A look at the World Juniors on cardboard

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

The two teams in the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship game have been decided: USA vs. Sweden.

Team USA earned its way in by defeating Team Canada 5-1 in a semifinal. The tournament featured many up-and-coming stars, including a few players coming off their NHL rookie seasons.

The World Juniors is for athletes under 20 years old, allowing players such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Mark Scheifele to compete.

Here’s a look at the teams that made it to the final stage and some of the players that have cards on the market (after the jump):

USA

Alex Galchenyuk
World Juniors: Two goals, six assists in six games.
Galchenyuk has a number of cards for collectors to chase. He was drafted third overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.
Stats: 45 cards, 13 autograph cards
Notable Cards:
-2010-11 ITG Heroes and Prospects
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs
-2012-13 ITG Superlative Prospect Autographs Silver /50

SWEDEN

Filip Forsberg
World Juniors: Three goals, two assists
Selected 11th overall by the Washington Capitals in 2012
Stats: Five cards
Notable cards
-2011-12 Hockey/Allsvenskan

Sebastian Collberg
World Juniors: Four goals, two assists in five games
Collberg was drafted 33rd overall in 2012 by Montreal.
Stats: Four cards
Notable cards:
-2011-12 Swedish SHL Elitset

Victor Rask
World Juniors: Two goals and two assists
Second round pick for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012
Stats: Four cards, including two autos
Notable cards:
-2010-11 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs

CANADA

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
World Juniors: Two goals, five assets
2011-12 NHL rookie with Edmonton
Stats: 582 cards, 242 autos
-2011-12 The Cup JSU/AU /93
-2011-12 Upper Deck Ice RC /99
-2011-12 Dominion JSY AU /99 RC

Jonathan Huberdeau
World Juniors: Two goals, five assists
Selected third overall in 2011 by Florida
Stats: 57 cards, six autos
Notable cards:
-2010-11 ITG Heroes and Prospects autographs
-2012 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Autographs
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects

Ryan Strome
World Juniors: 4 goals, 2 assists
Selected fifth overall in 2011 by the Islanders
Stats: 42 cards, 7 autos
Notable Card:
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs

Mark Scheifele
World Juniors: Four goals, two assists
2011-12 NHL rookie with the Winnipeg Jets
Stats: 227 cards, 21 RC, 114 autos
Notable cards:
-2011-12 The Cup JSY AU RC /99
-2011-12 Upper Deck Ice /99 RC
-2011-12 Dominion JSY AU /99 RC

SWITZERLAND

Dario Simion
World Juniors: Two goals, three assists in five games.
Stats: Three cards not press plates
Notable Cards:
-2011-12 Swiss SNL
-2011-12 Swiss SNL Promos
-2011-12 Swiss SNL Top Prospects

RUSSIA

Nail Yakupov
World Juniors: One goal, five assists
No. 1 NHL draft pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2012
Stats: 54 cards, 15 autographs
Notable cards:
-2012-13 ITG Superlative Prospect Jersey Autographs Silver /30
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects UPD

Mikhail Grigorenko
World Juniors: Two goals, four assists
Selected 12th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2012
Stats: 15 cards, two autos
Notable cards:
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs UPD

GERMANY

Tobias Rieder
World Juniors: Two goals in five games
Selected in the fourth round of the 2011 draft by Edmonton
Stats: Two cards
-2010-11 ITG Heroes and Prospects
-2010-11 Kitchener Rangers

FINLAND

Markus Granlund
World Juniors: Five goals and four assists
Selected in the second round of the 2011 draft by Calgary
Stats: Two cards
-2010-11 Finnish Cardset
-2010-11 Finnish Cardset Young Guns

Joel Armia
World Juniors: Three goals, five assists in five games
Selected 16th overall in the 2011 draft by Buffalo
Stats: Three cards
-2010-11 Finnish Cardset
-2010-11 Finnish Cardset Young Guns
-2010-11 Finnish Cardset Game Worn Jerseys

CZECH

Martin Frk
World Juniors: Two goals, one assist
Second-round draft pick by Detroit in 2012
Stats: Seven cards, three autos
Notable cards:
-2010-11 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs
-2011-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autographs UPD SP

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Hockey. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here.