Looking ahead to the 2022 World Junior Championships, we take a look at the top 25 players to wear the Canadian jersey during the tournament. Rather than evaluating entire careers, these rankings are based solely on performance at the World Junior Championships. We revealed five players each day, culminating here with the best of the best.
25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1
Honorable Mention: Toews’ Epic Shootout (2007)
Jonathan Toews may not have made the list after collecting just nine points in 12 games while winning two gold medals, but he delivered one of the most memorable moments in world history. Canadian junior in 2007.
As Canada faced off against its American rival, with a crop of immensely talented players on both sides, the semi-final game came to a intimidating shootout. The long duel lasted seven rounds and Toews managed to score on all three attempts, including the game winner. These exploits created a memory that will last a lifetime for most Canadians.
5. Ryan Ellis (2009, 2010, 2011)
Ellis has won medals in all three world junior tournaments he has participated in, collecting one gold (2009) and two silver (2010, 2011). He’s one of four players in Canadian junior world championship history to win three or more medals, and he did so by scoring at a ridiculous pace for a defenseman.
He was named captain of Canada in 2011 and was ultimately named the tournament’s top defenseman. With 25 points in three events, he remains the most outstanding defender in the history of the world junior championships.
4. John Tavares (2008, 2009)
Tavares helped Canada win their fourth and fifth consecutive gold medals, playing a major role in both triumphs. He produced four goals and one assist in seven games in 2008 before accumulating eight goals and six assists in six games the following year. Tavares scored Jordan Eberle’s spectacular tying goal in the 2009 semifinals and scored in the shootout to help Canada advance to the gold medal game.
The dynamic center was named MVP and top forward of the 2009 tournament. Tavares is one of three players tied for second among Canadian skaters for all-time goals at the world junior championships and sits seventh on the country’s all-time points list at the World Junior Championships.
3. Wayne Gretzky (1978)
Gretzky only appeared once in the tournament, but he put on an incredible spectacle. He led the 1978 event with 17 points despite being the youngest player and still holds the record for most points in a world junior tournament for a 16-year-old.
Canada settled for a bronze medal that year, but Gretzky couldn’t have done much more to help the team. He was named the tournament’s top forward, but never returned to the world junior championships. Imagine what he could have accomplished if he had played a year or two more.
2. Eric Lindros (1990, 1991, 1992)
Lindros was one of the most touted prospects in NHL history, and his performances at the world junior championships only skyrocketed his stock. “The Big E” won two gold medals, first in the Canadian roster at 16 in 1990 and scoring four goals in seven games. Lindros recorded a total of 27 points in the next two events to become Canada’s all-time leading scorer in the junior world.
1. Jordan Eberle (2009, 2010)
“Can you believe it !?”
This epic call from TSN’s Gord Miller is arguably the most iconic moment in the history of the World Junior Championships. As Canada trailed 5-4 against Russia in the 2009 semifinals, Eberle scored the equalizing goal with only five seconds remaining in the settlement. After Tavares shoveled the puck towards the net, Eberle displayed incredible balance up front, going to his backhand and elevating the puck rather than trying to corner it.
We often forget that the equalizer was Eberle’s second goal of the competition. He also scored the winner in the shootout for good measure. Eberle then netted a goal and two assists in the final against Sweden, helping Canada to their fifth consecutive gold medal at the tournament.
Eberle almost pulled off similar feats a year later. As Canada trailed 5-3 with less than three minutes to go in the gold medal game against the United States, Eberle scored not one, but two goals to force overtime. That was not to be the case, as John Carlson won it for the United States in the extra frame. Although he did not win another gold medal, Eberle was named MVP of the tournament.
While the clutch moments alone make him an easy pick for No.1 on this list, Eberle has the stats to back up his ranking as well. He is second on Canada’s all-time world junior scorers list and fifth in points per game.
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