A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Erie, Pennsylvania – Preliminary rosters have been released by a number of countries ahead of the International Ice Hockey Federation's 2024 World Junior Championship tournament. With the announcement of the United States' and Slovakia's rosters over the weekend, the Erie Otters will send Carey Terrance (USA) and Martin Misiak (Slovakia) to training camps to find their way to the world-renowned tournament.
The 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships will be the 48th edition of the IIHF World Junior Championship and the seventh run of the tournament hosted by Sweden. The illustrious tournament will begin on December 26, 2023, and close on January 5, 2024 with the gold medal game.
For Carey Terrance, the born-and-developed Erie Otters forward has been nearly unstoppable in the first half of the 2023-24 Ontario Hockey League season. After being drafted 59th overall to the Anaheim Ducks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Terrance would be named an alternate captain to start his third-year in Erie. From the jump, Terrance has found offensive success – leading to a team-leading and top-20 ranking in the league in scoring with 32 points (20G+12A) with a +6 and four game-winning goals. The multi-level forward has showcased his ability to score and dish the puck, and is on-pace to surpass his career-high single-season goals, assists, and total points this season.
No stranger to playing on a national stage, Terrance's skill & ability was elevated to the highest stage of scouting among Canadian Hockey League players in January when he participated in the Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game. As part of the testing during Top Prospects week, Terrance ranked top-five in skating, weaving, transition ability, and reaction – ultimately being named the #3 overall performer of all players. With experience playing on either side of the border for Hockey Canada (2021 Capital City Challenge) and especially of late for USA Hockey (2021 Five Nations Tournament, 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, 2023 IIHF Under-18 World Junior Championships, 2023 U.S. World Junior Summer Showcase), Terrance has had the opportunity to showcase his potential alongside some of the best in his draft class. Off the ice, Terrance was recognized for his academic accomplishments as well by the OHL as a the second-place recipient of the 2023 Bobby Smith Trophy as OHL Scholastic Player of the Year.
Team USA will host training camp from December 14 to 16 in Plymouth, Michigan at USA Hockey Arena. The training camp will feature 29 players, with the final roster holding 25 total players.
A not-so-new member of the Erie Otters, Martin Misiak was selected to represent the preliminary roster of Slovakia – and for good reason. The #1 overall pick to Erie in the 2023 Canadian Hockey League Import draft and the 55th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft to the Chicago Blackhawks, Misiak's adaptation to the highest amateur level of the North American game has been nearly effortless. Fourth in team-scoring for Erie, Misiak has produced nearly a point-per-game in his "rookie" season in the OHL – grabbing 24 points (12G+12A) in 26 games. The crafty, skilled forward has been especially recognizable for his ability to elevate the skill and ability of those he plays alongside – especially fellow-countrymen Ondrej Molnar.
Making quite a name for himself in his home country prior to his time stateside, Misiak was granted the opportunity multiple times throughout the last few seasons to suit up for Team Slovakia in international competition. Misiak's international competitive experience has seen him play in the U18 & U20 World Junior Championships, winning a gold medal in the former.
Slovakia will kickoff the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship on December 26 – playing Czechia in Group B play.
The Erie Otters send their best wishes to Carey and Martin as they compete to make the final roster for their respective countries – and look to join current Otter Ben Gaudreau ('23) as rostered Otters with WJC experience, and be the first Otters players to play in the tournament since Jamie Drysdale ('21).
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