Three LA Kings prospects featured in two TV games today

The World Junior Championship kicks off today in Alberta, Canada. For those unfamiliar, it's the top tournament on the planet featuring under-20 year old hockey players. Last year, Russia came back from a several goal deficit in the third period to top Canada for the gold medal. And Team USA defeated Sweden 4-2 for the bronze medal.

While many of the Kings current roster has participated in past tournaments - including Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson and Mike Richards - it was some of their top prospects who won gold, silver and bronze medals at the WJC.

Brayden Schenn of Team Canada was traded to Philadelphia over the summer for Richards. Maxim Kitsyn is back home playing in Russia. Yet, Derek Forbort of Team USA has returned for a second year.

Here's a quick overview of the three LA Kings prospects in this year's tournament...

USA - Derek Forbort, defenseman, University of North Dakota, first round selection 2010 NHL Draft

USA - Kevin Gravel, defenseman, St. Cloud St. University, fifth round selection 2010 NHL Draft

Finland - Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL), second round selection 2011 NHL Draft

Four LA Kings prospects make preliminary WJC rosters

Later this week we'll have a full prospect report posted, including a look at what's going on out east with the Manchester Monarchs.

For now, here's the big news of the day...

Team Finland and the USA have submitted their preliminary rosters for the upcoming World Junior Championships (Canada's was released last week).

This is the top tournament in the world for the 'under-20' aged hockey players and many of the games will be televised in the U.S. on the NHL Network.

Four LA Kings prospects have made the lists...

USA - Derek Forbort, defenseman, University of North Dakota, first round selection 2010 NHL Draft

USA - Kevin Gravel, defenseman, St. Cloud St. University, fifth round selection 2010 NHL Draft

Finland - Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL), second round selection 2011 NHL Draft

Canada - Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67's (OHL), second round selection 2010 NHL Draft

For Team USA, a total roster of 30 players was announced. They will hold a pre-tourney camp from December 17-23 and their final 22-player roster will be known December 22.

Meanwhile, Canada put out a roster of 41 players, who will start their camp this Saturday in Calgary. Toffoli, who was the leading goal scorer in all of junior hockey last year, was a surprise omission from last year's team and he'll be looking to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again.

Invitee Interview - David Friedmann talks Kings Dev Camp

Friedmann, Team Canada

Of the 35 kids participating in the Kings annual Development Camp, only one player - David Friedmann - still calls the OJHL home. It's a junior-A hockey league, one step below the more well known major-junior leagues, like the OHL and WHL.

Back in the day, reigning NHL Rookie of the Year, Jeff Skinner, wore an OJHL sweater - long before anybody knew him as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.

And another Kings camper, Andy Andreoff - fresh off of being drafted in the third round two weeks ago, also spent some time in the league a few years ago. He played for the Pickering Panthers, his hometown team, before moving on to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.

Soon, Friedmann will be taking his skills elsewhere too, as he'll eventually head off to Robert Morris University.

However that's another year away.  This season he'll be back in familiar territory. He was traded this past season from his long-time team, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, to the stronger Georgetown Raiders.  Yet, it was a short term deal that called for him to return to the Canadiens once the season ended.

Before that part of his life resumes, he'll be taking part in the Kings Development Camp. In the interview below he talks about how that all came together for him, which player he's already met, playing oversees, Sidney Crosby and much more...

MM: Let's talk stats. Your numbers saw a huge spike up at the start of this season - going from four goals in 47 games two seasons ago to 16 goals in 33 games before the trade. What changed for you?

OLYMPICS: Grand Goodbye on a Bronzed Stage

Vancouver, BC - Two legends of the game will bid farewell to the Olympics later tonight. One will definitely leave with the record for the most points scored in Olympic history. He could also leave with a bronze medal...or it will hang from the neck of his former cross town rival in Southern California.

Ziggy Palffy, a star for the LA Kings a decade ago, and Temmu Selanne, still chipping in goals for the Anaheim Ducks, will lead their respective countries. Truth be told, neither was really expected to medal this year. Just don't tell Ziggy or Teemu that - they don't want to hear that type of noise.

Palffy had 329 goals in the NHL, 150 with the Kings. He's now playing in Europe and has been telling reporters all week long the only reason he came back this year is to play in these Olympics. He's one game away from going home with his first medal.

Selanne has 597 NHL goals and is the all-time Ducks leader in games played, goals and points. He also won a Stanley Cup with the team in 2007. He's expected to retire this spring.

So, this is it. The swan song for two of the best players of their generation. Like most games, this will probably come down to goaltending. As recently as three days ago many would have said that favored the Finish team, with Miikka Kiprusoff in net. However, after getting shellacked by Team USA on Friday he pulled himself from the game and headed straight to the locker room. He may already be back in Calgary or Finland by now. Who knows if he'll be right between the ears come game time.

Kings fans will have plenty to cheer for in this game. Joining Palffy on Team Slovakia are former Kings Pavol Demitra, Lubomir Visnovsky, Joseph Stumpel and current Kings warrior Michal Handzus.

The final North American game for Ziggy Palffy. Can he and the EuroKings defeat Teemu and the Fins? Come on Ziggy - make Kings fans everywhere proud...down the Duck!

Puck drops at 7pm PST.

The Mayor
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For more Olympics coverage on MayorsManor - including some exclusive photos - simply type OLYMPICS in the search box near the top left corner of this page.

WJC Recap: Saturday's Quarterfinals

The best tournament in the world for NHL prospects continued in Saskatchewan on Saturday.

The U.S. will live to play another day and the hoped for rematch with Canada is still alive. However, it will take a strong game from the entire team to beat a loaded Sweden squad on Sunday. Plus, Switzerland is trying to steal the headlines as a possible Cinderella team.

Highlights from the two Quarterfinal games:

United States 6, Finland 2

American goaltender Mike Lee was the player of the game - looks like he is the #1 goalie for the remainder of the tournament. Jordan Schroeder passed Jeremy Roenick with his three assists, giving him the most points all-time for a U.S. born player at the WJC.

A trio of Original Six draft picks - Chris Kreider (NY Rangers), Jerry D'Amigo (Toronto) and Danny Kristo (Montreal Canadiens) - had big games as well. Kristo and Kreider remained uber hot for the USA team, each scoring another goal. They both have five goals overall - just one shy of Slovakia's Richard Panik, who currently leads the WJC this year with six goals. D'Amigo had two goals in the game, his second and third of the tourney.

Switzerland 3, Russia 2
It took overtime to decide this one and somehow the Swiss were able to upset the team many people predicted would be playing for gold on Tuesday. Swiss goaltender Benjamin Conz played lights out in goal, finishing the game with 50 saves. Meanwhile, his teammate Nino Niederreiter had two dramatic goals. First, he tied the game with just 33 seconds left in regulation. Then, about 10 minutes into the OT he scored the game winner. He's expected to be a first round pick at the 2010 NHL Draft and right now his stock is probably rising.

Semi final match-ups for Sunday:

Switzerland vs. Canada - 1pm PST

United States vs. Sweden - 6pm PST

Both games will be shown live on the NHL Network. The winners will meet for the Gold Medal on Tuesday, while the other two teams will play for the Bronze.

The Mayor

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