Kings, Leafs, Flames top WJC list

If the recently completed Under-20 World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic is any indication of future NHL success, then the Kings, Leafs and Flames appear to be in excellent shape.

The three clubs had a combined 22 players participate in this year's showcase, with over half (12) appearing in the gold-medal game, a 5-4 victory for Russia over Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had by far the biggest presence with 10 draftees involved, however, top honors go to the Los Angeles Kings, who boasted three of the tournament's best forwards in Alexander Frolov, Mike Cammalleri and Jared Aulin.

Stats listed as GP-G-A-PTS-PIM, and goalies GP, GAA, SO, SV%):

1 .. Los Angeles Kings (6 players)

Comments: Michigan star Mike Cammalleri was named Top Forward after leading the tournament in points and goals (tied with 7), however, Russian winger Alexander Frolov was the critic's choice as best forward .. Cammalleri's top-line partner on Canada, Jared Aulin, was also a standout .. on the downside, a pair of first-rounders, Jens Karlsson and David Steckel, underachieved, especially Steckel.

Jared Aulin, F, Canada, 7-4-5-9-4

Mike Cammalleri, F, Canada, 7-7-4-11-10

Tim Eriksson, F, Sweden, 7-0-2-2-6

Alexander Frolov, F, Russia, 7-6-2-8-4

Jens Karlsson, F, Sweden, 7-0-0-0-8

David Steckel, F, USA, 7-0-1-1-4

2 .. Toronto Maple Leafs (10)

Comments: The Buds own some fine homegrown talent with the Canadian contingent of Boyes, Colaiacovo and Harrison all performing at or beyond expectations .. aside from the final game and despite coming off a bout of mono, Boyes was a force throughout, winning 68.4% of his draws, tops in the tournament .. the biggest revelation, however, was the emergence of Russian blueliner Maxim Kondratiev as a top-notch prospect .. hard-shooting Finnish blueliner Markus Seikola raised his stock while Czech winger Jaroslav Sklenar was also a pleasant surprise.

Brad Boyes, F, Canada, 7-5-4-9-16

Carlo Colaiacovo, D, Canada, 7-0-3-3-2

Jay Harrison, D, Canada, 7-0-1-1-6

Ivan Kolozvary, F, Slovakia, 7-2-1-3-0

Max Kondratiev, D, Russia, 7-0-1-1-2

Tomas Mojzis, D, Czech, 7-0-0-0-4

Markus Seikola, D, Finland, 7-1-2-3-16

Jaroslav Sklenar, F, Czech, 6-1-1-2-2

Lubos Velebny, D, Slovakia, 7-1-1-2-18

Kris Vernarsky, F, USA, 7-2-2-4-18

3 .. Calgary Flames (6)

Comments: The Flames had five players appear in the gold-medal game, tops among NHL teams .. Canadian sniper Chuck Kobasew showed why he will be an outstanding NHL player, as did captain Jarret Stoll .. diminutive pivot Yuri Trubachev played a key role on Russia's top line .. gritty, skilled forward Andrei Taratukhin may have the biggest upside of the club's three Russians, despite getting just two assists .. the jury's still out on nutritionally-impaired goalie Andrei Medvedev, whose departure in the final game spurred Russia's comeback.

Chuck Kobasew, F, Canada, 7-5-1-6-2

Tomi Maki, F, Finland, 7-1-0-1-0

Andrei Medvedev, G, Russia, 6GP, 2.38, 0, .906

Jarret Stoll, F, Canada, 7-2-4-6-4

Andrei Taratukhin, F, Russia, 7-0-2-2-37

Yuri Trubachev, F, Russia, 7-2-4-6-4

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