Players to Watch at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship

In just over one week, the eyes of the hockey world will be focused on Halifax and Moncton for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

The 2023 tournament will feel like a normal World Juniors for the first time since December 2019. The 2021 tournament was held without fans in a bubble, while the 2022 tournament was cancelled during the preliminary round last December and then rescheduled for August, but it didn't feel the same and the fan attendance was poor to say the least.

With several top prospects, and even some projected top-ten picks next year, all in action, this year's tournament has the potential to be one to remember.

Let's take a look at one player on each roster you should keep an eye on throughout the tournament.

Austria: Vinzenz Rohrer (RW) - (Ottawa 67s - OHL)
Draft: Montreal (2022 - 3/75)
2022-23 statistics: 26 GP - 11 G - 21 A - 32 PTS - 12 PIMS - Plus-19.

Canada: Adam Fantilli (C) - (University of Michigan - NCAA)
Draft: 2023 eligible.
2022-23 statistics: 16 GP - 11 G - 15 A - 26 PTS - 23 PIMS - Plus-10.

Czechia: Eduard Sale (RW) - (Brno Kometa - Czech Extraliga)
Draft: 2023 eligible.
2022-23 statistics: 26 GP - 3 G - 3 A- 6 PTS - 0 PIMS - Minus-8.

Finland: Aron Kiviharju (D) - (TPS Turku U20 - U20 SM-sarja/ TPS Turku - Liiga)
Draft: 2024 eligible.
2022-23 statistics: 13 GP - 0 G - 12 A - 12 PTS - 2 PIMS - Plus-7/ 6 GP - 0 G - 0 A - 0 PTS - 0 PIMS - Even-Rating.

Germany: Julian Lutz (LW) - (Munich - DEL)
Draft: Undrafted.
2022-23 statistics: 13 GP - 0 G - 6 A - 6 PTS - 10 PIMS - Plus-2

Latvia: Dans Locmelis (C) - (Lulea HF Jr. - Sweden-Jr.)
Draft: Boston (2022 - 4/119)
2022-23 statistics: 27 GP - 12 G - 21 A - 33 PTS - 12 PIMS - Plus-15.

Slovakia: Dalibor Dvorsky (C) - (AIK Jr. - Sweden Jr./ AIK - HockeyAllsvenskan)
Draft: 2023 eligible.
2022-23 statistics: 5 GP - 3 G - 5 A - 8 PTS - 0 PIMS - Plus-3/ 21 GP - 4 G - 4 A - 8 PTS - 10 PIMS - Minus-11.

Sweden: Leo Carlsson (C) - (Orebro HK - SHL)
Draft: 2023 eligible.
2022-23 statistics: 25 GP - 3 G - 11 A - 14 PTS - 0 PIMS - Minus-5.

Switzerland: Lian Bichsel (D) - (Leksands IF Jr. - Sweden-Jr./ Leksands IF - SHL)
Draft: Dallas (2022 - 1/18)
2022-23 statistics: 4 GP - 1 G - 2 A - 3 PTS - 2 PIMS - Minus-2/ 25 GP - 0 G - 2 A - 2 PTS - 25 PIMS - Minus-2.

United States: Luke Hughes (D) - (University of Michigan - NCAA)
Draft: 2021 (1/4)
2022-23 statistics: 20 GP - 3 G - 15 A - 18 PTS - 12 PIMS - Plus-6.

Stay tuned to Markerzone.com for coverage of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, including game recaps beginning on December 26th!

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