Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiří Kulich won a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships, as Czechia had an outstanding tournament but ultimately fell in overtime to Canada.
Noah Östlund, Isak Rosén and Sweden finished fourth, dropping the bronze medal game to the United States in a thrilling 8-7 overtime decision.
Here’s a look at how each of the three Sabres prospects fared in the tournament.
Jiří Kulich
Team: Czechia
Finish: 2nd (silver)
Games Played: 7
7 G | 2 A | 9 PTS | +10
Average TOI: 19:53
Shots on Goal: 39
No doubt the highlight of Kulich’s tournament was his scoring the overtime, game-winning goal to send Czechia to the gold medal game. After David Jiricek scored late to tie the game and force extra time, Kulich’s goal sent Czechia to the gold medal game for the first time since 2001.
Kulich finished the tournament 11th in scoring and led the Czechs.
JIRI KULICH SENDS CZECHIA TO THE GOLD MEDAL GAME 🇨🇿#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/yPRFzfM40W
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 4, 2023
Noah Östlund
Team: Sweden
Finish: 4th
Games Played: 7
1 G | 3 A | 4 PTS
Average TOI: 16:35
Shots on Goal: 16
Östlund finally found the back of the net in the bronze medal game, scoring his first of the tournament and fourth point.
Noah Östlund gives Sweden their first lead of the game early in the 3rd period 🚨
🇺🇸 5-6 🇸🇪#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/lNdWbLjuCb
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2023
Isak Rosén
Team: Sweden
Finish: 4th
Games Played: 7
2 G | 4 A | 6 PTS | +7
Average TOI: 17:02
Shots on Goal: 17
Rosén had two assists in the bronze-medal game, but Sweden ultimately fell 8-7 in a thrilling overtime matchup with the United States. Here’s one of his assists:
#Sabres prospect Isak Rosén with a secondary assist on Sweden’s first goal in the bronze medal game. #WorldJuniors2023 #WorldJuniors https://t.co/iu7psxvX3N
— Melissa Burgess (@_MelissaBurgess) January 5, 2023