Winnipeg Jets: Cole Perfetti and Canada Start IIHF World Championship Today

Although all eyes are on the NHL playoffs and the Winnipeg Jets vs. Oilers game tonight, there is another hockey tournament starting today.

This morning, the 2021 IIHF World Championship started in Riga Latvia. The tournament features sixteen countries and will conclude with the Gold Medal Game on June 6.

The teams are split into two groups of eight teams. Each team will face off against each team in their group and then the top four teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal rounds are all single elimination games.

Winnipeg Jets prospect, Cole Perfetti will be representing Canada who play in their first game of the tournament today

Canada and Perfetti will be facing off against host country, Latvia today at 12:15 p.m. central time. Today’s game can be watched on TSN (in Canada) and NHLN (in the United States).

Perfetti was selected in the first round in last summers’ NHL entry draft and spent the whole season with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.

The nineteen-year-old had a terrific first professional season with Manitoba. In 32 games played, Perfetti had nine goals and seventeen assists.

This will be the second time this year that Perfetti will be representing Team Canada. At the start of 2021, Perfetti represented Canada at the under-twenty level at the IIHF World Junior Championship. En route to a silver medal, Perfetti had two goals and four assists in six games.

This tournament will be another great opportunity for Perfetti as he continues his growth as a hockey player. Perfetti will be tested against many established NHL players, who are representing their respective nations at this tournament.

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you think Cole Perfetti and Canada will win Gold at this year’s World Championship? Leave your comments below!

*All Stats Provided by Elite Prospects*