Last week we considered the impressive list of players who aren't available for the World Junior (under-20) Hockey Championship, which began Boxing Day in Calgary and Edmonton.
Guys like Tyler Seguin and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are young enough to join their national teams. But they've already graduated to the NHL.
Rather than dwell on what might have been, let's turn our attention to three players who return from last year's junior event, three who are well-schooled in the wild ride the tournament annually proves to be.
That list is led by American goaltender Jack Campbell.
Having led the USA to a Gold Medal as a 17-year-old, and a Bronze Medal at the age of 18, Campbell returns for one more year.
His experience, and that of several other American returnees, gives the team a decided edge.
Even more intriguing is the return of Canadian goalie Mark Vistenin.
He was the man at the center of an epic collapse in the 2012 Gold Medal game.
Vistenin's attempt to shake off that nightmare will be one of this year's central stories.
Russia was the beneficiary of the 2011 Canadian meltdown, fashioning one of the great comebacks in recent history.
They couldn't have done it without Evgeny Kuznetsov, who had three assists in the Gold Medal game and finished second in tournament scoring.
Kuznetsov is the only returnee on what should be another strong Russian entry, and will surely be a central figure in his team's defense of the World title.
- 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship: Complete Schedule
- World Junior Hockey Championship Explained
- World Junior Hockey All-Time Medal Standings
- 2011 World Junior Review: Russia's Miracle on Ice
(Photo: Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
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