Colorado Avalanche Prospects and the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase

Six Colorado Avalanche prospects have been invited to their national team camps for the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase. Some may make the team.

The Colorado Avalanche essentially have no offseason, not when it comes to news and other little tidbits. Coming up in just a few days, from July 26 to August 3, young prospects will take part in the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase.

The Showcase is the first step for national teams to start selecting their World Juniors rosters, the tournament taking place in the Czech Republic December 26 to January 5.

This Showcase — it’s not really a tournament, per se — is being held at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. USA Hockey is hosting the Showcase, so they feature in the lion’s share of games. Here’s the schedule (all times EDT):

Saturday, July 27: USA White vs. Finland 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 27: USA Blue vs. Sweden 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 28: USA Blue vs. Finland 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 28: USA White vs. Sweden 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 30: Canada vs. USA 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31: Canada vs. Finland 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31: USA vs. Sweden 4:00 p.m.
Friday, August 2: Sweden vs. Canada 1:00 p.m.
Friday, August 2: Finland vs. USA 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 3: Sweden vs. Finland 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 3: USA vs. Canada 4:00 p.m.

As you can see, only four countries (US, Canada, Sweden, and Finland) are participating, so it’s not exactly the most comprehensive of showcases. Notably missing are the Russians and Czechs, who presumably follow their own process for prospect selection.

In any case, six players by the Colorado Avalanche will be taking part in at least part of the Showcase:

Bo Byram
Alex Newhook
Sampo Ranta
Justus Annunen
Drew Helleson
Luka Burzan

Let’s look a little more closely at that list and their status with the Colorado Avalanche.

Bowen Byram

Country: Canada
Position: Defenseman
Draft year: 2019 (#4)

Bo Byram has been selected to attend Team Canada’s camp, and I’d say he’s highly likely to play in the full Showcase. He’s represented Canada internationall three times at U17 and U18 events. In 16 games played, he’s recorded two goals and eight assists. He won silver in 2017 and gold in 2018.

Just last week Byram signed his entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche. It’s expected he’ll attend rookie and training camps and play in preseason games. He can play up to 9 regular season games and not burn a year off his contract. Those games are his way into making the team this season.

Alex Newhook

Country: Canada
Position: Center
Draft year: 2019 (#16)

Alex Newhook will also attend Team Canada’s Camp, and he has a good chance to play throughout the Showcase. He’s represented Canada twice in U17 and U18 events. In 12 games played, he’s recorded 6 goals and 8 assists. He hasn’t won a medal yet.

Alex Newhook signed his Letter of Intent to play for Boston College, and it’s expected he’ll do exactly that. Because of NCAA rules and timing, he will not be at rookie camp. However, he did attend prospect development camp — and he was extremely impressive. That boy can fly!

Sampo Ranta

Country: Finland
Position: Left wing
Draft year: 2018 (#78)

Sampo Ranta has been selected to attend Team Finland’s camp. Looking over Team Finland’s roster, I think he has a good chance of making the squad. However, Team Finland didn’t select him to play at World Juniors last year. He represented Finland at U17s and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He had a goal and an assist on a team that won gold.

Ranta spent the last season at the University of Minnesota. In 36 games, he earned 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists). Those aren’t fantastic stats, but he was a freshman. It’s expected he’ll return to Minnesota for another year.

Justus Annunen

Country: Finland
Position: Goalie
Draft year: 2018 (#64)

Justus Annunen has also been selected for the Finland camp. As only one other goalie is currently on their roster, I’d say it looks good he plays. He has represented Finland at U17s, U18s, and the HG Tournament. He won gold in 2018.

Annunen has been playing back in his native Finland for the Mestis league. He’s expected to graduate to the Liiga next season. He attended prospect development camp, but I’m not sure if he’ll be at rookie camp.

Drew Helleson

Country: USA
Position: Defenseman
Draft year: 2019 (#47)

Drew Helleson is the lone American on this list. He was one of the many players who came out of the US National Development Team Program this draft. He’s represented the US twice in U17 and U18 events, earning one goal and three assists in 13 games. He’ll have to earn his spot on a stacked Team USA squad for the Showcase.

Helleson is set to join his fellow Colorado Avalanche draftee Alex Newhook at Boston College this fall. As such, he won’t be at rookie camp. However, he did attend prospect development camp.

Luka Burzan

Country: Canada
Position: Center
Draft year: 2019 (#171)

Luka Burzan is a bit of a surprise inclusion on this list. He’s facing an uphill battle to make an extremely stacked Team Canada Team. He has represented Canada once, with the U17 Canada Black. He earned two goals in six games.

Burzan is expected to join his major juniors team, the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. However, he’s likely to attend the Colorado Avalanche’s rookie camp first.

More from Mile High Sticking

The World Junior Summer Showcase is an interesting prospect. I mean, it’s great to have hockey in late July, early August, right? However, I remember hearing rumblings last summer about how it doesn’t give these young men a chance to decompress. They go from (hopefully) playoffs to the draft to development camps to this showcase. And just a few short weeks later they’re expected to report to various training camps.

That’s not to say competitive hockey players the world over aren’t training on and off the ice right now — they all are unless they’re injured. However, there’s a big difference mentally and physically between training and playing real games.

I don’t know that I have the answer. However, these young men are in the best shape they’ll ever be, so this is the best age for them to be able to handle the additional stress.

Anyway, the NHL Network has announced that it will televise the last three days of the Showcase. So, if you’re around, enjoy a little midsummer hockey.