Medicine Hat Tigers forward Lukas Svejkovsky (Photo courtesy of Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers)

By Scott Roblin

Fighting for a Spot

Tigers’ Svejkovsky aiming to make impression at U.S. World Junior Showcase

Jun 17, 2020 | 5:17 PM

POINT ROBERTS, WA – Growing up on a small exclave of the United States south of Vancouver, Medicine Hat Tigers forward Lukas Svejkovsky is no stranger to crossing the border multiple times a day.

Living mere minutes from the Point Roberts border crossing, the 18-year-old has been forced to remain stateside for much of the last few months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The border was pretty strict for the first couple months of quarantine,” said Svejkovsky. “So, I kind of just stayed at home and was working out in my gym for the first month and a half.”

That’s not a problem now for the Tigers speedster however, as it’s south of the border where he’ll play for a chance to represent the United States at the 2021 World Juniors.

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On Tuesday, Svejkovsky was one of just five Canadian Hockey League players named to USA Hockey’s 43-man roster for next month’s World Junior Summer Showcase.

The camp will see invitees evaluated by USA Hockey staff ahead of the 2021 tournament, where the United States is looking for its fifth medal in six years.

“I can’t take my foot off the gas pedal,” said Svejkovsky. “I just got to keep on working so I can hopefully have a shot at making the team, which obviously has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid watching the World Juniors every Christmas dreaming for the opportunity to play for Team USA and going for a gold medal. So, I got a shot right now and I’m excited for sure.”

Svejkovsky became a fixture in Medicine Hat’s top six following a trade from the Vancouver Giants in December, netting close to a point per game with 13 goals and 28 points in 34 games after being acquired.

Nine players from last year’s Team USA will be attending the camp, along with eight first round picks from the 2019 NHL Draft.

Competing for spots among the likes of top prospects Cole Caufield, Matthew Boldy, Alex Turcotte and Trevor Zegras, Svejkovsky said it’s a chance for him to raise his game to an elite level.

“There are some huge names there, a lot of first rounders, a lot of guys at the tournament last year,” said Svejkovsky. “It was nice for me to just make the try out and now the work starts because I just got to make a name for myself there.”

The camp might end up being the second-best experience of the summer for Svejkovsky though, as he awaits for a date to be set for the 2020 NHL Draft.

Svejkovsky is ranked 165^th among North American skaters and is projected to be a mid-to-late round pick when NHL teams head to the draft table… whenever that is.

The uncertain date of the postponed online draft has put a bit of a damper on the festivities for Svejkovsky, though he’s keeping his attention on keeping his skills as sharp as possible.

“I haven’t been focused on it too much,” said Svejkovsky. “Whatever happens, happens. There’s nothing I can really do at this point, I’m just focused on making myself stronger and faster so if I do get the chance to go to an NHL camp I can be ready.”

The World Junior Summer Showcase will take place in Plymouth, Michigan from June 24-August 1.