The Hockeycentric Top-10: Peaking World Junior Stars
Peaking too early. It’s a universal phenomenon that Billy Joel explores in Scenes From an Italian Restaurant. He tells the story of Brenda and Eddie, everybody’s favourite highschool sweethearts, who seem to be destined for greatness. Years later they’ve divorced and are trying simply ‘pick up their pieces’. Such is life, and such is the nature of hockey. You can be a stud NHL prospect at 19, only to find yourself 18th in Swiss League scoring seven years later.
There is no better showcase for hockey’s future stars than the annual World Junior Hockey Championships. A great deal of big league talent has competed in the tournament over the years, as have the Eddie’s of the world. Those who didn’t quite make it, but showed flashes of dominance in their youth. Since 1990, here are ten players who peaked at the World Juniors:
10. Martin Gendron – 1994 – Canada
5′9” winger Martin Gendron led the 1994 tournament in scoring on the way to a Canadian gold medal victory over Sweden. While teammates such as Jason Allison, Todd Harvey, Jeff Friesen and Mike Peca found various levels of NHL success down the road, Gendron’s tournament efforts wouldn’t grant him a similar fate, as he only played 32 games in the NHL. Amongst two productive AHL campaigns, Gendron also went on to play seasons in Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
9. Jeff Farkas – 1998 – USA
Maple Leafs draft pick and Boston College standout Jeff Farkas was never expected to be a star in the NHL (and he wasn’t, appearing in only 11 games), but in the Winter months of the 1998 World Junior tournament, the American-born Farkas held the overall tournament lead for goals and points, ahead of future star Olli Jokinen. ‘98 was perhaps Canada’s poorest ever showing at the tournament, as the country finished 8th, with Josh Holden leading the team in scoring with 4 points in 7 games.
8. Daniel Tkaczuk – 1999 – Canada
Would it be fair to say that Daniel Tkaczuk is best known as Keith Tkachuk’s underachieving brother? Did you know that Daniel and Keith are not related? Most people don’t, much to Daniel’s misfortune, but it isn’t all bad for Daniel. In 1999, he led Canada in scoring ahead of Simon Gagne, and was named to the tournament all-star team. Daniel’s 10 points was good for second in the tournament, behind Brian Gionta and tied with the Sedin twins. Tkaczuk played in a single stint with the Flames and never returned to the NHL.
7. Milan Kraft – 2000 – Czech Republic
When one hears the name Milan Kraft, the first thing that undoubtedly comes to mind is Kraft Dinner, one of childhood’s greatest pleasures. Though for a time, Milan Kraft was the Kraft of the hour. He was on top of the hockey world in 2000, leading the Czechs to World Junior gold and finishing second in tournament scoring with 12 points. The former Pittsburgh Penguins 23rd overall pick helped the Czech juniors win their first ever gold over the Sweden, and has since moved on to play in the Czech Republic after having limited success in North America.
6. Dave Chyzowski – 1990 – Canada
Taken second overall in 1989 by the Islanders, the left-winger ping-ponged between the NHL and AHL, managing to score only 14 points in his best season, doing so twice. Considered one of the great draft busts of all time, Chyzowski only played a total of 126 NHL games. However, in the 1990 World Juniors, Chyzowski led Canada in scoring with 13 points, while placing second in points to Jaromir Jagr and Robert Reichel and being named to the tournament all-star team.
5. Christian Dube – 1997 – Canada
Canada captured gold in 1997, but how about the three no-names who led them in scoring: Brad Isbister, Christian Dube, and Cameron Mann. Dube was named to the tournament all-star team along with Sergei Samsonov, Mike York, Mark Streit, Chris Phillips and Brian Boucher. Dube has since played in Switzerland and has been an offensive standout, playing his last eight seasons for Bern.
4. Marty Murray – 1995 – Canada
In a year where several top Canadian junior-aged players were available because of the NHL lockout, Team Canada stormed to a 7-0-0 record to capture gold without much resistance. Despite the availability of talent, it was Calgary Flames fourth round pick Marty Murray who tied Jason Allison for the tournament lead in scoring as Canada’s top producer. While Allison posted some major numbers in the NHL, Murray bounced around from minor to pro, recording only 73 NHL points.
3. Justin Pogge – 2006 – Canada
Every time Justin Pogge appeared to be slipping in his professional development with the Toronto Marlies, an optimistic Leaf fan would be quick to remind you of Pogge’s magnificence in the 2006 World Juniors. Canada’s 2006 squad was led offensively by Blake Comeau, who was the only Canadian to score more than a point a game (7 in 6 games), as the Canadians relied upon solid defense and goaltending to get the job done. Pogge held the fort, recording 3 shutouts in 6 games, finishing the tournament with a GAA of 1.00 and winning MVP honours. On the strength of this performance, Maple Leafs management saw fit to trade their other stud goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask for Andrew Raycroft, effectively entrusting Pogge as Maple Leafs netminder of the future. Brian Burke has since traded Pogge for a conditional draft pick…
2. Florian Keller – 1996 – Germany
The 1996 tournament in Boston saw the Canadians win yet another Gold, Jarome Iginla leading the way offensively with 12 points, which was 6 more than any other teammate. Finishing a distant 8th were the Germans, who were led in scoring by Keller, who is virtually unknown in North America, and who also tied Iginla for the tournament lead with 12 points. Keller also outscored teammate Marco Sturm, who became a consistent NHL performer. Keller meanwhile became a semi-productive pro in Germany, thus ending the parallels between he and Iginla.
1. Pavel Brendl – 2001 – Czech Republic
He was picked fourth overall in the 1999 entry draft by the Rangers and was billed to be an offensive dynamo. At the 2001 World Juniors he showcased his skills, leading the Czech Republic to Gold and being named the tournament’s top forward. Brendl’s skills never fit with the NHL game, as he only managed 22 points in 78 games. He has however made a major impact overseas, holding the record for most goals in a Swedish Elite League season (34), and tying for the league lead in goals (35) in the inaugural KHL season.
We have some fantastic Top-10’s in our archive section!
