The holidays are right here, and for hockey followers, meaning it’s time to settle in on the sofa and make sweeping judgments about prospects primarily based on their efficiency on the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Taking place in Ottawa, Canada, this 12 months, the match is bound to be a very good one. Without the likes of Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini — who’re nonetheless eligible to play however are sticking with their NHL groups for apparent causes — this is a chance for different prospects to shine.
Every crew has medal hopes, and 5 – 6 groups have authentic pictures at gold. Canada and the United States at all times have golden expectations, Sweden and Finland will likely be within the hunt, and Czechia and Slovakia are, as at all times, upset threats.
The match is loaded with first-round picks and gamers anticipated to be drafted within the prime 5 of upcoming drafts. There will likely be no scarcity of highlight-reels performs, errors, heartbreak and jubilant moments.
Trying to foretell a extremely unpredictable match is at all times a idiot’s errand, that is why we have by no means had an ideal March Madness bracket. Every 12 months, there’s a Cinderella, a crew that disappoints and gamers who announce themselves as potential stars of their sport.
That isn’t any totally different this 12 months, as many hockey followers will likely be launched to the likes of James Hagens (U.S., 2025 draft-eligible), Matthew Schaefer (Canada, 2025) and Gavin McKenna (Canada, 2026). They will likely be reacquainted with drafted gamers corresponding to Dalibor Dvorsky, Ryan Leonard, Zeev Buium, Konsta Helenius and Brayden Yager.
Group A on this 12 months’s match consists of Canada, Finland, Germany, Latvia and the United States. Group B is Czechia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.
Here’s a take a look at what every crew is bringing to the ice, offered in reverse order of every crew’s competitiveness:
Kazakhstan
The Kazakhs will likely be in a tricky spot at this match and are more likely to discover themselves within the relegation spherical.
Kazakhstan has loads of continuity, as lots of its gamers are centralized on one crew for the season. Asanali Sarkenov is the lone Canadian Hockey League (CHL) participant for Kazakhstan, taking part in for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL.
Latvia
Latvia brings two NHL draftees to the match, Darels Uljanskis (Anaheim) and Eriks Mateiko (Washington) and 9 returnees from final 12 months’s crew in Sweden. The Latvians have continuity of their lineup with the returnees however lack a real standout expertise. However, they’re at all times a scrappy, hard-working crew able to stunning a conventional energy.
Latvia’s most necessary recreation will come towards Germany and can doubtless decide which crew makes the quarterfinal and which performs within the relegation spherical.
Germany
Germany brings a really younger crew to the match and lacks the eye-popping expertise it has loved lately with Tim Stutzle, JJ Peterka and Florian Elias. Germany’s solely NHL draftee, Norwin Panocha (Buffalo), will likely be relied upon to play huge minutes in a shutdown function on the blue line.
In truth, the energy of the crew is on the blue line with Paul Mayer and Lua Niehus returning, and whereas they’re undrafted, they’ve expertise and will play themselves right into a growth camp invite subsequent summer time.
The Germans are lacking their most harmful ahead in Kevin Bicker (Detroit), a serious loss to the offense. The Germans should depend on David Lewandowski (2025), Julius Sumpf and Lenny Boos to drive the offensive engine. The recreation towards Latvia ought to decide whether or not the Germans qualify for the medal spherical, and so they have a couple of extra offensive weapons than the Latvians do.
A stable exhibiting in a quarterfinal, with a younger crew that may return lots of its gamers subsequent 12 months, could be thought of a hit.
Switzerland
Every 12 months, one crew goes on a Cinderella run. This 12 months, the candidate to do this is Switzerland on the again of Ewan Huet, son of Stanley Cup champion Cristobal Huet.
On paper, the Swiss lack the expertise to get previous the quarterfinal, however that hasn’t stopped them prior to now. Huet has struggled to search out constant taking part in time within the WHL this season, however that is doubtless his internet, and everyone knows what Huets are able to once they really feel assured of their recreation. This is the proper alternative for Huet to showcase his skills and backstop Switzerland on a Cinderella run.
Leon Muggli (Washington) and Ludvig Johnson will play key roles on the Swiss blue line, with Muggli anticipated to play in all conditions and log huge minutes. The Swiss blue line has succesful defenders who skate nicely and trigger turnovers in video games the place flashiness will get the very best of some gamers. They will likely be bodily, block pictures and make life tough on the internet entrance.
Up entrance, Lars Steiner is a talented playmaker who is not draft-eligible till 2026, however he will certainly draw consideration from scouts and will produce a couple of highlight-reel performs. Jamiro Reber and Jan Dorthe are having productive seasons for his or her respective groups and will likely be leaned on to supply the majority of the offense.
If Switzerland goes to ruffle feathers in a weaker Group B, the sport towards Czechia could also be their spot to make noise.
Czechia
Czechia is at all times an fascinating crew at this match due to proficient gamers and inconsistent goaltending (jaw-dropping or devastating). Seemingly at all times on the verge of an upset, this 12 months feels prefer it might have extra ups and downs than a curler coaster. After stunning Sweden to win bronze final 12 months, many consider the Czechs have probably the most risky projection this 12 months.
Michael Hrabal (Utah) is the clear starter in purpose, and whereas he’s extraordinarily proficient, he has struggled to carry out when he wears his nation’s colours. He is able to greater than he has proven on the WJC degree, and the Czechs are hoping they see that model of him over the subsequent two weeks.
All eyes will likely be on Adam Jiricek (St. Louis), the 2024 first-rounder who has been riddled with accidents over the previous few seasons. The Czechs inexplicably left Dominik Badinka (Carolina) off their roster, making their blue line even thinner. That locations the stress squarely on the shoulders of Jiricek and AHL Ontario’s Jakub Dvorak (Los Angeles) to hold the load. Both are able to impacting the sport and might want to maintain the very best opposing gamers at bay whereas producing offense.
Up entrance, the Czechs lack a real game-breaking expertise. Eduard Sale (Seattle), Miroslav Holinka (Toronto) and Adam Jecho (St. Louis) will likely be relied upon to guide the cost offensively. Sale is on a tear with Coachella Valley within the AHL, whereas Holinka and Jecho are scoring practically a degree per recreation with the Edmonton Oil Kings within the WHL. The Czech ahead group is greater and can play a tighter checking model to frustrate groups, whereas hoping to capitalize on power-play alternatives or turnovers generated from their defensive play.
The backside line is that if Hrabal is at his finest, the Czechs are more likely to end second in Group B, which means they’d get considered one of Canada, USA or Finland within the quarterfinal. That’s a tricky job, however the Czechs have proved they’re able to irritating extra proficient groups and getting key saves from their goaltender in an upset.
Slovakia
Slovakia misplaced a heartbreaker in additional time of final 12 months’s quarterfinal after a wonderful run of group play. The Slovaks have had excellent goaltending lately, and that’s unlikely to alter this 12 months.
The Slovaks return fairly a couple of key gamers to the match. Maxim Strbak (Buffalo), Luka Radivojevic and Dalibor Dvorsky (St. Louis) will play main roles, with Dvorsky anticipated to be one of many stars of the match. This age group has loved success on the under-18 degree, and will ship Canada, USA or Finland dwelling within the quarterfinal.
Samuel Urban nicely have a tendency the purpose, and has been a key piece of that latest Slovakian success on the under-18 degree. The undrafted goaltender is greater than able to backstopping Slovakia by way of the medal spherical, and earn himself some draft consideration as a re-entry within the 2025 draft.
Strbak is taking part in in his fourth WJC (!) and will likely be crucial defenseman for the Slovaks. He is able to producing offensively and shutting down the very best gamers on different groups. Dvorsky joins Strbak returning for his fourth go-round, and will contend for varied match awards. He will likely be appointment tv at this match, able to producing highlight-reel performs with dazzling talent.
Finally, Radivojevic will draw loads of consideration from scouts on the match after final 12 months’s efficiency and a stable first half with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. The extremely expert defenseman might discover himself within the first-round dialog with a standout efficiency in Ottawa.
Slovakia can’t be thought of a Cinderella due to expectations and former success, however there’s motive to consider it might medal with its game-breaking expertise and wonderful goaltending.
Finland
Finland finds itself in Group A with Canada and the United States after a bitterly disappointing end on the 2024 WJC. Given the expertise in Group A, the Finns will likely be hard-pressed to complete greater than third, however the proverbial group of demise means Finland avoids each Canada and the USA within the quarterfinals and is more likely to face Slovakia or Czechia.
In phrases of the roster make-up, Finland lacks famous person expertise however has wonderful depth at each place.
Finland constantly will get wonderful goaltending on the match, and this 12 months must be no totally different. Petteri Rimpinen, Kim Saarinen (Seattle) and Noa Vali are all choices, with Rimpinen projected to begin. None of the three are anticipated to be NHL stars, however given the goaltending manufacturing unit that Finland is, it’s extra doubtless than not that Finland’s goaltending performs nicely sufficient to see it by way of to a semifinal look.
Finland has wonderful depth on the blue line, with 5 NHL draftees, led by Aron Kiviharju (Minnesota). The extremely expert defender might be the distinction between a medal and never on this match. He’s able to taking up video games and will discover himself within the dialog for match’s finest defender if he performs to his capabilities.
Every considered one of Finland’s defenders can play high quality minutes, which means there’s room for error if one of many prime six choices falters. In a really perfect state of affairs, Finland doesn’t should overplay any of their defenders, and may run Kiviharju out in conditions that permit him to showcase his great expertise.
Konsta Helenius (Buffalo) is the participant to observe up entrance for the Finns, and he will likely be anticipated to play a serious offensive and defensive function. He’s not Aleksander Barkov, however anticipate the Finnish teaching workers to deploy him in an analogous method to Paul Maurice’s deployment of Barkov in Florida. He’ll play in each key state of affairs and be anticipated to guide the cost offensively.
Jesse Kiiskinen (Detroit) together with the London Knights duo of Jesse Nurmi (New York Islanders) and Kasper Halttunen (San Jose) will likely be relied upon to carry out offensively for Finland towards robust competitors. Emil Hemming (Dallas) is a high quality two-way participant whose playmaking capability has developed this season. He will likely be a key participant within the center six who can forecheck, produce offense and maintain prime gamers off the scoresheet.
Given Finland’s expertise and depth, its particular groups must be among the many finest within the match, making it a authentic menace to medal.
Sweden
Sweden is the prohibitive favourite to prime Group B, with something much less seen as a disappointment. After a heartbreaking loss within the gold medal recreation on dwelling ice ultimately 12 months’s WJC, Sweden returns key gamers at each place, trying to enhance upon its silver medal efficiency.
It is uncommon {that a} crew’s prime defensive pairing returns — as they’re normally 19-year-olds. Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit) and Theo Lindstein (St. Louis) will play big roles on Sweden’s blue line, with slick puck-moving capability and stable two-way play.
Tom Willander (Vancouver) is one other puck mover who will log key minutes in a second-pair function for Sweden, balancing the bodily depth the Swedes have on the third pair.
Otto Stenberg (St. Louis), David Edstrom (Nashville) and Felix Unger Sorum (Carolina) will function prominently for the Swedes. Stenberg was excellent in final 12 months’s match and is off to nice begin within the SHL this season. He has a knack for elevating his play when carrying his nation’s colours and will likely be a key participant in all conditions.
Projected top-15 decide Viktor Eklund will draw the eye from scouts and executives, and is predicted to play a distinguished function in Sweden’s prime six.
With Sweden’s stable depth and returning gamers, it’s a menace to win gold, which might finish a drought that has spanned greater than a dozen years.
United States
The United States is bringing again a couple of gamers to defend its gold medal, a feat it has not been capable of accomplish within the match by way of the years. The Americans had been excellent in 2024 and so they stay among the many prime gold medal contenders.
Goaltending is locked and loaded, with Trey Augustine (Detroit) returning because the starter for the third consecutive 12 months, and the prohibitive favourite to be the match’s prime goaltender.
Zeev Buium (Minnesota) returns and can prepared the ground for the Americans on protection. He began because the seventh defenseman in final 12 months’s match, and ended as considered one of their finest, scoring an important purpose within the third interval of the gold medal recreation. He’ll log main minutes alongside Drew Fortescue (New York Rangers), one other returnee who is great in transition and enhances Buium’s skillset.
Cole Hutson (Washington) is more likely to lead the second power-play unit together with his wonderful puck motion and dynamic skating capability. The capability to pair each Buium and Hutson, two dynamic offensive gamers, with high quality defense-minded companions is a luxurious for the Americans, and supplies steadiness to the most effective blue strains within the match.
The Americans went with a conventional top-six, bottom-six ahead orientation for the match: a high-octane, productive prime six, and a backside six with physicality and power.
Three of the highest six come from Boston College, and will likely be anticipated to supply the majority of the scoring output for the U.S. James Hagens, a 2025 prime prospect, tremendous sniper Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) and captain Ryan Leonard (Washington) are greater than able to filling the online, and will likely be a harmful trio.
Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders) and Trevor Connelly (Vegas) had been scorching matters on the 2024 draft, and each possess game-breaking offensive talent. Look for Eiserman to be a power-play triggerman together with his wonderful taking pictures capability.
The backside six options stable two-way gamers who will likely be relied upon in matchup roles and to play a heavier model to put on down opponents. The U.S. left some talent off the roster in favor of a extra balanced crew, however the Americans have a high quality roster able to profitable gold.
The U.S. may not be the favourite, but it surely has high quality goaltending and game-breaking expertise, which implies the crew is at all times harmful.
Canada
Canada is a crew trying to bounce again from a poor exhibiting ultimately 12 months’s WJC that noticed it go away with no medal. Anything lower than gold will fall wanting expectations at each WJC, and regardless that the Canadians are lacking Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, they’ve the expertise depth to win gold at dwelling.
Calum Ritchie (Colorado) and Jett Luchanko (Philadelphia) carry NHL expertise to the roster. Those two, together with Brayden Yager (Winnipeg), Bradly Nadeau (Carolina), Berkly Catton (Seattle) and Easton Cowan (Toronto) will likely be anticipated to supply velocity, talent and a ton of offense.
Gavin McKenna, the favourite to be picked No. 1 within the 2026 NHL draft, possesses unimaginable expertise, and if utilized correctly, might be an X issue for Canada.
On protection, Tanner Molendyk (Nashville) and Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia) will play main roles for Canada. Bonk will log key minutes towards prime strains and on the penalty kill, and Molendyk will likely be anticipated to drive and produce offense from the again finish. Matthew Schaefer, a projected top-three decide in 2025, possesses elite hockey sense, high quality skating and wonderful transition play. Even as a draft-eligible participant, he’ll in all probability play a key function on Canada’s blue line and might be a difference-maker by match’s finish.
Canada will want its particular groups to be good to win gold, and far of that may depend on Molendyk’s power-play proficiency and a penalty kill that ought to function Bonk, Andrew Gibson (Nashville) and Caden Price (Seattle).
Canada’s challenge has by no means been expertise, it has been getting in its personal manner. Whether it is undisciplined penalties, shaky goaltending, head-scratching teaching choices or ill-timed turnovers, Canada will want everybody pulling the rope in the identical path to get again on prime of the rostrum.
The final time that Ottawa hosted this match, it produced one of the crucial iconic Canadian hockey moments: Jordan Eberle‘s tying goal against Russia with 5.4 seconds to go. The Canadians are hoping that extra of that magic nonetheless lies throughout the partitions of the Canadian Tire Centre.
Canada and the U.S. enter the match with gold medal expectations. There had been some reasonably stunning cuts by each groups, and each ought to hope that chopping EJ Emery (U.S., New York Rangers) and Zayne Parekh (Canada, Calgary) or Andrew Cristall (Canada, Washington) don’t come again to hang-out them.
Mark your calendars: the New Year’s Eve showdown between the 2 golf equipment is more likely to decide who tops the group. One can solely hope it’s a traditional just like the final time these groups performed in Ottawa on New Year’s Eve in 2008.
Tournaments with younger gamers are unpredictable due to feelings, extremely expert gamers making an attempt to do some an excessive amount of and the occasional mind cramp. That’s what makes this my favourite match yearly.
We’re sure to see performs that make our jaws drop, that makes us pull our hair out and even, giggle. This match doesn’t make or break a participant’s profession. After all, these are youngsters who’re nonetheless creating bodily and emotionally. The one prediction you may take to the financial institution: We’re sure to be entertained.
