Poitras of the Bruins will represent Canada in the World Junior Championship in 2024.
The Boston Bruins have sent Matthew Poitras to Canada to compete in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, which gets underway on December 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
In 27 games this season, the 19-year-old forward has 13 points (eight goals and eight assists) for the Bruins. In the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Boston selected him with pick number 54.
Poitras said on Monday that he spoke with general manager Don Sweeney and found out the Bruins would let him to play in the WJC.
At the conclusion of the tournament, he will rejoin the Bruins.
Poitras stated, “Until a few days ago, I really didn’t know.” “We had an excellent discussion about it and it’s the World Juniors. Playing in the World Juniors is the ambition of every Canadian child growing up. This is essentially your last chance. Cannot return to play the next year. We both believe that going over there to play is a great chance. It’s going to be a great time.
When it announced its World Juniors lineup on December 13, Canada left one spot available for a forward in the hopes that one of the NHL teams would free up a player for the competition before the NHL holiday roster freeze took effect on Wednesday.
Zach Benson of the Buffalo Sabres and Poitras were the front-runners.
“This is quite an accomplishment for all young hockey players, a chance to represent their country at one of the biggest stages,” Sweeney stated. The fact that he is now playing in the NHL makes it special. What’s the trade-off is likely the first thought that crosses anyone’s mind. However, there truly isn’t anything to lose for him to go represent that team, take the lead, and, ideally, achieve the ultimate goal, which is something that all young hockey players get to try to achieve. We’re thrilled for Matty, who will do a fantastic job representing the Boston Bruins, his family, and himself.”
After training camp, Poitras was added to the Bruins roster, and in his first six games, he scored five points (two goals, one assist).
Including Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Rangers, in which he played 14:44, his most ice time in six games, he had two assists in his previous three games.
“This is what gets him to a chance to mentally and physically to have a little bit of a reset and go play against your peer group,” Sweeney stated. “Once more, he’s been thrown into high-pressure scenarios at the best level he can play at, with tremendous expectations and pressures. He ought to manage that nicely. He need to lead by example, teaching his new teammates the lessons he learns from the events that transpire in our locker room. That’s our desired outcome. And he’ll return and reintegrate with our group.”
Canada plays Finland in the opening World Junior match on December 26 (8:30 a.m. ET; NHLN, TSN). The competition, which Canada has won the previous two years, is open until January 5.
“You never want to leave the NHL, but I’m excited to get over there and play for my country,” Poitras stated. “I promise never to gripe about that. It is indeed a dream realized.
