Nashville Predators prospect Ryan Ellis (2009 First Round) finished the 2011 World Junior Championships with three goals and 11 points to earn the tournament’s Best Defenseman honors (as selected by the tournament directorate). He was also named to the Media's All-Tournament Team.

WJC Honors

Ryan Ellis  - Best Defenseman (Tournament Directorate)  - All-Tournament Team (Media)  - Team's Top 3 Players (Coach Selection)  - Player of the Game: Dec. 26 vs. Russia Patrick Cehlin  - Team's Top 3 Players (Coach Selection)  - Player of the Game: Dec. 26 vs. Norway

Ellis scored the game's opening goal in tonight's Gold Medal Game, but Russia scored five times in the third period to beat Canada 5-3. Ellis and Canada claimed the Silver Medal, his third career WJC medal. In his three World Junior tournaments, Ellis scored 25 points, the most career points by a defenseman in the tournament’s history, besting the old defenseman mark held by Finland’s Reijo Ruotsalainen in the late ‘70s.

Fellow Preds prospect Patrick Cehlin (2010 NHL Entry Draft) took home fourth place with Team Sweden. Cehlin tied for the Team Sweden lead in goals (4) and points (6) during the tournament.

Team USA topped Team Sweden 4-2 in the Bronze Medal Game earlier today, marking the first time in tournament history the US has medaled in consecutive World Junior Championships. The Americans won the Gold Medal last year and finished undefeated in the Preliminary Round this year before falling in the semifinals to Team Canada.