Sandin Pellikka, Augustine top Red Wings prospects at World Juniors

Here is a look at the four prospects the Detroit Red Wings have at the World Junior Championship in Ottawa, which starts Thursday and concludes Jan. 5:

Trey Augustine, USA: The goaltender will try to lead the United States to consecutive gold medals for the first time. He went 4-0 at this event last year, posting a 1.75 goals-against average and .936 save percentage, including a 24-save performance in a 6-2 victory over Sweden in the championship game.

Augustine is having an exceptional sophomore season for top-ranked Michigan State. He’s 11-2-1 with a 1.98 GAA and .930 save percentage.

Selected 41st overall in 2023, Augustine was named second-team All-Big Ten as a freshman and was the Big Ten Tournament MVP.

Max Plante, USA: The Red Wings described this left wing as a competitive playmaker with good hockey sense after selecting him 47th overall in the second round of the 2024 draft. Plante, 18, was a late addition to Team USA after being limited to five games (two goals, four assists) in his freshman season at Minnesota-Duluth due to a hand injury.

Plante (5-11, 180) played two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program, where he collected 11 goals and 53 points in 57 games.

Axel Sandin Pellikka, Sweden: The Red Wings are excited about this skilled defenseman’s potential. The captain of the World Junior team, this 19-year-old is having a terrific season with Skelleftea AIK, where he’s 10th overall in scoring (the highest among any player under 23) and first among all defensemen with eight goals and 22 points in 25 games.

This is Sandin Pellikka’s third World Junior appearance. He was named the top defenseman in the tournament last year when he picked up two goals and four assists in seven games. He has two goals and five assists in 14 World Junior games in two years.

The 17th overall pick in 2023, Sandin Pellikka should compete for a roster spot at Red Wings training camp next season.

Jesse Kiiskinen, Finland: A 19-year-old right wing who’s having a strong season for HPK in SM-liiga, with eight goals and 22 points in 26 games, the most points for any player under 20 in Finland’s top men’s league. He’s an alternate captain for the World Junior squad.

McKeen’s Hockey described Kiiskinen (6-0, 192) as a skilled forward with strong offensive instincts and creativity: “His vision and puck-handling ability enable him to generate scoring opportunities and make plays in tight spaces. While his defensive game and consistency need refinement.”

The Red Wings acquired Kiiskinen and a second-round pick (No. 53) from Nashville for defense prospect Andrew Gibson. They needed the pick as a sweetener so San Jose would take Jake Walman.