All four Flyers draftees at the 2017-18 World Junior Championships are in action as the preliminary round of the tournament kicks off on Boxing Day.
Noon ET: Russia vs. Czech Republic
Flyers 2016 first-round pick German Rubtsov should see a greatly expanded role this year after being confined to fourth-line checking duties last year in limited ice time before he suffered a tournament-ending broken nose. Rubtsov has shuffled around leagues and teams and dealt with various injuries, illnesses and other setbacks (a protracted delay with the paperwork clearances to play junior hockey in Canada this season). He's averaging a point-per-game in the Quebec League (11 points in 11 games with Chicoutimi, 14 points in 14 games since being traded to Acadie-Bathurst) but is capable of doing better than that at the junior level. A strong WJC could be a springboard to a strong second half of the season.
2 p.m.: Sweden vs. Belarus
Và¤xjö Lakers defenseman Linus Högberg has seen his playing time and confidence grow in his second full SHL season as well as duty in the Champions Hockey League. His mobility and two-way upside made him a shoo-in for the Junior Crowns blueline this year from the time of the August showcase camp onward. One of the youngest members of the 2016 NHL Draft class (Högberg is just 15 days older than Nolan Patrick), Högberg would likely have gone significantly higher than the fifth round if he'd had to wait until the 2017 Draft.
Belarusian right winger Maksim Sushko got off the red hot start this season for the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, including a four-goal game. He cooled off thereafter but had a late November to early December surge (five goals, six points in six games) before joining the Belarusian U20 team. Last year, he helped the team earn a promotion from the Division 1 to the top level. The Belarusian team's primary goal in this year's WJC will be to avoid relegation.
4 p.m. ET: Canada vs. Finland
Flyers goaltending prospect Carter Hart has had a sensational season, both in the Western Hockey League with the Everett Silvertips and for Team Canada during the WJC prep games, after recovering from a bout of mononucleosis. Through 17 WHL games this season, Hart has posted a 13-3-1 record, 1.32 GAA, .961 save percentage and five shutouts. Already a strong positional goalie, he's worked to further improve his cross-crease play. A hard-working and cerebral goaltender, Hart is typically calm under pressure. He's got a lot of pressure on his shoulders entering the tournament, as he's already been hyped as the best goaltender Team Canada has featured in many years.
The Canadians start out the tourney with a tough challenge. The ever-scrappy Finns have a deep and talented roster, too, including an excellent blueline (including NHL first-round draft picks Miro Heiskanen, Juuso Và¤limà¤ki, Olli Juolevi) and forwards that include current NHL/AHL center Janne Kuokkanen and Winnipeg 2017 first-round pick Kristian Vesalainen.