Chicago Blackhakws prospect Radovan Bondra and Slovakia open in Group B play Day 2 of the 2016 World Junior Championship against Belarus at Hartwell Arena in Helsinki, Finland.
Bondra, 18, is one of three Hawks prospects in the Canadian Hockey League this season. The winger has seven goals and nine assists in 30 games for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2015 NHL draft.
The 6-foot-5, 218-pound winger was scoreless in seven games during the 2015 tournament. Slovakia beat Sweden, 4-2, to win bronze in the 2015 tournament. Bondra joins Erik Cernak, Christian Jaros and Matus Sukel as Slovakia’s lone returners from the 2015 team. Slovakia also won bronze in 1999, and has never played in the tournament’s gold medal game.
Belarus is coming off a 6-0 loss to host Finland in its opening game of the tournament.
Denmark and Switzerland face off in the afternoon slate in Group A play at Helinski Ice Hall.
The Swiss are coming off a 8-3 loss against Sweden on Saturday. Tino Kessler scored twice and Noah Rod (Sharks) added the other, while Denis Malgin (Panthers) had two assists in the loss.
Schedule
| Matchup | Time | TV | Venue |
| Belarus vs. Slovakia | 8 a.m. | NHLN-US | Hartwell Arena |
| Denmark vs. Switzerland | Noon | NHLN-US | Helsinki Ice Hall |