Blackhawks Prospect Alex Vlasic Invited to 2020 World Junior Summer Showcase

Vlasic, a second-round pick (43rd overall) in 2019, is one of 43 players invited to the showcase that will be held from July 24-Aug. 1 in Plymouth, Michigan.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman prospect Alex Vlasic was officially invited to the 2020 World Junior Summer Showcase on Tuesday afternoon, which will serve as an evaluation camp for the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2021 World Junior Championship. Vlasic was previously invited to the 2019 Summer Showcase and appeared in two games, registering no points and just one shot on goal in a pair of losses. The Wilmette, Illinois native, was one of 13 players cut from Team USA's 2020 World Junior roster.

Vlasic just completed his freshman campaign at Boston University, where he impressively played in all 34 games for the Terriers. The 6-foot-6, 198-pound left-handed defenseman didn't provide much offensively with no goals and only four assists, but he stayed out of the penalty box with just five penalties on the season and was sixth on the team in blocked shots. The cousin of long-time shutdown San Jose Sharks blueliner Marc-Edouard Vlasic certainly looks like he learned a thing or two from growing up in the family.

Unfortunately, Team USA will be unable to compete against international competition due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. The eight-day showcase will be held at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.

"We're excited to have our players and staff together," said US National Junior Team general manager John Vanbiesbrouck. "While Finland, Sweden, and Canada won't be joining us as we've been used to in the past years, this will provide a great opportunity to have our players back on the ice and begin the process in earnest of building our team for the World Junior Championship... With the current pandemic, we'll be doing some things differently, and that's okay."

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