A couple posts about the ongoing WJC showcase have been made in the the past few days/past week since we have four prospects on Team USA at this tournament, but I wanted to make a sort of “master” post to compile notes on each player and track their stats.
Each of Nazar, Moore, Hayes, and Rinzel have played three games now with their fourth happening today (12pm CT and 3pm CT start times). I will update the below as more games occur, but here is what I have seen online since the start of the tournament:
#Player Stats:
– Nazar: 3GP w/ 4G, 3A for 7P (2.33 P/GP). No PIMs. Playing a 1C role.
– Moore: 3GP w/ 1G, 1A for 2P (0.67 P/GP). No PIMs. Playing a 3C role.
– Hayes: 3GP w/ 0G, 2A for 2P (0.67 P/GP). No PIMs. Playing a 3RW role.
– Rinzel: 3GP w/ 0G, 1A for 1P (0.33 P/GP). 10 PIMs taken (woof lol). Playing a 3RD role with (I believe) PP1 time.
#Highlighted Quotes:
**Day 1**
>[Rinzel](https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/11165562-world-junior-summer-showcase-lane-hutson-sam-rinzel-among-day-1-standouts): “The USA blue line has a lot of openings and Rinzel made a good case for himself in his first game. He’s a talented skater with a big frame and he showed confidence with the puck on his stick. I think he does need to make his decisions a hair quicker because plays develop a lot faster at the World Junior level and he did take a couple of penalties, which doesn’t help. I still think his overall game trended well for his candidacy to make the roster.”
**Day 2**
>[Hayes](https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/11168965-frank-nazar-jacob-fowler-highlight-day-2-at-world-junior-summer-showcase): “Hayes has looked strong through two games, using his size and strength to his advantage. He’s made a few good plays including an assist against Finland, but I do want to see him finish a few more of the chances that are in front of him. He probably should have hit the scoresheet a few more times, but he’s putting himself in good spots.”
>[Nazar](https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/11168965-frank-nazar-jacob-fowler-highlight-day-2-at-world-junior-summer-showcase): “A five-point performance against a Swedish team that looked like a machine two days ago was just what the doctor ordered for Nazar who was injured for last year’s World Juniors. He put up four goals and added an assist, showing his speed, skill and tenacity. He looked like he did in his draft season when Chicago made him a first-round draft pick. Nazar’s ability to separate and get to the interior was on full display. After missing most of last year to injury, he looks like he’s back in a real way.”
>[Nazar](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/world-junior-summer-showcase-top-performers-from-day-2/amp): “It’s safe to say there’s nothing to worry about regarding his health. After missing most of 2022-23, Nazar looks healthy and playing like he did when he was a dominant junior player. He had four goals and five points to bounce back after a frustrating first game against Finland. With Michigan looking a bit different this year, Nazar will play a big part. And that’s true for the world juniors, too.”
**Day 3**
>[Nazar](https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/11173615-world-junior-summer-showcase-cutter-gauthier-gabe-perreault-star-on-day-3): “He ended the game with one assist, but Nazar was also a scoring chance machine. He routinely was able to get behind defenders and challenge goalies. He looks like he has his speed back and his anticipation skills are off the charts. Nazar looks more and more like a guy who can be part of this team after the questions surrounding his health have all but disappeared.”
>[Moore](https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/11173615-world-junior-summer-showcase-cutter-gauthier-gabe-perreault-star-on-day-3): “He scored a goal and showed his speed throughout the game. Moore had a more noticeable game than he’s had in the last few, but still hasn’t created as much as I think he’s capable of. That said, he takes advantage of the looks he gets and delivered a nice goal to open the game, showing a combination of his elite speed and high-end shot.”
>[Moore](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/world-junior-summer-showcase-top-performers-from-day-3): “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.”
>[Hayes](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/world-junior-summer-showcase-top-performers-from-day-3): “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.”
**Day 4**
>Ongoing right now so TBD on official recaps but I will add notes below.
– Rinzel has already taken another penalty after one period of this early game; he’s up to 12 PIMs in the tounrament.
– Sweden is currently working Team USA over 4-1 after the first.
– Americans are charging back in the second and Hayes has picked up his first goal of the tournament, making it 4-3 Sweden.
#Takeaways
Nazar has obviously been dominating and it’s awesome to see after he missed nearly all last season. I am not going to have zero worries quite yet, but this tournament has been easing a fuckton of my concern about his issues lol I also think it also speaks volumes that he seems to be the undisputed 1C on his team, even when he has played with Will Smith, who is having a dynamite showing of his own.
With Hayes having such a strong, albeit low key showing, I think all three forwards we have here are either locks or damn near it for the actual Team USA at the WJC this winter. Rinzel I have doubts… I don’t know if it’s a symptom of him being huge that is getting him called on so many penalties, but he really needs to figure that out. He has taken at least one minor every game so far and is in a pretty limited role.
Also, some future potential draft picks in Eiserman (2024) and Hagens (2025) seem to be having strong showings for Team USA, so they will also be players to watch.
by JD397
