The Toronto Maple Leafs have a surprise prospect attending the Team Canada World Junior Selection Camp.
Hockey Canada has just announced the 35 players that will attending the camp which begins December 9th. The World Junior Championship tournament begins December 26th.
Among the players attending the camp is Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ryan Tverberg who was selected by the Maple Leafs in the 7th round (213 overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Tverberg is having a great season in his sophomore year playing centre with the University of Connecticut in the NCAA. He currently has 9 goals and 16 points in 14 games. Those stats lead the UConn Huskies in goals and points. (all stats from EliteProspects.com)
Ryan Tverberg ranks 16th in goals and 29th in points in the NCAA, but among players under 20 years old, he ranks 4th in goals and 8th in points.
These numbers are a huge improvement over his freshmen season where he put up 7 points in 14 games.
Great Late Pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Ryan Tverberg out of the Ontario Junior Hockey League after he accumulated 26 goals and 51 points while playing with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens.
This is a great late pick out of the final round of the NHL Entry Draft for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Finding value in the drafts final rounds is a great asset, and the Maple Leafs may have struck gold with Ryan Tverberg.
Tverberg is actually the lowest draft selection of any player attending the selection camp. Carolina Hurricane draft pick, Ronan Seeley, isn’t too far ahead as he was also drafted in the 7th round but 208 overall.
Even if Ryan Tverberg does not succeed in making Team Canada’s World Junior roster, being chosen as one of Canada’s top 21 forwards under 20 years old who isn’t in the NHL is quite an honour and shows his potential.
More Toronto Maple Leafs at the World Juniors
Team USA just announced their preliminary 31 player roster for the World Juniors which includes another Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, Matthew Knies. Knies was the leading American scorer at USA’s World Juniors Summer Showcase with 4 goals and 7 points in 5 games.
Two Toronto Maple Leafs prospects are expected to return to the World Juniors with the Finnish team. Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemelä both took home a bronze medal after playing with Team Finland at last year’s tournament.
Topi Niemelä led all defensemen in goals, assists and points during last year’s World Juniors to be named the tournament’s Best Defenseman. He currently leads all Liiga defensemen with 22 points in 25 games.