December 30, 2010

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The annual IIHF World Junior Championship is generally seen as a sneak preview of future NHL stars before they reach the pinnacle of the sport.

In some cases, players have already reached the NHL when they suit up for their country. Such is the case for Americans Nick Leddy and Jeremy Morin of the Chicago Blackhawks and Kyle Palmieri of the Anaheim Ducks.

Combined the trio have 25 games of NHL experience with Palmieri leading the way with 10. All three have scored their first NHL goals and Morin has two this season. Each player said they bring lessons they learned at the game's highest professional level to their current situation playing for the elite junior world championship.

"It can only help playing at that level and that intensity," Morin said. "Night in and night out it was a good experience for me and my development. I took a lot out of it that I can translate into this (tournament)."

The difference between the top junior hockey players and the NHL boils down, the U.S. players said, to size, speed and experience. Read more >>