Canada's all-time best world junior players: 20-16
In the lead-up to the 2022 World Junior Championship, we're looking back at the 25 best players to wear the Canadian jersey at the tournament. Rather than evaluating entire careers, these rankings are based solely on performances during the world juniors. We'll reveal five players each day, culminating with the best of the best Dec. 25.
25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1
20. Manny Legace (1993)| Record | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|
| 6-0-0 | 1.67 | .955 |
The 1992 world juniors was a rough one for Team Canada. Despite boasting a talented roster that included Eric Lindros, the squad stumbled to a sixth-place finish. Legace was at the heart of Canada's gold-medal-winning rebound the following year.
Legace put up a gargantuan 58-save effort in a must-win victory against Finland after handing silver-winning Sweden its only loss of the round-robin tournament. (Between Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, and Niklas Sundstrom, the Swedes had three of the tournament's top five scorers.) Legace was deemed the best goaltender and named to the All-Star team.
19. Jarome Iginla (1996)| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5 | 7 |
Iginla only played in one world junior tournament, but he made it count. The recently inducted Hockey Hall of Famer tied for the overall lead in goals and points at the 1996 tourney as Canada claimed gold for a fourth straight year. He was named the event's best forward and remains tied for seventh all time among Canadian junior skaters with his rate of two points per game.
Like many superstars before and after him, Iginla's world junior experience was limited because he was good enough to stick in the NHL afterward. He would later shine on the international stage at the World Championship, the World Cup of Hockey, and three Olympics.
18. Justin Pogge (2006)
Dave Sandford / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Record | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|
| 6-0-0 | 1.00 | .952 |
If you ask Canadian hockey fans to name the most memorable goaltending performance at the world juniors, chances are many will mention Pogge's. He was barely on Canada's radar entering the 2006 tournament but managed to make his way into the selection camp and ultimately got himself the starting role.
He put together one of the most dominant tournaments ever seen by a goalie, posting three shutouts in six contests, which included a 35-save shutout against an Evgeni Malkin-led Russian team in the gold-medal game. Pogge may have ultimately been a one-hit wonder as he went on to appear in just seven NHL games, but what a hit he was.
17. Dale McCourt (1977)| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 10 | 8 |
McCourt certainly isn't the most renowned name on this list, but his efforts in a silver-medal showing in 1977 are among the greatest put forth by a Canadian at the event. His 18 points are the sixth-most in tournament history, and his 2.57 points per game are the third-most by anyone to don the red and white.
McCourt's dominant tournament helped him go first overall to the Detroit Red Wings the following spring.
16. Cody Hodgson (2009)| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5 | 11 |
Hodgson is in the conversation for best individual performance at the world juniors. His 2.67 points per contest are second all time among Canadians (minimum five games played), trailing only Wayne Gretzky, who played in a much higher-scoring era.
The dynamic center didn't just beat up on weak countries in the round robin, either, as he potted two goals and added an assist in Canada's 5-1 win over Sweden to clinch gold.
Hodgson was eligible to play in 2010, but a back injury forced him to miss out. Canada lost to the United States in overtime in the gold-medal game, and it's fair to wonder if Hodgson's presence would've made the difference.
Unfortunately, Hodgson's pro career was cut short after being diagnosed with malignant hyperthermia. But his dominant '09 world juniors will always serve as a reminder of his potential.
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