Bednarik, held to one assist through four games, had been playing as the USA's 13th forward, but was promoted to fourth-line center. He'd earn the primary assist on the opening goal of the game, finding his BU teammate Cole Hutson trailing the play and giving the US a 1-0 lead. After Finland knotted the game up one, Eiserman did what he does best - excel on the power play. Hutson found Eiserman in his office near the right circle, firing a one-timer past the Finnish netminder to restore the one-goal lead.
Brad Marchand joined already-named Florida Panthers teammate Sam Reinhart on Canada's 2026 Winter Olympic team. The 37-year-old Marchand is enjoying a stellar season, leading the Panthers in the scoring with 23 goals, 22 assists and 45 points. Marchand and Reinhart for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off this past February. It won't be official until Friday, however, defenseman Seth Jones has reportedly been named to the United States entry for the tournament in Milano Cortina.
The biggest day of the World Juniors Group Stage almost always ends up being the finale on New Year's Eve, and it's no different this year. The Toronto Maple Leafs boast two prospects playing at this year's WJC, those being Canada's Ben Danford and Sweden's Victor Johansson, both of whom have helped their teams to undefeated records so far in the tournament's round-robin stage.
Everybody's favourite annual hockey tournament has been in full force for four days now, heading into their fifth day. Team Canada has won all three of their games so far, with one coming in overtime. Meanwhile, both Team Sweden and Team USA are leading the tournament with three wins in regulation. While there hasn't been much to report on from a Toronto Maple Leafs standpoint, prospects Ben Danford and Victor Johansson have been plugging away for Canada and Sweden, respectively.
Since being selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the NY Islanders, things have been on an upward trajectory for Tomas Poletin. Shortly after the NHL Draft, Poletin was taken first overall by the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, where he is playing the 2025-26 season, and is currently second among all rookies in goals with 14.
With the NHL on a break for the next two days, let's check in on the Panthers European-based, CHL and NCAA prospects. Forwards Linus Eriksson (2024 2/58) - Eriksson has two assists in 25 Swedish Hockey League games with Timrå IK to go along with a minus-six rating and 6 PIM. The 19-year-old will represent Sweden in the 2026 World Junior Championship. He is one of two Panthers prospects taking part in this year's tournament.
Dickinson, who was taken 11th overall by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft, has played in 27 of San Jose's 36 games so far this season. He has a goal and two assists and is averaging close to 15 minutes of ice time per game, including 17:33 in the Sharks' 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday at SAP Center. After the game, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said he thought Dickinson's legs were going tonight.
"It's really a great story, but to get to the Olympics, I think that's still a stretch, Jay," Pierre LeBrun of TSN told Jay Onrait on SportsCentre. "I know you don't really want to hear that, but I don't think he's on Team Canada's radar at the moment."
"In a perfect world, especially in the American League, and trying to get these players the best opportunity to play their game, a veteran with two young guys or a young guy with two veterans, that would be helpful," King told RMNB on Thursday.
