FIVE MINUTE MAJOR World Juniors and more this week from the Great White North

It’s a new week and one of the most exciting times in junior hockey as the World Junior Championships are taking place in Canada. Perhaps the biggest upset so far was on Friday when Latvia stunned Canada 3-2 in a shootout. Canada bounced back from that with a 3-0 shutout of Germany on Sunday. But then the Canadians ran into the US, who defeated them 4-1 on New Years Eve.

In news out of the WHL, Everett’s Landon DuPont was named WHL Player of the Week on Monday for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 29.

He led all WHL skaters this week with three goals and two assists for five points in two games. He continued his hot ways New Years Eve in the Silvertips’ game at Portland. In the New Years Eve clash he posted a goal and two assists.

DuPont was previously been named Rookie of the Month for September/October and Rookie of the Week on September 30.

His performance on the ice so far this season along with his teammates have helped to put the Silvertips solidly in first in the western conference and the WHL 12 points ahead of the No. 2 Prince George Cougars.

Once the new Canadian Hockey League (CHL) top 10 rankings come out, it should be expected for Everett to be at least middle of the pack, if not close to the top.

Prince George also made headlines as it was announced on Monday, goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen was named WHL Goaltender of the Week ending Sunday, Dec. 29.

The 18-year-old led all starting goalies with a 2-0-0-0 record, .96 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage in back-to-back road victories. He’s projected to be a top draft pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Over in the WHL’s eastern conference, the Edmonton Oil Kings have the Rookie of the Week ending Sunday, Dec. 29. Forward Joe Iginla impressed with three goals and an assist in two games. The three goals all came in one game as he collected his first career WHL hat trick.

Iginla is eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. In addition to his Rookie of the Week honors, he also earned a silver medal with Canada Red at the 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge in November, where he tallied two goals and one assist for three points in four games at the tournament. Edmonton currently sits about middle of the pack in a competitive WHL eastern conference.

New Years Eve saw quite a slate of games with more scheduled for Jan. 1 and the coming days. But it was the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild who impressed New Years Eve with a dominant 6-1 victory at home over the Kelowna Rockets. There was one shutout in the WHL as well as the Spokane Chiefs took down the Tri-City Americans 4-0. But in possibly crazier action in western British Columbia, the Vancouver Giants rallied on the road from down 6-2 to win 7-6 in a shootout over the Victoria Royals. It was ultimately the Giants pouring on the shots on goal as they won that battle as well 33-20.