While the tournament didn't go as hoped, Airdrie hockey product Josh Davies enjoyed the experience of a lifetime in late April, suiting up for Team Canada at the 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships in Landshut and Kaufbeuren, Germany.
The 18-year-old Swift Current Broncos forward, who previously played for the Airdrie Xtreme AAA U15 team and the Springbank-based Edge School for student-athletes, played in three of Canada's four games at the tournament in Germany, recording one assist.
In the round robin, Canada – the defending U18 IIHF world champions – lost to the U.S. 8-3 on April 23, but followed up the setback by beating Germany by the same scoreline two days later. The Canadians then lost 6-5 in overtime to Czechia in their final round-robin fixture on April 26, putting the team in a quarterfinal against Finland.
In what was perhaps a sense of Déja vu, Canada fell to the Fins 6-5 in overtime on April 28, knocking the team out of medal contention. Canada led 5-3, but conceded two goals in the third period as the Fins forced overtime. Buoyed by their impressive comeback, Finland scored just 30 seconds into the extra stanza to knock the Canadians out and book a spot in the semis.
Davies laced his skates for Canada's games against the U.S., Czechia, and Finland, playing mostly on the fourth line.
Shortly before his trip to Germany, Davies wrapped up his second season in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He played 64 games for the Broncos in the 2021-22 WHL campaign, registering 16 goals and 20 assists in his sophomore junior season.
