Hurricanes send five to World Junior tourney

At a time where the Carolina Hurricanes' farm system is struggling after back-to-back Calder Cup championships, the future of the organization still remains bright with several prospect holding significant roles in this season's World U20 Championships, which began today in Canada.

Last July, the Hurricanes held two of the first ten picks in the EHE Entry Draft and used them to select defenseman Olli Juolevi (Finland) and center Tyson Jost (Canada). Juolevi has had a solid second season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, maintaining the same offensive flair from the blueline that led him to be taken 6th overall by Carolina after his rookie campaign. He not only leads the Finnish defense, but captains the nation that comes in as the reigning U20 champions. Attached at Juolevi's hip in terms of internal comparison, but very much playing against as a rival, is the Canadian Jost, who was drafted at 10th overall. Jost has had a fine freshman season for defending NCAA champion North Dakota, but has stiff competition for playing time at center for Canada, who have prospects Dylan Strome, Matt Barzal, and Pierre-Luc Dubois in front of him. Jost has an opportunity to make some waves at left wing though and see if he can meet some of the "Jonathan Toews" comparisons in his first experience in the tournament.

One of the biggest surprises this year has been OHL-leading scorer Taylor Raddysh. The Canes look brilliant for moving up in the third round in July to grab Raddysh in the draft as a power forward and his success this season has been an additional benefit. Raddysh will start the tournament playing with flashy linemates Barzal and Mathieu Joseph and his stock will only rise further if he can reap the rewards on Canada's second line.

The Hurricanes have a representative on Canada's defensive unit as well. Jeremy Lauzon fell all the way to round 6 of the EHE's 2015 "Super Draft," but the Rouyn-Noranda captain was still good enough to make the powerhouse team. Lauzon had been a snub in previous seasons and still may not see much ice time as the seventh defenseman. However, getting the opportunity to put on his nation's colors is something Lauzon takes pride in and has caught the eye of Hurricanes' general manager Kevin Lacy.

Rounding out the Canes' WJC list this year is winger Joey Anderson, another 2016 draft pick (96th overall). The Hurricanes were high on Anderson after he put on a show at last year's U18 tournament for Team USA and he was good enough to make the U20 team this year. Like Lauzon, Anderson's ice time will come into question. Still, he is certainly on the right path as an 18-year-old wearing the stars and stripes.

Hurricanes' management hopes this year will be as successful a return as last year when prospect Kaapo Kahkonen backstopped Finland to a gold medal (with Juolevi).

"We won't just be watching our own kids," Lacy says. "There's a couple of players we've had on our list since last year who we still have an opportunity to draft and are playing in this tournament as well."

Playing in the World Junior Championships does not necessarily mean that all of the players participating will turn in profitable professional careers. What it does, however, is provide a platform to show off who can handle themselves in a high-pressure situation. All eyes will be on these players over the next two weeks and for the Carolina Hurricanes, they are happy to show off five of them.