A milestone day for Kamloops Blazers defenceman Harrison Brunicke.
The 17-year-old cracked Team Canada’s roster for the U-18 World Championships in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland, one of six defencemen who will wear the Maple Leaf later this month.
Brunicke will join Blazers goaltending coach Dan De Palma at the tournament which runs from April 25 until May 5.
Canada – who won bronze at the 2023 U-18 Worlds – will open the tournament against Sweden on April 25. They’ll also face Czechia, Switzerland, and Kazakhstan in round-robin action.
The last time Canada won gold was in 2021, with former Blazer Logan Stankoven scoring the tournament winning goal in a 5-3 win over Russia.
As expected, @hbrunicke06 makes 🇨🇦 Canada’s U-18 roster for the World Championships in Finland. pic.twitter.com/AAf4yryyF7
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) April 16, 2024
Brunicke was also ranked 52nd among all North American skaters in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings released Tuesday.
The Calgary native – who hasn’t played since Family Day because of injury – is up 15 spots from January, where he was ranked 67th among North American skaters in Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.
Brunicke put up a career best 21 points (10 goals and 11 assists) in 49 games with the Blazers this season. He surpassed the eight points (four goals and four assists) he recorded during his 16-year-old season.
Blazers prospects Austin Burnevik (113th), Kaden Shahan (115th), and Mac Swanson were all ranked by Central Scouting Tuesday as well. The trio of American forwards are all playing the USHL – Burnevik in Madison, Swanson in Fargo, and Shahan in Sioux City.
Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla, son of Blazers legend Jarome Iginla, was up two spots to ninth among all North American skaters.
Merritt twins Jaxsin and Corbin Vaughn – who both play for the Regina Pats – were also ranked. Jaxsin, a forward, was 150th among North American skaters, down two spots, while Corbin, a defenceman, was 155th, down from 136th in January.
The 2024 NHL Draft is expected to be held on June 28 and 29 at Sphere in Las Vegas.