Slovakia to have two of their three 2022 first-round picks on World Junior roster

While it's unclear whether or not first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky will be loaned by the Montreal Canadiens, Hockey Slovakia will be getting two other first-round picks from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft for their World Junior roster.

According to former NHLer and current President of Hockey Slovakia, Miroslav Satan, New Jersey Devils prospect Simon Nemec and Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar will be on their roster for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

Nemec, 18, was drafted second overall by the Devils in July and has had quite the year on the international stage, playing at the 2022 Olympics in February and 2022 World Championship in May.

In 19 games for New Jersey's AHL affiliate, Utica, Nemec has seven points (two goals, five assists), two penalty minutes and is a plus-six.

As for Filip Mesar, he was Montreal's second first-round pick in July's draft, being selected 26th overall. After a strong training camp, Mesar was assigned to the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League. In 15 games for Kitchener, the Kezmarok native has 18 points (eight goals, ten assists), four penalty minutes and is a minus-three.

Slovakia will be in Group B and will face Finland (December 27th), United States (December 28th), Latvia (December 30th) and Switzerland (December 31st).

I can confirm that two (2022) first round picks Šimon Nemec and Filip Mešár will play for Slovakia🇸🇰 at 2022 World Junior Championship.— Miroslav Šatan (@miro81s) December 8, 2022

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