, and his latest effort against a pesky Swiss team landed him as the third star of day four.

Second Star: Eduard Sale

Since being selected by the Seattle Kraken in the first round of the 2023 draft, Eduard Sale’s performance has not been where it likely should be. After being under a point per game in the OHL, he moved to the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL, where he’s under a point per game there, too, with 13 points in 23 games.

Now, with Team Czechia, he’s over a point per game with five points in three games, including a two-goal performance in their win against Team Slovakia.

His first goal was as elementary as they come, converting on a two-on-one opportunity.

The next one was more like what Kraken fans (and NHL fans who have kept up with Sale’s development) want to see from him. Sale used every bit of his arsenal to score an impressive second goal.

Sale and Team Czechia put the rest of the tournament on notice after their swift defeat of Slovakia. But they still have more work to do if they want to win a medal and perform like the Kraken draftee did on day four, which will help them lead the way.

First Star: Tom Willander

As mentioned, Sandin-Pellikka had two assists in his three-point outing against the Swiss, but his power-play defense partner, Tom Willander, a Boston University sophomore, was the best player for Team Sweden.

The Swedes and Swiss spent plenty of time in the penalty box, with both teams registering 18 penalties during the 60 minutes. Thus, both power plays were given chances to succeed, and Willander helped lead the way with two goals on the man advantage.

Below is his first:

And here is his second, a perfectly-placed rocket of a wrist shot to the left side:

With those two goals and the assist, Willander passed his point total from the World Juniors a year ago and helped Team Sweden to three wins. They’re the first team in the tournament to hit that mark.

Honorable mentions: Kimo Gruber, Team Switzerland (2 goals, 1 assist); Leo Braillard, Team Switzerland (2 goals); Tuomas Uronen, Team Finland (OT GWG against Team USA);