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Three Bruins Prospects Going For Gold At World Juniors

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Boston Bruins

The 2022 World Juniors got underway again in Alberta Tuesday and three Boston Bruins prospects are there vying for Gold and strutting their skills on the international stage. What has become a traditional Christmas and New Year’s holiday tournament was put on hiatus thanks to a tournament wide COVID outbreak in December.

The Boston Bruins have three prospects representing three different countries in Edmonton and Red Deer. Providence College center and Woburn, MA native Riley Duran, (2020 sixth round, 182nd overall), is playing for USA Hockey; center Dans Locmelis (2022 fourth round, 119th overall), is representing Latvia, and 2021 first round pick (21st overall) Fabian Lysell will represent Sweden.

Lysell is obviously the marquee prospect on the Boston Bruins World Juniors lineup after going 21st overall at last year’s NHL Entry Draft. The Swedish product was sensational this past season playing for the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League. The 5-foot-10, 172-pound winger led the giants in scoring with 22 goals and 40 assists in 53 regular season games and then had four goals and 17 assists in 12 games in the WHL playoffs.

In a recent interview with the Boston Globe, the top Boston Bruins prospect expressed confidence that after his success with the Giants in the WHL, if he could parlay that into a solid showing at the 2022 World Juniors.

“I do think I can make the team [Boston Bruins]” Lysell told the Globe. “But, you know, it’s a tough challenge and all that stuff … but I definitely believe in that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t play, you know? It’s a good team. We’ll see what happens. I’ll know more when I go [to Boston] after this tournament.

I want to make the team, for sure but, I mean, that’s not my decision, I guess. Everything will get decided when that time comes, starting in a couple of days here. I’m just excited for this season and last year was good for me. This year, I’ve adjusted to North America and all that stuff, and I’m just excited for it.”

Riley Duran had ten goals and nine assists in 38 games from the Providence College Friars last season, and had an excellent development camp with the Bruins last month. The former Woburn High School and Malden Catholic standout was a bit of a surprise addition to Team USA when rosters were announced earlier this week, but he made his present felt in Tuesday night’s 5-1 opening win over Team Germany with a goal and five shots on net while playing noticeably well.

“Watching Riley play three or four times last year in person, [you could see] he’s really growing into his body and maturing as a player. He’s gotten a lot more confidence during the progression for him, particularly going to the USHL. It was interesting to watch him really getting comfortable and making strides,” said Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “I think you’re seeing that in Providence. Nate Leaman and his group generally do a really good job in Providence, but I think Nate has really been able to tap into Riley and get the best out of him each night.

“It’s translated into a World Junior opportunity and [Duran] got off to a really good start [in the first game]. He’s a player that when we saw locally [as a younger player] had all the different aspects to his game, but they were in siloes so to speak where he hadn’t put all of it together. Now he’s starting to put the whole package together and grow into his stature. It’s exciting for us to watch.”

Locmelis had 18 goals and 16 assists in 44 games for Lulea HF J20 in Sweden.

 

 

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