<p>It was a nice afternoon to be in Plymouth, Michigan, with a pair of games taking your mind off of the summer heat.</p>



<p>The third day of action at the World Junior Summer Showcase started with two rivals – Sweden and Finland – going head-to-head. It was the usual close battle you’d expect from the two teams, with Sweden avenging a terrible 10-1 loss to USA White with a 3-2 win over the Finns.</p>



<p>In the all-USA matchup later on Wednesday, it would be USA White that cruised to a 7-2 win. USA Blue struck first, but White proved to be too dominant down the stretch to close out the game</p>



<p>Here’s a look at the best performers from the day’s two games, with just one more day left to go on Friday:</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="133"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">USA White</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>#19 Cutter Gauthier, LW (Philadelphia Flyers): </strong>I’ve run out of things to describe watching Gauthier at this camp. He’s a man among kids. Dominant. A step above the rest. He scored nearly instantly off of a faceoff, helped set up Jimmy Snuggerud’s goal later on and didn’t lose many 1-on-1 battles. Gauthier is the early favorite to win the MVP title in January, no question. It is worth noting that he played on the wing as opposed to down the middle like before.</li>



<li><strong>#2 Will Smith, C (San Jose Sharks): </strong>Smith lined up with his future NCAA teammate after swapping to USA White and the chemistry was instant. Smith had a pair of assists, including a no-look move he’s become known to do. While the real world juniors has typically been a 19-year-old tournament, Smith is going to feature prominently on the final roster.</li>



<li><strong>#20 Cole Knuble, RW (Philadelphia Flyers): </strong>Knuble’s specialty is dominating around the net, and getting close and jamming in pucks is exactly how he scored both. The first was a nice tip, and the second was from a 2-on-1 with Charlie Stramel. Not bad for a player drafted by the Flyers as an overager.</li>



<li><strong>#28 Charlie Stramel, C (Minnesota Wild):</strong> Stramel has been a wrecking ball, as expected, but he was using his strength more for good against some of his buddies today. Try knocking him down – you can’t. He assisted on both of Cole Knuble’s goals today, with both being good reads off the rush from Stramel.</li>



<li><strong>#29 Gavin Hayes, RW (Chicago Blackhawks):</strong> Hayes continues to have a sneaky-good tournament. His work along the boards on the 2-1 marker helped keep the play alive, and it resulted in Gabe Perreault finding Zeev Buium for the goal. There’s a ton of competition to make this roster, but Hayes is making himself known here.</li>



<li><strong>#15 Zeev Buium, D (2024 NHL Draft):</strong> Playing on USA’s top line, Buium scored the second goal for USA and had a few other close looks. This reminded me of his All-American Top Prospects Game showing back in the winter – when he’s on his game, he’s really able to move and take control.</li>



<li><strong>#14 Gabe Perreault, LW (New York Rangers): </strong>Yeah, he’s back here again. I just like how he pounces on opportunities so quickly, just like he did on his goal. He also had the primary assist on the second USA goal, finding Buium at the point alone. As a playmaker, Perreault continues to shine.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">USA Blue</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>#21 Oliver Moore, C (Chicago Blackhawks):</strong> When watching Moore, it’s the speed that you notice first. Not just the top speed, but how he uses it to his advantage, too. He saw a play developing, started to cheat a bit and, suddenly, he was rushing towards the net all alone and scored. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s absolutely no reason why he should have fallen to that second Chicago pick.</li>



<li><strong>#8 Jake Livanavage, D (Undrafted): </strong>White completely dismantled Blue, but there weren’t many instances where I noticed Livanavage getting beat. He made a nice play along the boards to help set up Moore’s goal and then played some decent shutdown hockey. </li>



<li><strong>#10 Quinn Finley, LW (New York Islanders): </strong>It sure was a good afternoon for Finley, despite the loss. He was the one that sent Moore down the ice for the 1-0 goal, and then he was sprung down himself for the team’s third goal on the breakaway. Scouts liked what they saw.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sweden</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>#4 Axel Sandin Pellikka, D (Detroit Red Wings): </strong>ASP had a rough start to the tournament, and he was the man that got beat on Lane Hutson’s incredible goal on Monday. But Sandin Pellikka played more like the guy we saw at the U-18 World Championship, campaigning a strong, two-way game. His goal was one of the best of the tournament.</li>



<li><strong>#6 Anton Johansson, D</strong> <strong>(Detroit Red Wings)</strong>: Johansson has been the most consistently impressive defenseman on Sweden for me. He’s involved offensively, has gotten physical and is blocking shots and clearing the puck out of the zone. Just… everything you’d want a defenseman to do. Simple, solid hockey.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finland">Finland</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>#1 Niklas Kokko, G (Seattle Kraken):</strong> If there were any doubts before this tournament whether or not Kokko would be the No. 1 goaltender come December heading in, they’re gone. Kokko made 31 saves, including 17 in the opening frame – and he stopped all of those. Kokko has had mixed results internationally, but this was good.</li>



<li><strong>#3 Otto Salin, D (Los Angeles Kings):</strong> I’ve liked Salin’s game in this tournament, and today he set up Jani Nyman’s goal that put Finland back within one. He just thinks the game well and doesn’t make a pass just to make it – he brings a level of patience you like to see at this level.</li>



<li><strong>#18 Tommi Mannisto, LW (Undrafted)</strong>: It was a quieter effort compared to Saturday when he scored a beautiful breakaway goal. But his speed was still on display, and I liked how he forechecked. I think there will be some NHL interest in his skillset after his NCAA freshman campaign.</li>
</ul>



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