Blue Jackets Prospects At The IIHF World Junior Championship, Day One: Gavin Brindley Steals The Show With Two-Goal Outing

By Coby Maeir on December 26, 2023 at 1:55 pm
Gavin Brindley speaks to the media after being selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 34th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
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The 2024 World Juniors are upon us.

All four Blue Jackets prospects opened up World Juniors play on Tuesday, with Team USA forward Gavin Brindley highlighting the day with a pair of goals in the USA's 4-1 win over Norway. 

USA Beats Norway 4-1

Brindley scored the first of two second-period goals with a left-circle power-play tally from one knee. 

He followed that up with a great forecheck and drive to the net where he went top shelf from the doorstep. 

Brindley was named Team USA's player of the game and has now doubled his goal total from the 2023 World Juniors.

Canada Beats Finland 5-2

Blue Jackets prospects Jordan Dumais and Denton Mateychuk helped the two-time defending champions open up its title defense with a three-goal win over fellow Jackets prospect Oiva Keskinen's Finland squad. 

Mateychuk had a secondary assist on Canada's opening goal, was a +3, and logged 25:25 in his first game at the World Juniors. 

 He also made an incredible move in the offensive zone that almost led to a primary assist.

Mateychuk looked like a future No. 1 defenseman and is poised to have a monster tournament with Canada. On a blueline that's not loaded with top prospects, Mateychuk has the chance to remind the hockey world why he was the No. 12 pick in the 2022 Draft. 

Dumais also had a good game, setting up multiple chances and hitting the post on a breakaway. It seems like a matter of time before he breaks out. 

Keskinen, the 194th pick in the 2023 Draft, stood out for Finland while playing as its third-line center. 

Like Dumais, this is Keskinen's first and only chance to play at the World Juniors. He didn't come to development camp over the summer so this is the first time Blue Jackets fans will be able to get a good look at him. 

Up Next

  • Dec. 27: Finland vs. Germany, 8:30 a.m. ET, NHL Network
  • Dec. 27: Canada vs. Latvia, 1:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network
  • Dec. 28: USA vs. Switzerland, 11 a.m. ET, NHL Network
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