Olli Juolevi has fond memories of World Juniors, lofty goals with Canucks
T
The Province Hockey
The young Canucks' defenceman has a huge opportunity in front of him heading into the new NHL season, along with a solid resume that shouldn't be forgotten Rarely does a player in his draft year get selected for the World Juniors all-star team. Some years you might see one or two draft-eligible players picked among the junior tourney’s best performers — Connor McDavid or Alexis Lafreniere, for example — but in 2016, it was a unique story. For that year’s event, played in Helsinki and won by the host Finns, four players who would be picked in the first round that year were among the tournament’s best.
Juolevi’s nine assists at the 2016 tournament put him in a tie for most points by a defenceman with Zach Werenki of the U.S.
The Finns went on to beat Sweden in the semifinal and then tripped Russia in overtime in the final.
Because of his injury struggles for the past two seasons, Juolevi figured his extra time off this summer and fall helped to improve his skating and strength.
Juolevi quarantined when he went back to Finland after the season, and was also in quarantine before the summertime training camp.
Juolevi’s nine assists at the 2016 tournament put him in a tie for most points by a defenceman with Zach Werenki of the U.S.
The Finns went on to beat Sweden in the semifinal and then tripped Russia in overtime in the final.
Because of his injury struggles for the past two seasons, Juolevi figured his extra time off this summer and fall helped to improve his skating and strength.
Juolevi quarantined when he went back to Finland after the season, and was also in quarantine before the summertime training camp.