The fallout from the 2025 world junior championship just keeps getting worse for Hockey Canada.
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere was the latest to voice criticism of Canadian junior team management on Tuesday, saying he disagreed with the usage of two of Philly's top prospects — forward Jett Luchanko and defenceman Oliver Bonk — at the tournament in Ottawa.
Canada was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Czechia for the second year in a row.
"We were disappointed in the role they gave (Luchanko), but when you look at the role they gave him, he performed great," Briere said at his midseason press conference with Flyers reporters. "We have higher expectations for him. He's probably the best skater in the world junior tournament and he barely played. That's out of our control, unfortunately. But in the role they gave him, he was excellent. We're excited about that."
Briere said Bonk's situation was "kind of the same thing.
"He had a big role but they put him in positions that are really not going to be his strength moving forward, which was really weird to us. But again, we don't have any control over that," said Briere, who won gold with Canada as a player at the 1997 world juniors.
Luchanko had one goal in five games at this year's event, while Bonk had one goal and one assist.
Luchanko, picked 13th overall by the Flyers last year, played four NHL games this season before being returned to the OHL's Guelph Storm, clearing the way for him to play in the world juniors.
Bonk, picked 22nd overall in 2023, plays for the OHL's London Knights.
Hockey Canada faced heavy criticism for roster selection and player usage after the disappointing finish at the world juniors.
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