The Blackhawks announced that Kirby Dach will be loaned to Team Canada for the 2021 World Junior Championships, scheduled to take place Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Alberta.
The move allows the Hawks’ top young center to play some high-stakes hockey if the team hasn’t started training camp by then.
The loan is contingent on the start of the 2020-21 NHL season, currently estimated for around Jan. 1. Dach would be recalled or held back if any Hawks games conflict with the team’s schedule.
The Hawks elected not to loan Dach for the 2020 championships because it would’ve taken him away from the NHL for several weeks in the middle of his rookie season.
Other top young NHL players and prospects on the Canadian team include 2019 fourth overall pick Bowen Byram, 2020 second overall pick Quinton Byfield and projected 2021 top-three pick Owen Power.
