All seven Blackhawks prospects at the World Junior Championship in British Columbia have advanced to the quarterfinal round, which begins Wednesday.
Russia took the top spot in Group A and will face Slovakia in the lone quarterfinal game without Chicago players.
Swiss center Philipp Kurashev (2018 fourth-rounder) is tied for the tournament lead in goals at five with Canada’s Max Comtois (Ducks). Both players have six points and are tied for second in the tournament in points behind Canada’s Morgan Frost (Flyers) and the United States’ Ryan Poehling (Canadiens).
Swedish defenseman Adam Boqvist (2018 first-rounder) scored the game-winning overtime goal against the United States in the preliminary round. He also has three assists.
Boqvist and the Group B winners Sweden will meet Kurashev in the first quarterfinal game.
Finnish defenseman Henri Jokiharju (2017 first-rounder) and Canadian winger MacKenzie Entwistle (2017 third-rounder via Arizona trade) each have three points. Entwistle scored a goal in each of his first three games before being limited to two shots on net in 9:23 during Canada’s loss to Russia on Monday. Jokiharju, who has 11 assists in 32 NHL games with Chicago this season, has a goal and two assists.
Canadian defenseman Ian Mitchell (2017 second-rounder) has been quiet on the scoresheet with two assists during the tournament. He had three shots on net in 16:25 against Russia.
Finland and Canada face off in the second quarterfinal matchup.
Czech defenseman Jakub Galvas (2017 fifth-rounder) has logged big minutes as a top-line blue liner and has one assist. American center Evan Barratt scored in Team USA’s opener, but has been held off the scoresheet since despite creating plenty of offensive opportunities for his team.
Canada, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden are all in the bottom half of the bracket, which guarantees at least one player for the Blackhawks in each medal game.
All quarterfinal games will be broadcasted on NHL Network in the United States.
Quarterfinal schedule
Sweden vs. Switzerland, 3 p.m.
Canada vs. Finland, 5 p.m.
Czech Republic vs. United States, 7 p.m.
Russia vs. Slovakia, 9:30 p.m.