The Blackhawks will have three players and two prospects competing Saturday in the semifinals at the World Championship at Ondrej Nepela Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia.
With players on all four teams, the Blackhawks are guaranteed to be on each level of the podium. Finland is the lone team with two Blackhawks representatives with defenseman Henri Jokiharju and goalie prospect Kevin Lankinen.
Jokiharju and Lankinen will meet forward Artem Anisimov and Russia in the first semifinal. The 24-year-old Lankinen, who saw time with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel and AHL’s Rockford IceHogs this past season, is 5-1 with a 1.83 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in the tournament. Jokiharju has two assists while playing heavy minutes on the blue line. Anisimov has chipped in three goals and five points for the Russians.
The second semifinal will see forward Dylan Strome and Canada face off against forward prospect Dominik Kubalik and the Czech Republic. Strome has a goal and four points, while Kubalik is one of the breakout players in the tournament with 11 points (five goals, six assists).
Finland knocked out two-time reigning world champion Sweden in the quarterfinals so a new country will take the top of the podium.
Canada
- Last gold: 2016
- Last medal: Silver (2017)/
Czech Republic
- Last gold: 2010
- Last medal: Bronze (2012)/
Finland
- Last gold: 2011
- Last medal: Silver (2016)/
Russia
- Last gold: 2014
- Last medal: Bronze (2017)/
Saturday’s semifinal schedule
Russia (Anisimov) vs. Finland (Jokiharju/Lankinen), 8:15 a.m.
Canada (Strome) vs. Czech Republic (Kubalik), 12:15 p.m.
*Both games will air on NHL Network