The Philadelphia Flyers might not have the cream of the crop NHL prospects at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship taking place in Ottawa right now, but now definitely have goalscorers. Flyers 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko opened the scoring for Canada Friday night in group stage action against Latvia.
With the game scoreless after 20 minutes, Canada was shaking in their boots facing the one nation that seems to always play some uber defensive hockey that sometimes is impossible to crack. All it took, was a Jett.
Jett Luchanko scores a NASTY one to open the scoring for Canada pic.twitter.com/sgTAHZnJzs
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) December 28, 2024
With Latvia on a rare power play, Luchanko was guarding his own blue line, just hovering around the neutral-zone faceoff dot. The Latvians attempted to have a pass to the strong side winger for a zone entry, but as it dribbled through some legs, the Flyers center prospect pounced on the loose puck and raced to the other end of the ice with it heading quickly into the Latvian zone.
Fortunately, Luchanko used his top-tier speed to get to the puck before Latvian netminder Linards Feldbergs could get a hold of it. The 18-year-old center got possession in the slot and then swiftly went forehand, backhand, and roofed it over the sprawling goalie. Beautiful. Perfect.
Because of Luchanko, Canada earned a quick breather while facing a challenge. While Latvia isn’t the most naturally talented team, they sure do know how to play a system and they play it well. Here’s hoping more Flyers prospects can add some more to the score line.
Coming into this tournament, Luchanko was seen as just purely depth. One of the go-to penalty killers, and a secure bottom-six center was going to be his role. That’s it. Every single podcast you listen to talking about this event from a national angle never even mentioned his name as a key player or a player of note. And now, he has a goal after an incredibly impressive play that perfectly displayed why he was drafted as high as he was and why he made the NHL roster out of camp at barely 18 years old.
Maybe this goal (and some potential further solid play on Friday night) could give Canada the option to have Luchanko higher in the lineup, or at least give him more minutes and not see him as just a defensive option. Here’s hoping.
