WIth the Edmonton Oilers struggling to go over 0.500 this year and outside a playoff spot come Christmas, fans are not happy to say the least.
Usually in years past when the team was struggling, fans at least had the World Junior Championships to look forward to. In addition to being a Canadian tradition, it is also a time to see some of the team’s top prospects on the international stage.
Not this year though. The Oilers are one of two teams to not have a single prospect in the tournament (the other won a cup two years ago, so I don’t think their fans are too upset about it).
Oilers players have had some great World Junior tourneys over the years, with 10 of the top 50 goals (and one honourable mention) being scored by future Oilers on this TSN list.
So instead, we will look at some of the best moments an Oilers player has had in the tournament in the past. Feel free to watch these on repeat rather than the actual, non-Oilers prospect games.
Jordan Eberle, 2009
Yeah, you knew this one was going to be here as soon as you read the title, didn’t you?
For those who didn’t witness this (because I assume that anyone who did see it would never forget it), Team Canada was looking to extend their gold medal streak to five straight years, which would tie the record set by Canada from 1993–1997.
However, things were not looking good in the semi-final game, as Russia scored with two minutes and 20 seconds left in the game to take the lead.
With eight seconds left, John Tavares managed to finally pull the puck out of a scrum against the side wall that had lasted for a previous eight seconds and throw a hail mary backhand flip towards the net. The puck was easily blocked by the Russian defender Dmitry Kulikov.
And then, with five seconds left, destiny panicked:
Jordan Eberle managed to pull out the puck from under the defender, pull the puck to the backhand, and slide it by goaltender Vadim Zhelobynuk to send the game to overtime. It also resulted in what was first one of the best goal calls with Gord Miller’s “Can you believe it!” followed by what may be the worst response to such a question by Pierre McGuire stating “I can” (it was so bad that people have posted the video editing out McGuire). He also completely credited the goal to Tavares, going as far to credit it as “Tavares’ magical play”, because of course that is what everyone remembers as what was so special about this goal.
Eberle didn’t stop there, however, as he also scored the first goal in the shootout on an absolute beauty of a move:
Also, this time, McGuire did give Eberle credit for the goal, and did rightfully predict that Eberle would be an NHL scoring machine for the Oilers.
The Russians would be stymied by Team Canada goalie Dustin Tokarski, making Eberle’s shootout goal the winner to send Canada to the final.
People may also forget that Eberle had actually scored previously in the game to give Canada a 3–2 lead, so the clutch was in full effect that night, and under IIHF rules Eberle’s game winning shootout goal counts as a goal as well, giving him a hat trick on the night.
Eberle followed up the legendary night by scoring a goal and two assists in the Gold Medal game, leading to tying that record fifth straight gold medal.
Fun fact: other soon to be Oilers prospect and member of H.O.P.E. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson got an assist on Sweden’s lone goal that game.
Jordan Eberle, 2010
In case anyone wondered if Eberle’s clutchness was a fluke, he put those worries to rest the following year.
The year after “Tavares’ Magical Play”, Team Canada faced the USA in the Gold Medal game, looking to set the World Juniors Record of six straight gold medals.
Canada went down 5–3 with 13 minutes left in the third period. With four minutes left, American player Kyle Palmieri took a charging penalty, giving Canada a chance on the power play.
Just over a minute in, Eberle fired a one-timer passed Jack Campbell to bring the lead down to one:
With 1:36 left in the third period down 5–4, Eberle decided to say “I’ll do it again”:
This time, the goal call and follow up by McGuire was on point: “He did it again!” and “you want money and you want magic? You call Jordan Eberle.”
You also have to love the lambeau leap by future Oilers prospect and teammate Taylor Hall into Eberle’s arms during the celebration, which was an image Oilers fans envisioned for their future that unfortunately came to be.
Canada ended up losing in OT, but the legend of Eberle was established in WJC lore. Eberle ended up being named the tournament’s MVP, and his 14 goals in 12 career WJC games was a Team Canada record that stood for 13 years until another Regina Pat Connor Bedard broke it with 17 goals (but in 16 games, so Eberle still has the goal per game record).
Klim Kostin, 2019
I know he wasn’t an Oilers prospect at the time, but he did end up becoming an Oiler at some point, so I’m going to include this.
Kostin was Russia’s team captain in the 2019 WJC, and potted a tidy three goals and three assists in 7 games.
But Kostin made the headlines after Russia lost to the US in the silver medal game during the player of the game ceremony:
From the helmet toss, the taking the watch to the bench immediately after receiving it, the not even looking at the camera for the photo, and then saying “f*** you” to the crowd booing him—just *chef’s kiss* for those who love drama.
Kostin didn’t stop there though. In the bronze medal game, Kostin scored a goal and had quite the celebration for the fans who were booing him:
After Russia won the Bronze medal, Kostin applauded the fans who again booed him mercilessly:
There is something to be said about embracing your role as the heel, and Oilers fans got to see a glimpse of some of Kostin’s passion last year.
Nail Yakupov, 2012
Another Russian who wasn’t technically an Oilers prospect at the time who’s memorable moment was off the ice was Nail Yakupov’s interview after beating Team Canada:
Like Kostin, Yakupov’s passion was on full display. The broken English just adds another level to it, as while it probably isn’t the correct syntax he would say in Russian, the message is pretty clear: Russia beat Canada, despite everyone thinking Canada is the better team.
In a minute and 15 seconds, Yakupov said the words “we win” 14 times, which works to approximately once every 5.3 seconds.
Darnell Nurse, 2015
Darnell Nurse became the first non-first first overall first-round pick (say that three times fast) the Oilers made in four years in 2013, and was looked at as a big mobile defensive defenceman with some nastiness to him.
That promise showed itself in the 2015 World Juniors, where there wasn’t a single even strength goal against when Nurse was on the ice, leading to him being named Canada’s player of the game in the gold medal game, as well one of Canada’s top three players of the tournament. What makes that even more impressive is that Nurse only scored one goal and no assists in the ENTIRE tournament (and no, his goal was not in the gold medal game either).
Keep in mind, this was on a Team Canada with Connor McDavid, Shea Theodore, Josh Morrissey, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart. It also had a Max Domi playing out of his mind.
To get the player of the game without recording a point, in the gold medal game, where your team wins 5–4 and one of your teammates scored two goals (including the eventual game winner) and an assist? That is one hell of a performance.
Jesse Puljujarvi, 2016
While lots of people NOW deride the Oilers picking Jesse Puljujarvi fourth overall in 2016 instead of Matthew Tkachuk, Puljujarvi’s performance at the 2016 World Juniors had most people in the hockey world singing a different tune at the time.
As a 17-year-old, Puljujarvi would score five goals and 17 points, tying for second all time for an under 18 player with Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros, and lead Finland to the gold medal. He was named the Best Forward and MVP for the tournament.
Wayne Gretzky, 1978
The 1978 World Juniors was the first time Team Canada actually put together a roster of players from all over the country, rather than just sending the Memorial Cup champion.
As a result, a 16-year-old Wayne Gretzky made the team, the youngest player in the tournament. Gretzky ended up leading the tournament in scoring with 17 points in only six games. That is also the record for most points by a 16-year-old in any tournament.
Gretzky’s tournament included two of the top 10 WJC goals according to TSN:
You have to love the call on that last one—put this one in the hall of fame indeed.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
