We know the Philadelphia Flyers have a pretty good shot at being represented at this year’s World Junior Hockey Championships. Both Carter Hart and Philippe Myers have good chances to make Team Canada, but there are other countries out there, too.
Specifically, Russia.
Russia has released its own preliminary roster, and there’s a familiar name on it: German Rubtsov, who the Flyers picked 22nd overall this past June.
Russia U20 NT roster for the @iihf_wjc camp has been announced #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/K2pLhwxK4Y
— Russian Prospects (@RUSProspects) December 1, 2016
When the Flyers drafted Rubtsov, he was coming off of a 26-point season in 28 games for Russia’s U-18 team. This season, he’s played 12 games in the KHL – albeit, he’s gone pointless – and has 15 points in 15 games in the MHL, Russia’s junior league.
He’s represented Russia in the past, so it isn’t too difficult to see him making the World Junior squad. He’s played for the U-17 and U-18 teams, and last season, scored four points over five games of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Most recently, during the CIBC Canada/Russia series – which is often a tool both countries use to help determine their World Junior rosters – he scored two goals in five games. Rubtsov was tied for fourth in Russian scoring.
So yeah – it’s easy to see him representing Russia at the U-20s this year!
