Islanders prospects Räty, Liukas earn spot on Finnish World Junior team

New York Islanders' top prospect 2021 second-round pick Aatu Räty and two other Islanders' prospects were named to Finland's World Junior hockey team on Wednesday. The 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships are set to take place from August 9 through August 20, 2022, in Edmonton.

Räty will be joined by 2021 5th round selection (157th overall) Eetu Liukas and 202 6th round pick (183rd overall) Matias Rajaniemi. Liukas finished his first full season with TPS of Finland's SM-Liiga last season scoring eight goals in 48 games while playing on the third and fourth line. Rajaniemi was one of the youngest players in the 2020 draft. He had one goal and six assists in 58 games for the Lahti Pelicans of Liiga.

Finland collected bronze in the 2021 World Junior Championships defeating Russia 4-1 to earn a medal. The USA, behind tournament MVP Trevor Zegras, defeated Canada 2-0 to win the gold. In a World Junior Championships U20 tune-up game on Tuesday Finland beat Switzerland 2-1 with Räty collecting two assists.

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship was initially scheduled to occur from December 26, 2021, through January 5, 2022, but was canceled after four days due to coronavirus concerns. Ahead of the tournament last year, Räty tested positive for COVID-19 and did not travel for the tournament.