The 2018 World Juniors officially concluded last night with Team Canada capturing the gold medal with a 3-1 win over Team Sweden. The United States also took bronze after they defeated the Czech Republic 9-3 in the bronze medal game. Team USA also featured four players from the St. Louis area, including Brady Tkachuk, son of St. Louis Blues legend Keith Tkachuk. The St. Louis Blues were well represented in the tournament, boasting four prospects in the organization who participated in the World Juniors. These players include Canadians and gold medal winners Jordan Kyrou (35th overall, 2016) and Robert Thomas (20th overall, 2017), along with Russian Klim Kostin (31st overall, 2017) and Denmark native Nikolaj Krag (209th overall, 2016).
Kyrou and Thomas were dynamic for gold medal winning Canada, with Kyrou totaling three goals and five assists for eight points in six games. Kyrou solely led Canada in points. Thomas had himself an exceptional tournament as well, scoring one goal and adding five assists for six points in six games.
Kyrou and Thomas of Canada after defeating Sweden in the Championship Game. Photo via @JordanKyrou on Instagram.
For Russia, Klim Kostin had one of the best tournaments of any player on Team Russia, scoring four goals and tallying three assists for seven points in five games. Kostin’s goal scoring ability was on full display during the World Juniors, as he was named player of the tournament for Russia. Despite not many knowing, the Blues also had a prospect who participated for Team Denmark. That would be the Blues 7th round pick from 2016, forward Nikolaj Krag. Krag had one goal and one assist in five games for a lowly Denmark team.
Pete Blackburn on Twitter
Klim Kostin scores again and it’s 5-1 Russia https://t.co/ywcmlQzkEm
Overall, the Blues prospects had a phenomenal World Juniors. Doug Armstrong and the Blues front office have drafted some very talented players who could become integral to this organization’s success in the future for years to come. “Down on the farm” as they call it, is looking incredibly adequate. It is going to be exciting to see how these young prospects develop over the next couple years. As always, let’s go Blues.
