Top 5 Canada's all-time best world junior players
Our friends at TheScore are once again on point!
Here are the top 5 Canada's all-time best world junior players
5. Ryan Ellis (2009, 2010, 2011)
19 games played - 5 goals - 20 assists
Ellis won one gold (2009) and two silvers in three global junior events (2010, 2011). He's one of four Canadians to win three or more world junior medals, and he did it as a defenseman.
In 2011, he was awarded Canada's captain and top defender. With 25 points from three tournaments, he holds the world junior scoring record.
4. John Tavares (2008, 2009)
13 games played - 12 goals - 8 assists
Tavares had a crucial role in Canada's fourth and fifth consecutive gold medal wins. In 2008, he had four goals and an assist in seven games, then eight goals and six assists in six games the following year. Assisting Jordan Eberle in the 2009 semifinal and scoring in the shootout, Tavares helped Canada win the gold medal.
His performance earned him MVP and top forward awards in 2009. Tavares is tied for second among Canadian skaters in world junior goals and points.
3. Wayne Gretzky (1978)
6 games played - 8 goals - 9 assists
Gretzky only played once in the event, but he wowed everyone. Despite being the youngest player, he dominated the 1978 event with 17 points, a record for a 16-year-old.
Gretzky couldn't have done more to help Canada win a bronze medal that year. In the end, he didn't make the world juniors. Imagine what he could have done with a few more years.
2. Eric Lindros (1990, 1991, 1992)
21 games played - 12 goals - 19 assists
Lindros was one of the NHL's most highly coveted prospects, and his world junior accomplishments only boosted his value. In 1990, as a 16-year-old, "The Big E" scored four goals in seven games for Canada. Those 27 points became Lindros Canada's all-time leading world junior scorer.
1. Jordan Eberle (2009, 2010)
12 games played - 14 goals - 12 assists
TSN's Gord Miller's amazing call is possibly junior's most famous moment. Eberle tied the game with five seconds left in the 2009 semifinal against Russia. After Tavares threw the puck in, Eberle lifted the puck instead of trying to jam it in.
It's easy to miss Eberle's second goal. He also won the shootout. Eberle then scored and assisted against Sweden in the final, helping Canada win its sixth consecutive gold.
Almost a year later, Eberle In the gold-medal game, Eberle scored two goals to force overtime. But the USA's John Carlson won it in overtime. Deservingly so, Eberle was named tourney MVP.
Aside from his clutch circumstances, Eberle's numbers back up his position. Canada's second-highest scorer and fifth in points per game.
Credit: TheScore
