Hat-Trick For Red Wings Prospect To Open World Juniors

All eyes may be on Detroit Red Wings defense prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka at the IIHF World Junior Championship. As far as he’s concerned, he only has eyes for the prize.

Noting he’s not in Ottawa to gain personal awards, but to win a gold medal, Sandin Pellikka nonetheless was serving notice of his impending stardom on opening night of the tournament. Scoring a hat-trick and adding an assist, the Swedish captain was leading his country to a 5-2 thrashing of Slovakia.

Axel Sandin Pellikka 🚨🚨🚨 #WorldJuniors #juniorkronorna
🎥 SVT Play pic.twitter.com/raIg0xf77U

— SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) December 26, 2024

“We send a small message to the other teams that we are here to play hockey,” Sandin Pellikka told Swedish TV network SVT after the win.

The player Detroit was selecting 17th overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft is seeking to join a former Red Wings defenseman in select company. Slava Fetisov is the only player to be named top defender of successive world junior tourneys. Sandin Pellikka won the honor at last year’s event.

Swedish journalist Max Abrahamsson describes Sandin Pellikka as a combination of Borje Salming and Erik Karlsson. They are two of the greatest Swedish defensemen of all-time.

“Salming’s stubbornness and competitive instinct combined with Karlsson’s playfulness and playing skill,” Abrahamsson wrote in Aftonbladet. “Big words, I know, but I am convinced that ASP is our next star defenseman in the NHL. Before the tournament I ranked him as the biggest star of the tournament and he immediately showed why.

“There are little and big delights every single time he is at the puck. What an incredible player he is and what sky-high potential he has.”

Red Wings Picks Lead USA To Victory

Elsewhere on opening night, the USA was dumping Germany 10-4. Trey Augustine (41st overall, 2023) made 18 saves for the win. Max Plante (47th, 2024) would collect an assist in the victory.

Meanwhile, Canada was blanking Finland 4-0. Red Wings forward prospect Jesse Kiiskinen had one shot and was minus-one in 19:28 of ice time for the Finns. Canadian defenseman Andrew Gibson, the second-round Detroit dealt to Nashville for Kiiskinen, put five shots on goal while skating a game-high 21:32 for Canada.