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Smith Stars in USA’s World Juniors Gold Medal Win

Originally posted on San Jose Hockey Now  |  By Sheng Peng  |  Last updated 1/5/24

USA has won the World Junior Championships – and one of their best players in the gold medal game was a San Jose Sharks prospect.

Will Smith, the fourth-overall pick of the 2023 Draft, had two assists, both primary, and was involved in a number of other Grade-A scoring chances in USA’s 6-2 victory over host country Sweden.

NHL Network World Juniors color commentator Dave Starman said Smith was USA’s best player in the first period, highlighted by a shot-pass assist on this Gabe Perreault goal.

Starman was highly complimentary of Smith throughout the game, which also included putting this pass on a plate for Zeev Buium.

It was a slow start for Smith in this tournament, at least relative to expectations.

But he really came on when it counted, also scoring the game-tying goal in the semi-final yesterday, a 3-2 victory over Finland.

Smith wasn’t the only San Jose Sharks prospect to excel in the gold medal game.

2022 second-rounder Mattias Havelid also had his own gorgeous shot-pass assist on this Otto Stenberg goal:

2022 first-rounder Filip Bystedt didn’t get on the board for Sweden. Meanwhile, 2023 fifth-rounder Eric Pohlkamp didn’t get into the game for USA.

In the earlier bronze medal game, 2023 second-rounder Kasper Halttunen didn’t register a point in Finland’s 8-5 loss to Czechia.

2022 fifth-rounder Jake Furlong’s Canada failed to make the medal rounds.

Regardless, the future looks bright for the San Jose Sharks!

This article first appeared on San Jose Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

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