2023 World Juniors: Duke, Huuhtanen, Veinbergs to represent Tampa Bay Lightning

The holidays and World Junior hockey are upon us.

The 2023 World Junior Championship in Halifax and Moncton kicks off Dec. 26 and will feature three Tampa Bay Lightning prospects after Jack Thompson and Klavs Veinbergs were the Lightning’s two representees in the rescheduled 2022 tournament that took place over the summer.

Canada enters the tournament as the clear favorite thanks to the presence of the expected top two picks of the upcoming 2023 draft — Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli — as well as Seattle’s fourth overall pick this past draft, Shane Wright.

With no Bolts on Team Canada, here’s a quick look at our three prospects that will look to help their teams upset Canada on home ice.

Dylan Duke, LW — USA (2021 4th Round)

Duke enters the tournament as perhaps the Lightning’s biggest name prospect present. After missing out last season, an impressive start to his sophomore season at Michigan has propelled Duke into the spotlight.

Both pre-tournament exhibition games saw Duke line up as the left-wing on the third line with Red Savage (DET) and Tyler Boucher (OTT). Paired with two power forwards, they could form something of an identity line for the US team.

Any line shuffling over the course of the tournament could see Duke propelled up the order as his net front and puck retrieval play has proven to be an effective compliment when paired with high offensive talent this season on Michigan’s top line with Fantilli and Mackie Samoskevich (FLA).

As a 19-year-old this will be Duke’s final year of eligibility for the tournament.

Niko Huuhtanen, RW — Finland (2021 7th Round)

If we consider Duke the biggest Lightning prospect name entering the tournament, then it’s Huuhtanen that we might be talking the most about after the tournament.

Huuhtanen has seen his stock steadily rise since being drafted as Mr. Irrelevant in the 2021 draft. A promising first North American season in the WHL with Everett led to a return back to Finland this season where he’s seen a steady role and averaged 0.66 points-per-game — an impressive feat for a 19-year-old in the Liiga.

And he’s already putting points up in Finland’s exhibition against Canada.

Finland, as always, remains a top threat to take down Canada or the USA. Their forward group will likely be led by Joakim Kemell (NSH) after scoring 12 points last year, but getting Huuhtanen, somewhat of a sleeper, firing on all cylinders during the tournament would be a major boon to their championship hopes.

This will be Huuhtanen’s final year of eligibility for the tournament.

Klavs Veinbergs, LW — Latvia (2022 7th Round)

Veinbergs and Latvia are back to win our hearts after exceeding expectations in the 2022 tournament. Latvia had been moved up from the second tier tournament after Russia was excluded.

As the sole Lightning returnee, Veinbergs will look to improve upon the goal and assist he recorded this summer. With his 6-foot-3 frame and ability to sling the puck, Veinbergs could be quite the headache for some of the deeper teams in the tournament. However, Latvia’s more realistic goal will be to earn enough points to keep them out of relegation territory and secure Latvia a spot in the 2024 tournament.

As a 19-year-old this will be Veinbergs’ final year of eligibility for the tournament.

Notables to not make the tournament

Among Lightning prospects that did not make the tournament this season are two Americans: defenseman Roman Schmidt and forward Isaac Howard.

Schmidt was thought by some to be on the bubble of receiving an invite to Team USA’s selection camp, but ultimately did not get invited. As a 6-foot-5 defensive defender he may have been left out due how the US is looking to structure their defense — six of eight USA defenders are under six-foot. This was Schmidt’s final year of eligibility for the tournament.

Howard, the top personality of the 2022 draft, and Lightning first-round draftee, has the talent to play at the World Juniors level, but has gotten off to a slow start his freshman season at Minnesota-Duluth. Although, he will be eligible for the 2024 tournament next season.