The 2024 edition of the annual World Junior Summer Showcase is set to get started tomorrow at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI. Here’s everything Red Wings fans need to know ahead of the event.

What is the World Junior Summer Showcase?

The WJSS is an annual summer tune-up for the December/January World Junior (this year’s will be held in Ottawa). The pandemic shook up the event’s timing and format for several years, but, by now, the event is back in its usual rhythm, and Hockey Canada has decided to rejoin the proceedings for the first time since the onset of COVID. Canada will join two U.S. teams (designated as “Blue” and “White”), Sweden, and Finland. Since the WJC is an under 20 tournament, this event is mostly composed of players from the 2023 and 2024 draft classes, but there are a few prominent 2025 draft eligibles, most notably prospective number one overall pick James Hagens (a slick but diminutive forward from Long Island, slated to begin his NCAA career at Boston College in the fall). The event allows the teams and coaching staffs to gather as one before they reconvene (in reduced numbers) in December. The event is at once educational and evaluative: inform players of the desired style of play and assess which will be the right ones to bring to the real deal.

Schedule

Games and practices will be held between tomorrow (Friday, July 25) and Saturday August 3, with games being played this coming Sunday (the 27th), Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and then the final game day on Saturday the 3rd. The full schedule and tickets can be found here, courtesy of USA Hockey.

Red Wings Prospects

Four Detroit prospects are slated to participate: three Americans and a Fin. Trey Augustine (whom the Red Wings took 43rd overall in 2023) is back to defend the gold medal he earned during Team USA’s triumph in Gothenburg a year ago. 2024 Detroit picks Max Plante (selected 47th overall) and John Whipple (selected in the fifth round at 144th overall) will be looking to earn their first spot on a World Junior roster. Meanwhile, Jesse Kiiskinen, whom Detroit acquired via trade with Nashville in exchange for Andrew Gibson (who will be at this event, representing Canada), will represent Finland. Notably, Axel Sandin-Pellikka will not be with the Swedes, but as he explained at Red Wings development camp a few weeks ago, he will still represent his country come December. He was just looking for a more relaxed summer than last year when he came to the US for the draft, dev camp, and then again for the WJSS.