World Juniors 2020: Best moments from Alexis Lafreniere as Canada star named tournament MVP

Jackie Spiegel

•
World Juniors 2020: Best moments from Alexis Lafreniere as Canada star named tournament MVP image

The weight of Canada was on the shoulders of Alexis Lafreniere when he landed in the Czech Republic for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. Questions abounded about the roster construct and how the 18-year-old would fare.

By the last Sunday of the tournament, Canada was golden and Lafreniere was the tournament's MVP.

The Saint-Eustache, Que., native racked up 10 points (four goals, six assists) in just five games after he missed the two final preliminary games with a leg injury. Expected to be the No. 1 pick in June's draft, the Rimouski Oceanic forward may have just cemented that slot with his performance in his second trip to the tournament as he was also named the best forward by the IIHF and was selected as one of the top forwards by the media.

MORE: Social media reacts to TV camera becoming unexpected World Juniors hero 

Here's a quick look at some of Lafreniere's best moments from the tournament.

Game-winner vs. the United States

Nothing like starting the tournament against one of your rivals. On Boxing Day against the United States, Lafreniere showed why this year's tournament would be different than the previous edition where he scored only one goal in five games. In the third period against the U.S., he used his pristine eye-hand coordination to knock the K'Andre Miller pass out of mid-air and net the game-winner.

Silky mitts

While he's not afraid to play a physical game at times, he kept GMs salivating with stickwork and the ability to get out of tight situations.

Scores in return

After missing two games, he returned in commanding fashion. Less than seven minutes into the game he set up Barrett Hayton to get the Canadians on the board.

Then in the second period, he tallied his own goal.

Two goals in revenge game vs. Finland

One of five players returning from last year's squad that lost to the Finns in the quarterfinals, Lafreniere potted two goals in this year's semifinal to insure the Canadians trip to the gold-medal game.

Jackie Spiegel