B’s Loan Pastrnak To Czech Junior Team

The best under-20 year old hockey players in the world are in Canada today for the start of the World Junior Championship. The are several storylines for Maine hockey to keep an eye on.

For instance, the Boston Bruins #1 draft pick last summer, David Pastrnak, he is on loan to the Czech Republic team. Pastrnak played a few games with the B's but the 18-year-old has been with the Providence Bruins most of this season.

Jack Eichel, the talented freshman player at Boston University, is captain of the USA team. Many hockey observers think he might be the #1 overall pick in next June's NHL draft.

Steve Santini, a Boston College defenseman, returns to the USA Junior team. His father is a former UMaine Black Bear hockey player. Santini is one of five BC players on the U-S squad.

Here's the Friday schedule of pool play with all games played in Canada...

USA vs Finland

Czech Republic vs Sweden

Canada vs Slovakia

Russia vs Denmark

The tournament continues through January 5th with the gold medal game.