The Pats have had a long history of sending players to the World Juniors. Their first two players played in the World under-twenty tournament back in 1975. The International Ice Hockey Federation did not recognize the tournament in their records until the 1977 tournament.
The Pats do not have any player representatives this year. It makes for a good time to talk about the Pats’ history at the tournament.
Here is a list of every Pat player to play and the years they played at the World Juniors.
Ed Staniowski (Canada – 1975)
Staniowski was selected as part of a WCHL all-star team to play for Canada in the tournament. He played in two games allowing three goals for a 1.50 goals-against-average with a shutout. Canada finished at 4-1 and earned itself a silver medal.
Jim Minor (Canada – 1975)
Minor joined his teammate Staniowski on the WCHL all-star team to play for Canada. He suited up for three of the five games, scoring a goal and adding an assist for three points. He also picked up four penalty minutes.
Garth Butcher (Canada – 1982)
In the round-robin tournament played in Minnesota, Butcher played in all seven of Canada’s games. He scored once and added three assists while not spending a minute in the penalty box. Canada went 6-0-1 winning their first-ever gold medal at the tournament.
Dale Derkatch (Canada – 1983)
Derkatch joined team Canada for the tournament in Leningrad, Soviet Union. He finished third in team scoring behind Dave Andreychuk and Mario Lemieux. Derkatch scored three times and assisted on four others for seven points as Canada won the bronze medal.
Gary Leeman (Canada – 1983)
Leeman joined his teammate, Derkatch on team Canada in Leningrad. The defenseman scored once and assisted on two others finishing with three points in seven games.
Gary Leeman (Canada – 1984)
Leeman joined team Canada for a second year as they traveled to Sweden. He finished with 11 points, finishing second in team scoring. He scored three times and assisted on eight others. Canada finished with a 4-2-1 record and in fourth place out of the medal picture.
Dale Derkatch (Canada – 1984)
Derkatch was also back for a second go with team Canada. His role was somewhat diminished and finished sixth amongst forwards in Canadian scoring. He scored five goals in the seven games.
Lyndon Byers (Canada – 1984)
Byers joined Leeman and Derkatch on team Canada. The rugged forward played in six of the seven games. He picked up a goal and an assist for the fourth place Canadians.
Selmar Odelein (Canada – 1985)
Odelein was one of two Pats defensemen picked to play for the Pats in the 1985 tournament. Much of Canada’s scoring was done by forwards as Odelein scored one of two goals by a defenseman for Canada. He led the team’s defensemen in scoring with six points (a goal and five assists). Canada went 5-0-2 as they won the gold medal.
John Miner (Canada – 1985)
Miner, the second Pat defenseman to suit up for the 1985 version of Team Canada. He picked up a pair of helpers and 12 penalty minutes for the gold medal-winning Canadians.
Selmar Odelein (Canada – 1986)
Odelein was back for his second go-round with team Canada. This year he was limited to just one assist and picked up six penalty minutes as Canada went 5-2-0 finishing in second place in Hamilton.
Kevin Haller (Canada – 1990)
After a four-year absence, the Pats had another defenseman at the tournament. Haller traveled to Helsinki with team Canada. He was one of three defensemen that picked up four points (two goals, two assists). Canada went 5-1-1 and won another gold medal.
Mike Sillinger (Canada – 1991)
The World Juniors was in Saskatoon, another Pat joined team Canada. Sillinger scored four times and assisted on two others as Canada went 5-1-1 and won the gold medal.
Jason Smith (Canada – 1993)
One of two Pats to make the 1993 Canadian team in Sweden. Smith scored once and assisted on three others as Canada won another gold medal with a 6-1-0 record.
Jeff Shantz (Canada – 1993)
Shantz is the second Pat on the 1993 team Canada. He scored twice and added four assists in Sweden for the gold medal winners.
Jeff Friesen (Canada – 1994)
Friesen had two assists in five of Canada’s seven games. Team Canada went 6-0-1 in the tournament, winning the gold medal.
Jeff Friesen (Canada – 1995)
Friesen followed up a gold medal with his second one in the 1995 Red Deer tournament. He scored five goals and added two assists.
Josh Holden (Canada – 1998)
The Canadian team did not fare well in the 1998 tournament in Finland. The team went 2-2-0 in the round-robin and out of the medal hunt. Holden scored four times to lead the eighth-place Canadians in scoring.
Kyle Calder (Canada – 1999)
One of two Pats on the 1999 Team Canada in the Winnipeg tournament. Calder scored two goals and added six assists for the silver medalists.
Brad Stuart (Canada – 1999)
Stuart joined Calder in Winnipeg on team Canada. He had a helper and two penalty minutes for the second-place Canadians.
Barret Jackman (Canada – 2000)
Jackman joined team Canada in Sweden for the 2000 tournament. He had an assist and eight penalty minutes for the bronze medal Canadians.
Barret Jackman (Canada – 2001)
Jackman was back in the fold for team Canada in Russia. The alternate captain had three assists and ten penalty minutes and he repeated as a bronze medalist.
Garth Murray (Canada – 2002)
Murray got the call to join Team Canada in the Czech Republic. He three goals and added three assists to go along with 10 penalty minutes. The Canadians lost the gold medal game 5-4 to the Russians.
Filip Novak (Czech Republic – 2002)
Novak joined his home country for the tournament. He had two assists and four penalty minutes for the disappointed, seventh place Czechs.
Petr Dvorak (Czech Republic – 2003)
Dvorak was called to represent the Czech Republic for the 2003 tournament in Nova Scotia. He went pointless in six games but picked up a minor penalty for the sixth place Czechs.
Josh Harding (Canada – 2004)
Harding backed up Marc-Andre Fleury in the Canadian net. He played in one contest picking up the shutout. The Canadians lost in the gold medal game to the Americans.
Petr Kalus (Czech Republic – 2006)
Kalus joined the Czech Republic in British Columbia for the 2006 tournament. He played in five games scoring once for the sixth-place club.
Logan Pyett (Canada – 2008)
Pyett picked up an assist in seven games for Team Canada in the Czech Republic. The Canadians beat Sweden in overtime to win the gold medal.
Jordan Eberle (Canada – 2009)
Eberle might be remembered more for the goal that tied the game with Russia with just five seconds remaining than anything else. The goal sent the game to overtime, then to a shootout in which the Canadians pulled out the victory. Canada then went on to win the gold with a 5-1 win over Sweden. Eberle had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in the tournament.
Colten Teubert (Canada – 2009)
Teubert joined Eberle on team Canada in Ottawa. He had no points and four penalty minutes for the gold medalists.
Rudolf Cerveny (Czech Republic – 2009)
Cerveny had an assist in Ottawa. The Czech Republic finished in sixth place
Jordan Eberle (Canada – 2010)
Eberle was back for team Canada for the tournament that was held in Saskatchewan. He did not disappoint. He scored eight goals and added five assists to lead Team Canada in scoring. The Eberle magic ran out as Canada lost in the gold medal game 6-5 in overtime to the USA. Eberle was a tournament all-star, the tournament’s best forward, and the most valuable player. His 14 goals are the most for team Canada.
Colten Teubert (Canada – 2010)
Teubert joined Eberle on team Canada for the second year. He had an assist for the silver medalists.
Max Kammerer (Germany – 2014)
During a minor dry spell for the Pats, Kammerer was chosen to play for Germany. The Germans were not that strong and had to play Norway in the relegation round. The team won and finished in ninth. Kammerer had an assist in seven games.
Filip Ahl (Sweden – 2017)
Ahl was tasked to play for team Sweden in the 2017 tournament in Montreal and Toronto. Sweden lost to Canada in the semi-final and then lost in overtime to Russia in the bronze medal game. Ahl had a pair of assists for the fourth place Swedes.
Sergey Zborovskiy (Russia – 2017)
Zborovskiy was the second Pat to make a team for the 2017 World Juniors as he made Russia. He had an assist and two penalty minutes as the Russians beat team Sweden for the bronze medal.
Sam Steel (Canada – 2018)
Steel is the most recent Pats representative for Canada at the World Juniors. He finished second in scoring with four goals and five assists. Canada won the gold medal beating Sweden 3-1 in the final.
The future
Many more Pats will be pulling on the sweater of their country in the years to come. The future is bright.
