The Chicago Blackhawks will have all nine of their affiliated players at the IIHF World Championship tournament in the quarterfinal round. Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, and the United States finished in a top-four spot in their respective group to advance to the knockout round, which starts Thursday.
Forwards Dominik Kubalik (three goals, three assists) and Lukas Reichel (two goals, four assists) lead Chicago’s contingent in scoring through the group stage. Forward Philipp Kurashev is second with four points (one goal, three assists), followed by defenseman Nikita Zadorov (three assists).
Forward Brandon Pirri has two goals, defenseman Nicolas Beaudin has one assist, and forward Max Shalunov scored one goal. Brandon Hagel, a forward, has yet to find the scoresheet. Goaltender Drew Commesso joined the tournament after Anthony Stolarz of the Anaheim Ducks sustained a lower-body injury.
Two quarterfinal games will see Blackhawks-affiliated players face off: Switzerland (Kurashev) vs. Germany (Reichel) and Russia (Shalunov, Zadorov) vs. Canada (Beaudin, Hagel, Pirri).
