Swift Current Broncos fans may have three different teams to keep tabs on later this month at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
One day after Tyler Steenbergen was announced to Canada’s selection camp roster, both Artyom Minulin and Aleksi Heponiemi received news that they had been invited to Russia and Finland’s training camps respectively. Both players will attend training camps in Rochester, NY beginning on Dec. 17.
Heponiemi, 18, is currently leading all Canadian Hockey League skaters with 50 assists and 69 points in 28 games this season. The Florida Panthers prospect has previous international experience with Finland at the 2017 European Tournament and the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial.
Minulin currently has 15 points and a plus-two rating during his third season on the Bronco blueline. He suited up in two games for Russia against Team WHL in the CIBC Canada Russia Series last month.
The World Junior Hockey Championship will be held in Buffalo, NY from December 26 – January 5.
The tournament begins on Boxing Day, highlighted by a game between Canada and Finland, an intriguing match-up that could feature linemates Tyler Steenbergen and Aleksi Heponiemi.
Russia opens the tournament the same day against the Czech Republic.
