Flyers prospects Jack Berglund, Heikki Ruohonen shine at World Junior Summer Showcase
The event last week in Minneapolis served as a chance for Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States to evaluate their World Junior talent pool. Several Flyers impressed.
The annual World Junior Summer Showcase has become an important event on the hockey calendar in recent years, as it provides players one last chance to impress their respective selection committees ahead of World Juniors, while also doubling as a platform for NHL teams to flex their muscles in terms of their prospect pools.
Let’s just say the Flyers could be forgiven for liking what they saw in the mirror last week in Minneapolis, as the team boasted an NHL-high seven participants, headlined by recent No. 6 overall pick Porter Martone.
While much of the pre-event intrigue surrounded Martone and Jett Luchanko, the latter of whom was invited but did not participate because of a groin injury, a few less-heralded Flyers prospects stole the show. Here’s a look at how each of the team’s representatives performed over the week.
Porter Martone, Canada: The headliner as far as Flyers fans were concerned, Martone had a solid if unspectacular week with a goal and an assist in two games for the Canadians, who underwhelmed a bit despite a star-studded pool of players. Martone, who scored his goal on a breakaway against Finland, is a lock to make Canada’s World Junior team and largely played alongside Gavin McKenna on Canada’s top line. Martone, who will not be at rookie camp or main training camp after signing with Michigan State, will make his NCAA debut on Oct. 9 vs. New Hampshire.
» READ MORE: Flyers’ Porter Martone going to Michigan State could be the best outcome for all involved
Jack Berglund, Sweden: Raise your hand if you had Berglund leading the entire event in scoring. That’s what we thought. But the 2024 second-round pick did just that, scoring four goals and leading the tournament with seven points while captaining Sweden. While there have been some questions about Berglund’s skating and ceiling, he quieted some of those last week — and at development camp — by playing a power game and showcasing deft hands and skill in front of the net. The 6-foot-4, 209-pound Berglund will play for Färjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League this season and is expected to be a top-two center for Sweden at the World Junior Championship. The 19-year-old’s stock is rising and he is definitely one to keep close tabs on this season.
Heikki Ruohonen, Finland: While Berglund was the breakout star from a Flyers perspective, don’t overlook what was a tidy week from Ruohonen. The Harvard-bound Finn tallied a goal and four assists, and fits right into the hardworking style of play that embodies Finnish hockey. Ruohonen, a fourth-round pick last year, is a detail-oriented center who plays both sides of the puck, has good wheels, and also possesses some playmaking instincts. He seems to always perform on the international stage, and will be a key member of Finland’s WJC team this winter.
Spencer Gill, Canada: The rangy, 6-4, 194-pound Gill had a mixed tournament and will likely need a big season if he is to crack Canada’s World Junior roster. The 2024 second-rounder scored in the scrimmage between the two Canadian teams but also had some tough moments defensively, including an own goal against Sweden. The defenseman, who missed the second half of last season with a foot injury, is a player who caught Rick Tocchet’s eye at development camp and will continue his development next season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, where he was just traded in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Shane Vansaghi, United States: There isn’t a lot of “pretty” to Vansaghi’s game, but sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To a coach, Vansaghi brings a lot of attractive attributes to the rink, namely size (6-3, 217) and a willingness to battle both on the walls and behind the net. But while Vansaghi is known first and foremost as a meat-and-potatoes-type player, he also has an impressive shot and some good hands. He showcased that at times in Minneapolis and would seem to have the inside track to a WJC roster spot, given there aren’t many players in the pool like him. The rising Michigan State sophomore scored the game-winner for the Americans after pouncing on a loose puck in front of the net against Finland.
Jack Murtagh, United States: Another player who will likely need a big year to crack the World Juniors roster, Murtagh played in a bottom-six role during the WJSS. The 2025 second-round pick had an assist against Finland in the Americans’ only win of the event. He will head to Boston University in the fall, where he will play alongside fellow Flyers prospects Carter Amico and Phoenixville’s Owen McLaughlin.
Max Westergård, Finland: One of the younger players at the event, the 17-year-old Westergård played up and down Finland’s lineup and showcased flashes of his skating ability and hockey sense. He remains a bit of a project, but there are tools to work with and many believe the Flyers got good value with him in the fifth round. He’ll play this season for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League and be in contention to make Finland’s WJC roster.