ST. PAUL, MN – Four games filled the Friday slate as the 2026 IIHF World Juniors kicked off. Two Bruins prospects were in action during the Friday slate of the tournament, with one more on standby.

There was also a Bruins prospect who saw action today for the US Collegiate Selects. The Collegiate Selects are taking part in the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland.

James Hagens and Will Zellers suited up for Team USA. Hagens, who is playing in his second World Juniors, centered the first line for the red, white, and blue. Will Zellers, who made the team after being a late invite to training camp, started as the fourth-line left winger. Hagens and Zellers also skated on the USA power play; Hagens was on the first unit, and Zellers was on the second.

Will Zellers was the first Bruins prospect to hit the score sheet for the United States. He picked up the primary assist on Chase Reid’s first goal of the night, which gave the USA a 2-0 lead. Zellers would continue to have a great night; he would score the fourth United States goal, and then lasered home the fifth US goal. Zellers played in 13:49, connected on both of his shots, and picked up an assist to help propel the United States to a victory.

His two goals and assist matched his output during the United States’ 8-0 win over Germany in pre-tournament action. 

It did not take long for James Hagens to join Zellers on the score sheet. Just a few minutes after Zellers’ first point, Hagens would have the secondary assist on Will Horcoff’s goal to give the US a 3-0 lead in the first. Hagens would finish the game with three shots and a plus-one rating in 18:04 of ice time.

The USA ended up defeating Germany by a score of 6-3.

Vashek Blanar was held out of tonight’s game for Czechia, but he is in Minnesota and ready to go. He is the third Bruins prospect playing in the World Juniors. There was uncertainty regarding the Czech roster due to an injury to Radim Mrtka. However, as the Czech team noted in their roster reveal, Blanar is with the team and could go in for any of these games. Any changes to the lineup are possible in the event of an injury. The Czechs took on Canada at 8:30 PM on Friday and will play Denmark on Saturday at 8:30 PM ET.

Spengler Cup

That was not it for Bruins prospects today. Ryan Walsh put on a US Collegiate Selects sweater for the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. They played against a James Reimer-led Canadian team on Friday afternoon.

Walsh skated on the third line for the Collegiate Selects. He picked up 12:58 of ice time and finished with a plus-one rating. The Canadians scored three goals in 6:41 in the second, and that proved to be too much for the Collegiate Selects, who ultimately fell to Team Canada, 3-2.

Chris Pelosi did not play in Friday’s game.

The Collegiate Selects are back in action on Saturday at 2:15 PM ET. They will be squaring off against the hosts, HC Davos. The game can be found on the Spengler Cup YouTube channel.