World Juniors Update – 3 Kings Prospects in Quarterfinals, George (CAN) vs. Dvorak (CZE) Today

We’re now a week into the 2025 World Junior Championships and all three of the Kings prospects have advanced out of group play and into the quarterfinals, playing some impressive individual hockey along the way. With Kings representation from Canada, Czechia and the United States, let’s catch you up on the performances of Carter George, Jakub Dvorak and Hampton Slukynsky ahead of today’s quarterfinals.

Carter George (Canada)
As reported by LAKI prior to the start of the tournament, George was named the starter of Team Canada and has since lived up to the expectations.

While Canada as a team has underperformed during the group play stage, it’s not because of George. Canada has gone 2-1-1 across the four games and has scored just 10 goals in the group stage, the third lowest in their country’s history. In shocking fashion, Canada fell to Latvia in a shootout on the second night of the tournament, but George was not in net. George, who has gone 2-1-0 for Canada, has notched a pair of shutout performances against Finland and Germany and has posted a 1.01 GAA, while stopping 80 of 83 shots, good for a .964 SV%. Among all goaltenders at the tournament, George leads the way so far in SV%, GAA and shutouts. The makings of a goaltender of the tournament award, if things continue in that direction.

“Georgie’s been so good for us all tournament,” Canada forward Tanner Howe said, via TSN. “He’s been really good. I’d heard nothing but the best from the OHL guys in the room. He’s on his game, he’s making every save, so that’s all you can ask for in a goalie.”

George’s lone loss came in the finale of the Group A stage against the USA, where he fell victim to an undisciplined team in front of him. Canada allowed the Americans seven power-play opportunities, three of which they converted on. Those three power play goals allowed are the only three goals he’s surrendered so far this tournament, stopped every shot he’s faced at even strength over his three appearances. Going into the New Year’s Eve game against the Americans, the significance of the result looked bathe as the winner of that game would earn the top seed of the group, while the loser fell to the third seed. Canada’s 4-1 loss now has them slated to face Dvorak’s Czechia team, the second seed in Group B. George is expected to tend the net once again for the Canadians at 4:30 PM today.

Dating back to the 2023 Helinka Gretzky Cup, George is now 12-1-0 in his 13 appearances for Team Canada, including appearances at the U-18 and U-20 levels.

"He's playing confident. He's poised. He's calm in there"

The countdown to #CANvsUSA puckdrop is on for a NYE #WorldJuniors showdown!@LAKings prospect Carter George (@AttackOHL) has been perfect for team Canada so far and he looks to continue his stellar play tonight pic.twitter.com/Uex0I352Vv

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 31, 2024

Jakub Dvorak (Czechia)
Now onto George’s opponent later today, the 6-foot-4 defenseman Dvorak has been a staple on the Czech’s blue line. Across Dvorak’s four games, the blueliner has averaged 16:41 and has found the back of the net once. Scoring against Kazakhstan, Dvorak buried a wrist shot off of a drawn-up set play on an offensive zone face off. Dvorak’s goal provided a great example of his offensive ability, something he’s been advertised to have but has yet to showcase consistently at a young age.

Dvorak was a +5 during the group stage, on the ice for eight Czech goals for, compared to just three against. That rating was good for a tie for ninth among all skaters at the tournament through four games. In the final group game against Sweden, Czechia’s toughest opponent in Group B, Dvorak played nearly 20 minutes, just 23 seconds shy of the team leader on the blueline, a role he’d be expected to continue in against Canada later on this afternoon. As previously mentioned, the Kings’ last two second-round draft picks will go head-to-head at 4:30, with only one of the two prospects’ moving on with their country to the medal rounds.

Jakub Dvořák gets his first of the tournament to put Czechia up 3-0.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/qU8JyqW5Ae

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2024

Hampton Slukynsky (USA)
Playing behind third-year World Juniors participant and fellow Michigan collegiate goaltender Trey Augustine (Michigan State), Slukynsky’s (Western Michigan) opportunities have been limited at the event so far.

Limited, yes, but the Warroad, Minnesota native has taken full advantage of the chances he’s gotten. Slukynsky was given the start in USA’s second game in the group stage against a Latvian team that was coming off of their upset over Canada. Slukynsky stopped 25 of 26 shots faced, helped kill off five Latvian power plays and earned the win in what has been his only appearance in the tournament so far.

“Hamps” [goalie Hampton Slukynsky] played unreal, so to have him in your back pocket really helps,” Team USA forward and projected top overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft James Hagens said of Slukynsky, per IIHF.com.

While it’s Augustine’s net heading into the single elimination knock out rounds, Slukynsky is without a doubt waiting at the helm if needed and called upon. Slukynsky and USA will face off Switzerland at 11:30 AM today and would advance into the medal rounds with a victory in a couple of hours time.

World Juniors Knockout Schedule
Quarterfinals – January 2
QF1 – Sweden vs. Latvia, 9 AM Pacific
QF2 – United States (Slukynsky) vs. Switzerland, 11:30 AM Pacific
QF3 – Finland vs. Slovakia, 2 PM Pacific
QF4 – Czechia (Dvorak) vs. Canada (George), 4:30 PM Pacific

After the quarterfinals, the teams will be reseeded based on rankings from group play. Kings prospects could meet in the semifinals but the bracket is not fixed, so it’s not a guarantee.

Semifinals – January 4
SF1 – 12:30 PM Pacific Time
SF2 – 4:30 PM Pacific Time

Medal Round – January 5
Bronze Medal Game – 12:30 PM Pacific
Gold Medal Game – 4:30 PM Pacific