• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Carolina Hurricanes
Hurricanes Prospects

Hurricanes Prospects Impress at 2021 World Juniors

By Dylan Rudolph January 9th, 2021

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The 2020-21 NHL season is just days away, and training camp has begun. Players and prospects for the Carolina Hurricanes will compete for the limited roster spots before their first game on Jan. 14 against the Detroit Red Wings.

Every young prospect has a long road to the NHL, but a few have gotten a head start on showing why they belong. The 2021 World Junior Championship finally concluded after almost two weeks of hard competition where prospects around the world were given center stage to exhibit their abilities.

The Hurricanes had four prospects compete for three different squads in the tournament. Each one contributed well and made good cases for why they belong at the next level. Here is how each fared during the competition.

Ryan Suzuki

Carolina’s 28th overall pick in 2019 was a bit of a surprise to make the final cut of Team Canada’s impressive squad of players, but he showed early on that he fit in. Suzuki impressed in the first game, scoring one of 16 goals against Team Germany and finishing the tournament with two goals and four points in seven games. The 19-year-old centerman was the only Hurricanes’ prospect to leave Edmonton with a medal, settling for silver after losing 2-0 in the gold medal game to Team USA.

Top #OHL scorers at the 2021 #WorldJuniors 📊 pic.twitter.com/DYegMcT9Si

— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 8, 2021

Suzuki will not be eligible for the tournament next year due to him being over the age limit. He instead will now look to compete for an NHL spot this season. The young center is known for being a great puck handler with excellent vision and passing skills. Should he survive his second round of cuts in the last month, he should make another big impact, this time at the NHL level.

Vasili Ponomaryov

Carolina’s young Russian was a force right out of the gate, with a team-leading two points in a 5-3 win over Team USA in his first game of the competition. The 18-year-old Ponomaryov finished the tournament with three points in seven games played, impressing mostly with his mature defensive game on Russia’s fourth line that helped his team make the Bronze Medal Game, where it lost to Team Finland.

Vasili Ponomaryov puts Russia on the board. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/z6KlfBdjAG

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) December 26, 2020

The expectation is Ponomaryov will compete for an NHL spot, but his inexperience and having missed some of camp due to the tournament may do more harm than good for this season in particular. Though the 19-year-old center showed his impressive two-way ability, he will likely be relegated back to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for another season before he truly has a shot to crack the Hurricanes’ roster.

Noel Gunler

Perhaps the most underrated tournament performance, Gunler averaged a point-per-game, including four goals in his five tournament matches. The 2020 second-round pick showed off his touted sniping ability that the Hurricanes hope will translate well at the NHL level.

Unfortunately, Gunler and Team Sweden saw their tournament end in the first matchup of the elimination bracket, losing 3-2 to the eventual bronze medal winners Team Finland. Gunler’s impressive performance was cut short, but he may have shown enough to warrant a flyer on the active roster for the upcoming NHL season.

Zion Nybeck

Gunler’s teammate and fellow Hurricanes’ prospect was quiet for most of the World Juniors this year, recording just one point in his five games played. Consigned to fourth-line minutes, the 5-foot-8 forward struggled to get a lot of playing time but still showcased his motor and did some dirty work that did not show up on the box score.

Like Ponomaryov, the 18-year-old may need another couple of years in juniors before the Canes call him up. Fortunately for him, he has a chance to improve on his showing next year at the 2022 World Juniors should he make it again.

Zion Nybeck HV71
Zion Nybeck of HV71 (HV71)

These four, along with many other aspirants, now move to compete for an active roster spot — or a taxi squad spot with the Hurricanes. With a more condensed schedule, the team may need these younger players now more than ever, and they may have another unique chance to again show the league that they belong at the next level.


Sign up for our regular 'Hurricanes Newsletter' for all the latest.

  • Tags
  • 2021 WJHC
  • Noel Gunler
  • Ryan Suzuki
  • Vasili Ponomaryov
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 8:00 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Thrilled To Bring Laine, Roslovic On Board

Jan 23rd 6:58 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Price Still Has Room to Improve Early in 2020-21

Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information