Canada's all-time best world junior players: 25-21
In the lead-up to the 2022 World Junior Championship, we're looking back at the 25 best players to wear the Canadian jersey at the tournament. Rather than evaluating entire careers, these rankings are based solely on performances during the world juniors. We'll reveal five players each day, culminating with the best of the best Dec. 25.
25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1
25. Marc Denis (1996, 1997)
| Record | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|
| 7-0-2 | 1.67 | .939 |
Denis won a gold medal with Team Canada in consecutive years, though he took a back seat to Jose Theodore in 1996. He still played in two games and registered a .962 save percentage, but his time to shine came in '97.
That squad wasn't the favorite entering the tournament and lacked the star power Canadians have since grown accustomed to, but Denis stood tall. He hung tough in a 3-2 victory against a dangerous Russian team in the semifinals and pitched a 35-save shutout against the United States the following night to lead Canada to a fifth straight world junior title. Denis was named goaltender of the tournament for his exploits.
24. Marty Murray (1994, 1995)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 7 | 12 |
Murray helped Canada win back-to-back gold medals in 1994 and '95, and he was stellar in his second stint with the junior team. Murray was named the latter tournament's best forward after tying teammate Jason Allison for the overall points lead with 15 over seven games.
He also ranked second among all skaters in goals after producing a goal and three assists across seven contests in the previous year. Murray is tied for sixth on Canada's all-time world junior points list.
23. Marc-Andre Fleury (2003, 2004)
| Record | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|
| 8-2-0 | 1.69 | .924 |
Fleury was unable to get his hands on a gold medal in his two world juniors but still nabbed back-to-back silvers in 2003 and '04. Despite the heartbreak of coming up just short in both years, Fleury's legacy at the tournament is remembered to this day.
In his first go, he led Canada to the championship game with his stellar play before falling 3-2 to Russia. Despite the loss, Fleury was named top goaltender and tournament MVP. The Pittsburgh Penguins then loaned the prized No. 1 pick to Canada the following year, and he once again led the team to the finals. However, his mistake in the dying minutes against the U.S. cost his country the gold.
With the game tied 3-3 and time winding down, Fleury left his net to play a loose puck. His clearing attempt hit teammate Braydon Coburn and bounced back into his own net. The Americans held on to win 4-3. Despite the blunder and two failures to capture gold, Fleury remains one of the best goalies to suit up for Canada at the world juniors.
22. Devon Levi (2021)
| Record | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|
| 6-1-0 | 0.75 | .964 |
Levi and Canada's 2021 outfit looked impenetrable for the majority of last year's tournament. The 19-year-old netminder started all the games and posted three shutouts, two of which came in the quarters and semis.
His numbers were undeniably great, but he and his compatriots ultimately fell short, stumbling to a 2-0 loss to the U.S. in the gold-medal game. It's safe to say Levi would be higher on our list if Canada had clinched the championship.
21. Shayne Corson (1985, 1986)
| GP | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 9 | 10 |
Corson was a key supporting member on Canada's gold-medal winning squad in 1985 but was truly a man among boys in '86, sharing the tournament lead in both goals (seven) and points (14) while wearing the "C." Canada was unable to repeat in '86 but did bring home silver due in large part to Corson's efforts.
Familiarity may have played a part in Corson's dominant performance in '86. The tournament took place at a brand new Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, where Corson played his junior hockey with the OHL's Hamilton Steelhawks.
"It's one of the greatest moments I've had in my hockey career for sure," Corson told the Hamilton Spectator in 2014. "I would put the world juniors right up there with anything in my career."
The tournament wasn't as popular in the '80s as it is now, but Corson almost certainly would've been a fan favorite today due to his punishing style of play and offensive touch.