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3 Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Guaranteed To Be at the World Juniors

By Mike Jack

EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 30: Topi Niemela #7, Roni Hirvonen #22, Anton Lundell #15 and Kasper Simontaival #29 of Finland celebrate a goal against Slovakia during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 30, 2020 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 30: Topi Niemela #7, Roni Hirvonen #22, Anton Lundell #15 and Kasper Simontaival #29 of Finland celebrate a goal against Slovakia during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 30, 2020 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /
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VICTORIA , BC – DECEMBER 21: Ian Scott #31 of Team Canada makes a save as Andrej Kukuca #28 of Team Slovakia   (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images) /

Here are some Toronto Maple Leafs U20 prospects who are having great seasons but may be long shots to receive an invite to the 2022 World Junior Championship Tournament:
(All stats from EliteProspects.com)

Dmitri Ovchinnikov – Russia

Forward, Dmitri Ovchinnikov, broke into the KHL last season which is difficult for any U20 player to accomplish.  He hasn’t had much success in the KHL so far, but he has 3 goals and 5 points in 4 MHL games (Russian Junior League) this season.

He played 16 KHL games last season, and put up 20 goals and 51 points in 40 MHL games to lead all MHL players playing 40 or more games in points per game.

The Russian team recently released a preliminary roster for the 2022 World Juniors, and Ovchinnikov was not on the list, so it’s doubtful that he’ll make the team.

Dmitri Ovchinnikov was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 5th round (137 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Vyacheslav Peksa – Russia

Goaltender, Vyacheslav Peksa, has been putting up great numbers in the MHL this season with a .939 save percentage (3rd in the MHL) and 1.78 goals against average (4th in the MHL) despite his 10-8-6 record.

Like I said, Team Russia has already revealed their preliminary roster and Peksa did not make the cut.  I think everyone knows that Yaroslav Askarov will be Russia’s starting goaltender anyway.

Vyacheslav Peksa was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 6th round (185 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Ty Voit – USA

Left wing, Ty Voit, is playing well for the OHL’s Sarnia Sting this season with 20 points in 15 games despite missing all of last season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He’s the third highest US born scorer in the OHL this season, but that may not be good enough to crack Team USA this year.

Voit wasn’t invited to the US World Junior Summer Showcase last summer, so it’s unlikely he’ll get an invite to the tournament.

Since he is only 18 years old, Voit will have another opportunity to earn an invite next year.

Ty Voit was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 5th round (153 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Joe Miller – USA

Forward, Joe Miller, is having a breakout season with the Chicago Steel in the USHL with 21 points in 19 games.  That’s good enough for Miller to be ranked 6th in USHL scoring.

It may not be good enough to earn Miller an invite though as he also wasn’t invited to the US World Junior Summer Showcase.

Joe Miller was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 6th round (180 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Now here’s a look at three Toronto Maple Leafs prospects who are destined to thrill at this year’s World Junior Championship!:

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