As noted yesterday (with details here), the World Junior Summer Showcase starts tomorrow at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.
Red Wings prospects Trey Augustine, Max Plante, John Whipple (all for Team USA) and Jesse Kiiskinen (Finland) are going to take part as Canada, Team USA Blue, Team USA White, Finland and Sweden battle for summer hockey supremacy.
Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff profiled Augustine, Plante and Kiiskinen a little earlier this morning. Here’s his profile of Plante:
[Augustine was] taken 41st overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft, joining Augustine on the USA roster will be a pair of 2024 selections, forward Max Plante (47th overall) and defenseman John Whipple (144th overall).
Plante is the son of former NHL forward Derek Plante. Not surprisingly, growing up in a hockey environment, Plante’s hockey IQ is off the charts.
“Max is one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with,” said fellow Red Wings draftee Austin Baker. “His vision is really good. Super poised with the puck.”
Baker was teammates with both Plante and Whipple in the USNTDP, so he’s well-versed in the capabilities of both players.
“John’s a super strong kid, super hard to play against when going against him in practice,” Baker said of Whipple. “Seeing him in games, he’ll crush people. I definitely wouldn’t want to go against him on the other team.”
I don’t want to blow the Traverse City budget, so I may not be able to attend the WJSS sans a rental car, but I hope that you can get to Plymouth. The hockey is great and it’s going to be buzzing with Canada taking part in the tournament.
