An annual holiday hockey tradition will see some representation from the Lethbridge Hurricanes this year.
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship is from December 26, 2024 to January 5, 2025 in Ottawa. Eight Western Hockey League players are on the team.
One of those players is forward Brayden Yager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Yager is a new member of the team, having been acquired by Lethbridge in early December through a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
READ MORE: Hurricanes acquire Yager, Unger from Warriors
Yager is not the only member of the Hurricanes traveling to Canada’s capital for the tournament. General manager Peter Anholt is part of the Canadian team’s management group, as is Hurricanes’ alum and Stanley Cup champion Brent Seabrook.
The junior team is in Petawawa, Ontario for a pre-tournament training camp until December 18. The Canadians will also face Team Switzerland, Sweden and Czechia in pre-tournament play as part of the Road to the World Juniors.
INTERNATIONAL HURRICANES
Yager, Anholt and Seabrook are not the only representatives for the Hurricanes at the tournament, with the WHL club represented on some international teams.
Forward Leo Braillard, who scored the Teddy Toss goal at Lethbridge’s recent Toque and Teddy Toss game on December 6, will suit up for Switzerland.
READ MORE: 4K+ stuffed animals, 1K+toques collected during Hurricanes’ Toque and Teddy Toss
Defenceman Vojtech Port will play for Czechia.
The United States won the 2024 IIHF World Juniors, defeating the host team Sweden 6-2 in the gold medal game.
