The 2023 World Junior Championships was something to remember.
Multiple upsets, numerous contests decided in overtime, and Canada winning the gold medal once again.
Connor Bedard was the story of the tournament before and during the competition, and he will continue to be so in the weeks after. The 17-year-old phenom earned MVP, Best Forward and All-Star honors after setting multiple Canadian records. He finished the 2023 tournament first in goals, assists and points among all skaters.
MORE: Every record Connor Bedard broke at World Juniors 2023
Here are all the World Juniors 2023 prizes.
Junior World MVP 2023
Bedard’s performance at the 2023 World Juniors was for the history books. His 23 points are the fourth-highest total by a skater in a single tournament.
He set all-time Canadian World Juniors scoring and goal records, and set the mark for points and assists by a Canadian in a single competition. He also broke Jaromir Jagr’s record for points in a tournament by a player under 18 years of age.
The first consensus pick of the 2023 NHL Draft recorded a point in every game for Canada, with the exception of the gold medal game.
Juniors World Management Awards 2023
- Best Forward: Connor Bedard (Canada)
- Best Defense: David Jiricek (Czech Republic)
- Best goalkeeper: Adam Gajan (Slovakia)
It’s no surprise that Bedard also gets Best Forward honors.
Jiricek was a big part of the Czech Republic’s run to the championship game. He finished his tournament with seven points and was a workhorse at the back.
Gajan played in just four games but was sensational for Slovakia in their quarterfinal win over Canada. He was called up to join the team just days before the tournament and started as the No. 3 goaltender. He eventually stole the starting job and finished games with a 2.40 goals-against average and a world-leading .936 save percentage. tournament.
World Juniors 2023 Media All-Stars
- Forward: Connor Bedard (Canada), Logan Cooley (United States), Jiri Kulich (Czech Republic)
- Defenders: Ludvig Jansson (Sweden), David Jiricek (Czech Republic)
- Goalie: Tomas Suchanek (Czech Republic)
In addition to his Most Valuable Player and Best Forward awards, Bedard earned media All-Star team honors, joining Cooley and Kulich on the forward line.
Cooley finished second among all skaters with 14 points in the tournament. Kulich’s seven goals were tied with Cooley for second, with both trailing only Bedard.
Jiricek joined the defense with Jansson, who finished tied for the Swedish team lead in points with 10.
Czechia do not reach the gold medal game without Suchanek. The undrafted goaltender was stellar for the Czechs, finishing first of all goaltenders in goals-against average (1.52) and second in save percentage (.934%).
