Christian Kirsch – McKeen's Hockey

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- December 30th, 2025- Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:30:43 +0000

SWITZERLAND v GERMANY

Switzerland got off to a very quick start, putting the Germans on their heels early. At the halfway point, Kimi Koerbler would cash in first, with Gian Meier and Niklas Blessing nabbing the helpers. About 15 seconds later, Timo Kose would take a slashing penalty, setting up a Swiss power play directly after their first goal. Jamiro Reber would score on the man advantage, with Leon Muggli and Lars Steiner getting the assists on that goal. Then, about a minute into the second, Switzerland would grab a 3-0 lead, with Koerbler getting his second of the game. Five minutes later, it would be Ludvig Johnson adding to the lead, with Basile Sansonnens and Paul Mottard getting the assists, making it 4-0. The Swiss would clamp down and pick up the shut-out win, their first of the tournament. A crucial victory for the Swiss ahead of their huge matchup against Slovakia to claim third place in Group A.

MVPs:

Switzerland: Christian Kirsch, Basile Sansonnens, Kimi Koerbler

Germany: Lennart Neisse, Mathias Pape, Tobias Schwarz

LATVIA v DENMARK

The latter game on Day 5 was a slow burn but eventually gave the limited crowd its money’s worth as the game progressed. The back-and-forth nature of the early first was brought about by a solid defensive start by the Danes. As the first period closed, Bruno Osmanis had an incredible chance at the net initially saved by Wilde, but Krisjanis Sarts cleaned it up to give Latvia a slim lead going into period two. The second was full of excitement and offense, with the party starting on the Latvian Power Play when Alberts Smits showed off his goal-scoring prowess for all scouts in attendance, picking a beautiful spot to get his first tally of the tournament. That 2-0 lead held through much physicality and bouts from both sides until Oliver Larsen fired a beautiful wrister home to cut the lead in half. A scoring onslaught ensued to end the second as Latvia would score twice, from Sieradzkis' tip on the Power Play and Macijevskis at even strength, while William Bundgaard would keep it within two for Denmark off a beautiful feed from Larsen. Bruno Osmanis would put it out of reach in the third on an amazing individual effort to make it 5-2. In the final two minutes, as the physicality was turning into constant fighting, Anton Linde and Kristers Ansons would each give their country one more goal to close out this one. Latvia makes it to their fourth straight quarterfinal appearance while Denmark will face the Germans in the relegation game.

MVPs:

Latvia: Krisjanis Sarts, Alberts Smits, Olivers Murnieks

Denmark: Oliver Larsen, William Bundgaard, Mads Klyvø

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Basile Sansonnens (SUI) (1A)

The defensive details for Basile Sansonnens have made him a standout on this Swiss team that has been excellent defensively. He was a big reason why the Germans were held to 20 shots in this matchup. Sansonnens has carried over his great rush defense and d-zone prowess from his experience in the Swiss league for Lusanne. His mean streak has been much needed too, it was key to disrupting the play of Sweden and the U.S. but it was most effective in this matchup. Sansonnens is showing great signs as a shut-down D with solid enough puck carrying abilities. The confidence from this disciplined performance will for sure carry over to the bigger matchups in Slovakia and the Quarterfinals game. An excellent look for the Vancouver 7th Rounder.

Mads Klyvo (DEN)

Kl;yvo was held off the score sheet in his game against Latvia, but it’s hard not to notice his impact on the ice for Denmark. It seems as though every time Denmark is rushing up the ice for some offense, Klyvo is in the middle of it. He’s all over the ice, generating most of the few chances Denmark has, and just very involved. Klyvo has been a big standout for the Danes and will be a key piece of their tilt in their relegation game.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 30: Denmark's Oliver Larsen #13 celebrates his second period goal against Latvia during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena at Mariucci on December 30, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Oliver Larsen (DEN) (1G 1A)

Oliver Larsen is having himself a wonderful overager season for Rogle in the J20-Nationell, registering over a point a game. Finally, against Latvia, he was able to showcase how this current season has come about. Larsen’s skating is extra smooth, giving him a great advantage in the neutral zone to create time and space to advance the rush. This IQ and mobility are also displayed well in the offensive zone, especially on his assist to Bundgaard. Larsen had several passes that helped create multiple other scoring chances in the offensive zone as well. However, the most impressive play against Latvia was his fantastic wrist shot in the second. Larsen has become a much better shooter over this year, and it was on display there. Though he was passed over once, don’t count out Larsen to potentially be a name taken later in this upcoming draft.

Alberts Smits (LAT) 1G 2A

Early in this game, Smits did not look great. Against a softer opponent, many people were expecting a lot more out of him after that first period. But he would turn it up in the second, where he put his incredible shooting ability on display. He was absolutely firing them from the point and showed what he can be in the future. It’s important to note that, while he was a standout as a puck mover and as a scoring threat from the point, he was shaky defensively against a weaker opponent. That’s the story of Smits, but there’s no doubt that the raw traits he has and displayed consistently in this contest is tantalizing.

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- December 27th, 2025- Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:45:29 +0000

The second day of the 2026 World Juniors was another fun day here in Minnesota, with a loaded schedule.

SLOVAKIA v GERMANY

To kick off the day in Grand Casino Arena, Slovakia took on Germany as both teams look to bounce back from losses on day one. In the first period, Slovakia absolutely dominated. Tomas Chrenko opened the day with a seeing eye shot amidst chaos. Then, on their second power play of the day, Chrenko snagged another goal off a brilliant feed from Adam Nemec, who would record his second assist of the game. Going into the second, the Germans had an uphill battle to climb. They played much better, with Timo Kose standing out the most. However, Slovakia would get another powerplay off a really bad high stick, and Chrenko would strike yet again, recording a hat trick in his second career World Juniors game. Germany kept the momentum going into the third period, striking just past the halfway point. Dustin Willhoft, off an indirect feed, had a strong net drive that he put five hole on Michal Pradel. But Slovakia put the nail in the coffin, as Adam Belusko scored from deep in his own end on the empty net, short-handed.

MVP’s

GERMANY: Fabio Kose, Timo Kose, Carlos Handel

SLOVAKIA: Tomas Chrenko, Michal Pradel, Adam Belusko

LATVIA v CANADA

Day Two in Mariucci Arena began in a similar way to last year's matchup, and Latvia played their patented annoying and grinding style of play against the Canadians. Getting knees and sticks on lanes worked well for Latvia as they outshot the Canadians after period one as the score remained locked at zero. Canada got their first goal of the game soon after a five-minute major from Martins Klaucans, Cole Reschny converted off of a McKenna feed. The Canadians were only able to generate one goal on the five-minute advantage. As the second wound down the game went back and forth as both teams got quality chances on the rush. The Latvians and Czechs have seemed to expose a grave weakness of Canada’s on rushes as they have struggled to defend them in their first two games. The game stayed close to the wire until with just under two minutes, Rudolfs Berzkalns ties it late, bringing up bad memories for Canadians everywhere. However, crucially, the Canadians were bailed out by a delay of game penalty by Latvia’s, Roberts Naudins. The penalty carried over to OT, where McKenna found Michael Hage for the clincher. Latvia, for the second year in a row, took Canada to their absolute limit. However, the talent of the Canadians won the day in this nailbiter.

MVP’s

Canada: Michael Hage, Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone

Latvia: Nils Maurins, Rudolfs Berzkalns, Alberts Smits

USA v SWITZERLAND

The Swiss open their tournament against the back-to-back Gold medalists. Early on, Switzerland took it to the US, who were playing pretty sloppy. But when the US started getting their chances, especially on their powerplay, Christian Kirsch stood on his head. He stonewalled Cole Eiserman several times and made several stops in tight after the powerplay ended. Unfortunately for Switzerland, the US started the second with a bang, as Brodie Ziemer ripped one that was tipped off a Swiss defender and over the blocker. It was started by a great play along the boards by Will Horcoff, then a nifty drop pass by James Hagens. About halfway through the second, the US lost Cole Hutson to a scary injury, when he took a puck to the back of the neck and had to be stretchered off. Soon after, the Swiss would score off a beautiful point shot from Basile Sansonnens. A few minutes later, Will Zellers would roof a shot top corner on the short side, giving the US the lead back.

MVPs

USA: Chase Reid, Cole Eiserman, Teddy Stiga

Switzerland: Lars Steiner, Christian Krisch, Basile Sansonnens

DENMARK v CZECHIA

The final matchup on day two got underway with much fanfare at the beginning. The Czechs went up first off of a weird bounce off Vojtech Cihar’s stick. However, that momentum would be quashed after Tristan Petersen banged home a wild puck. That goal was the result of some dangerous Danish pressure that really challenged the Czechs for the majority of the first period. The Czechs would buck that early pressure by taking the lead on an amazing shot by Matej Kubiesa on a five-minute power play that was drawn by Denmark’s Jesper Olesen, who was ejected for a high hit. That Czech momentum would carry over to the second period as Vaclav Nestrasil sunk a pretty no-look snipe for the 3-1 lead on yet another power play. Though the Czechs were more talented throughout, the Danes played heavy and took advantage of many chances, creating breakaways, shutting down opposing offensive attacks. That opportunistic style of play came in handy when Oliver Larsen ripped home a quick snipe off a face off to bring the game within one score. The Czechs started to close the door at the end of the second, scoring two off the sticks off Adam Jiricek and Stepan Hoch, giving them a 5-2 lead. Starting in the third, the Czechs continued dominating with two more even strength goals from Tomas Galvas and Richard Zemlicka respectively. That was all she wrote as Czechia would fail to score on the two other power play chances given to them by Denmark, closing it out in dominant fashion, 7-2.

MVPS

Czechia: Vaclav Nestrasil, Matyas Marik, Adam Jiricek

Denmark: Oliver Green, Emil Jakobsen

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 27: Czechia's Vaclav Nestrasil #14 celebrates his second period goal against Denmark during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena at Mariucci on December 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

VACLAV NESTRASIL (CZE) 1G 2A

Probably the most dangerous offensive threat for Czechia on a day where their entire offense was buzzing. I am routinely impressed with the swiftness and ease that Nestrasil can skate with the puck at his mammoth 6-foot-6 frame. His skating has been very solid and noticeably better from his draft year, that’s been evident throughout his first two games. Nestrasil was also able to showcase his blistering shot, wiring a no-look snipe past Denmark early in the second. Though both of his assists were secondary, they both showed off his adept ability to set up chances in the offensive zone and on the rush respectively. Away from the puck, Nestrasil displayed energy and truculence against a Danish team that was certainly giving it back to the Czechs earlier on. His efforts have not gone unnoticed as he now leads the Czech team in points. If he can carry over this monster start to this tournament to the rest of his season, he could be with the Blackhawks much sooner than previously thought.

CHRISTIAN KIRSCH (SUI) 0.900 SV%, 18/20

Kirsch was a massive reason behind just how close the Swiss came to winning this game. From the jump, he made several massive saves on breakaways, while also standing tall against several US powerplay attempts. While he did give up two goals in the end, if it wasn’t for Kirsch’s outstanding performance, especially in the first, the US could have pulled away fast.

COLE EISERMAN (USA)

Eiserman, while he was held off the score sheet, was one of the standouts in this game for the US. The Americans, like in their game against Germany, played sloppy, especially in the neutral zone. Eiserman was one of the few who were able to move the puck efficiently. Once in the offensive zone, especially on the powerplay, Eiserman was seemingly getting constant scoring chances. He could’ve had at least two goals in this game, if not for Kirsch.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 27: Switzerland's Kimi Koerbler #89 and USAÕs Chase Reid #25 battle for the puck during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at Grand Casino Arena on December 27, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

CHASE REID (USA)

As he was a standout on day one, it was very difficult to not include him again on day two. He was arguably the best defenseman on the US blueline. He is so steady on the back end, getting in the right spots to prevent scoring chances against. When it comes to transporting the puck, Reid is one of the best in the tournament. He is so quick at reading the space and finding teammates moving up ice. He can connect consistently on some difficult stretch passes as well, that can really break open a shift. If he continues to stand out like this, he could really push his way into the top of the 2026 draft.

TOMAS CHRENKO (SVK) 3G

The speedy center came alive for the Slovaks on Day Two of this tournament, netting a hat trick in his second ever World Juniors game. Chrenko was a standout for the Slovaks due to his excellent play with HK Nitra so far this season. His first two goals were very crafty, greasy goals around the net as he showed that fight that has been so characteristic of his individual game and his national team's game. Though, Chrenko’s third goal was a lucky bounce off of a defender's stick, it was on track to hitting his fellow countryman Adam Nemec’s stick for a deflection. Chrenko has given Slovakia a serious boost in speed and energy throughout their two games this tournament. He was blazing past defenders in space against Germany today and was unrecoverable in the offensive zone.

Interview with Chase Reid

McKeens: Chase, you’re a draft-eligible of course, and these tournaments are usually dominated by older players. What is it like playing with these older guys and having such a big impact already?

CR: My teammates and coaches make it very easy to go out there and play my game every night, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have the opportunity to be here.

McKeens: What can you learn from these older guys at a tournament like this?

CR: Cole Hutson does some things with the puck that you’d want to do yourself, but I think just playing my game and making sure I’m making the easy plays that the other guys do and simplifying like they do.

McKeens: Going back a couple of years ago, you played with Waterloo in the USHL, things didn’t work out there and you moved to the NAHL. What’s changed from then to now, and what’s allowed you to be such an impact player?

CR: I’d say just my mindset going into everything. If you’re not first you’re last, so I think just going in with the mindset that I want to be the best in every situation I’m in, it all trends in the right direction from there.

McKeens: Going back to the tournament here, it’s important to have a tight group. Who are some of the guys in that locker room who keep everything light-hearted and fun behind the scenes?

CR: Yeah, Brodie Ziemer for sure. Hagens, Hutty [Hutson], Eiserman, everybody pulls their strings, and everybody does what they have to do to make sure the room’s an enjoyable place to come every day. I think we have a really tight group.

McKeens: Is there anyone who stands out as a trash-talker, on the ice to the other team or even behind the scenes?

CR: No, I wouldn’t say anyone chirps too much. Obviously, you give it to guys here and there but, nothing that overdoes it.

2026 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – GOALTENDING POWER RANKING FOR ALL TEN NATIONS

Liam Crouse — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:48:10 +0000

#1 Canada

Carter George. Photo by Andre Ringuette / Freestyle Photography

Projected Starter: Carter George

Projected Backup: Jack Ivankovic

It’s a rare sight to see Canada have both goalies return from a previous year, let alone arguably the second-best goalie tandem at the tournament in 2025. Carter George, while just being an OHL goalie in a tournament of Liiga and Allsvenskan starters, still is the best goalie coming into the World Juniors without much debate. His elite skillset in skating, positioning, and cerebral aspects of the game comes paired with a level of maturity and refinement rarely ever seen in 19-year-old goalies, let alone junior ones. It easily raises him to on par with the best young pro goalies out there; the only problem is that he is signed to the NHL and is still 19 in the Canadian development system. He projects to have a very strong WJC, and as long as his team doesn’t let him down again this year, it’s a strong possibility he can win the goalie of the tournament. Jack Ivankovic would be one of the best starters at the tournament this year, but having to sit behind Carter George means he rides the bench for yet another year. Though he’s good enough to warrant one game, where he will most definitely have a strong outing.

#2 Finland

Goaltender Petteri Rimpinen of Finland during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Finland and Canada on December 26, 2024 in Ottawa.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

Projected Starter: Petteri Rimpinen

Projected Backup: Kim Saarinen

The 2025 World Juniors saw one of the most well-built American teams ever in the tournament, face off against Petteri Rimpinen in the gold medal game, the entire backbone of the Finnish team. Naturally, the 2025 best goaltender award-winning Rimpinen looks to defend his throne again this year as Finland’s starter. His athleticism is world-class, and there isn’t really anyone who can touch him at this tournament in that aspect. He’s a high compete goalie who practically stole every win for Finland last year, and despite an extremely well-played finals by the Liiga rookie of the year, the team fell short. While not quite living up to his expectations in his club play this year, following a Liiga top three goalie of the year finalist season as a rookie, it is likely that Rimpinen sees every game in the tournament this year. That’s not to say that Saarinen isn’t a good goalie, though. Saarinen is another fellow Liiga goalie who can play nearly on par with Rimpinen, with an abundant skillset and a much bigger frame at 6-foot-4. However, Rimpinen’s game-stealing ability is unmatched, and Finland will need every bit of it if they want to contend for a medal against Canada, Sweden, and Czechia this year.

#3 Sweden

ESPOO, FINLAND - MAY 2: Sweden's Love Harenstam #35 looks on during Quarterfinal Round action against Finland at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Metro Arena on May 2, 2024 in Espoo, Finland. (Photo by Andr Ringuette/IIHF)

Projected Starter: Love Harenstam

Projected Backup: Herman Liv

All three Swedish netminders for the World Juniors this year are newcomers to the team, with Harenstam and Goos being last year's u18 tandem. However, the undrafted 19-year-old Herman Liv slots in as well and is locked to be at least the backup. Both Harenstam and Liv have had impressive seasons in the Hockey Allsvenskan this year, already making them some of the best goalies and most experienced players at the tournament. Given that Harenstam has been the national team starter for years and has so far seemingly outplayed Liv on one of the worst teams in the league, it appears likely that Harenstam will slot in as the starter for the next two years. Harenstam is an athletic goalie with great mobility, and has greatly improved his cognitive aspects in tracking and play reading, alongside developing a very competitive nature to pair with his athletic prowess. Liv is similar, being well-positioned and boasting solid athletic ability and skating, but may struggle cognitively compared to Harenstam. The gap between the goalies is not great enough for either to have a long leash. Sweden likely will deploy both goaltenders and ride whoever is the hotter one, but it would be hard to make a wrong choice here.

#4 Slovakia

ALLEN, TEXAS - APRIL 28: Slovakia's Michal Pradel #2 tracks the puck in the first period against Latvia during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Credit Union of Texas Event Center on April 28, 2025 in Allen, Texas, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Projected Starter: Michal Pradel

Projected Backup: Alan Lendak

On a rare occasion, Slovakia possesses two very solid goalies who stand on relatively equal footing. While Pradel may be the better prospect as the 6-foot-5 hulk of a goalie drafted in the third round compared to the 6-foot-1 undrafted 19-year-old Lendak, he is still no slouch. Lendak would be considered the more volatile of the two goalies as he is a hyperathlete. Without question, Lendak is one of the quickest and most flexible goalies at the tournament, approaching the likes of Rimpinen and Ivankovic. His game against Czechia last year displayed these qualities despite a four-goal loss. However, getting pulled from his other start, allowing three on five shots, shows the volatility here. In contrast, Pradel plays much slower, focusing on excellent economical proper positioning, backed by a fantastic stance to eclipse the net, and very good play reading. However, while improved, Pradel’s athleticism is lacking compared to some other WJC goalies, and he doesn’t possess elite skating either. Both are great goalies, having respectable USHL seasons, where Pradel is one of the top starters in the league. But, it wouldn’t be out of the box to see Lendak stepping in as his elite athletic ability could be the X-factor needed to steal games if he gets hot.

#5 Switzerland

Goaltender Christian Kirsch of Switzerland during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Switzerland and Slovakia on December 27, 2024 in Ottawa.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

Projected Starter: Christian Kirsch

Projected Backup: Elijah Neuenschwander

It is improbable that there has ever been an era of young Swiss goaltending as good as it is now. Kirsch and Neuenschwander are both returners from last year, and both fourth round draft picks to the NHL. They bear similar skillsets, being large goalies at 6-foot-4, highly athletic, with not a ton of calmness and refinement to their games. At last year’s tournament, it was a rough showing for the Swiss goalies, even when accounting for their team, or lack thereof. But Linards Feldbergs proved that it is possible to play well and even steal a game or two, even on a terrible roster. This year, both goalies have made improvements in their games, as Kirsch has grown into a good starter for Kitchener, leading them to one of the best OHL records. While still not a very good team, the goaltending from Switzerland could very easily lead the squad to several wins, with a likely win coming against Germany, and potentially even some upsets against weaker American and Slovakian teams. These high-risk, high-reward, athletic goalies could either crash and burn alongside the team or rise to the occasion and shock the world.

#6 United States

Projected Starter: Nick Kempf

Projected Backup: Caleb Heil

The United States recently have been tearing up the world juniors and sported three different goalies with the likes of Trey Augustine, Jacob Fowler, and Hampton Slukynsky, all three are blue-chip NHL prospects. Now the task falls to Kempf and Heil, who are not bad goalies by any means; it’s just unfair to compare them to their predecessors. Kempf slots in as the likely number one, being an NCAA starter, with Heil, the USHL goalie, likely backing him up. Both are similar goalies, on the shorter end, being good skaters, and decently refined. Kempf is categorized as the more athletic goalie with a high compete level, whereas Heil is much more centred on efficient skating, depth, and overall quickness. However, both can really struggle with their hands and get picked cleanly pretty easily. Neither goalie has necessarily put together a great full season statistically in junior, but both goalies are still good enough to be at the tournament, with Nick Kempf especially, potentially having the ability to steal games given his motor and athleticism. It will be an uphill battle for the United States to win a medal, let alone gold, and it will all come down to the play of these two in net.

#7 Czechia

Projected Starter: Michal Orsulak

Projected Backup: Matyas Marik

With Jakub Milota out with an injury, the reins should fall to the undrafted 18-year-old Michal Orsulak to steer the Czechian team. While coming up short at last year's draft, Orsulak is by no means a bad goalie or prospect. At 6-foot-4, he is one of the most flexible goalies at the tournament, being able to deploy in a low and wide stance while maintaining a high degree of power and mobility, a rare trait, giving him a significant advantage in tight and down low. He has also seemingly cleaned up his erraticism quite a bit, learning to control his body much better as he has developed into one of the premier starting goalies in the WHL. However, he has his faults, specifically with his hands, as he can get beaten cleanly far too often, making him volatile against the likes of good shooting teams. But given how Marik was initially the third option as Milota was rostered before being ruled out with an injury, subsequently leading to the addition of supposed fourth option Ondrej Stebetak, it’s highly likely that Orsulak will see most, if not all, of the games. Czechia boasts a very strong roster this year, and Orsulak should be good enough to win them a medal as long as his hands don’t become too much of a problem

#8 Germany

Projected Starter: Linus Vieillard

Projected Backup: Lukas Stuhrmann

One of the more under-the-radar goalies from last year's tournament was Linus Vieillard, the then 18-year-old undrafted goalie out of the German U20. He sported a .915 save percentage in 3 games and had an unequivocally excellent performance against Finland. He’s a small goalie who plays very narrowly, but he possesses good skating, quickness, and a very quiet playstyle with athletic abilities that shouldn’t be scoffed at. He isn’t a dominant goalie in any one area, but he also doesn’t possess too many major weaknesses outside of his smaller stature and narrow-framed stance, which has made him susceptible to mid-to-high shots to the outside hands. Behind him is Lukas Stuhrmann, who by no means should be a write-off on the scouting report, should he get into games. He is similar to Vieillard in nearly every aspect, being short, a good skater, quick, pretty quiet, and having solid athleticism. Nothing jumps out at you watching Stuhrmann, but he's shown he can be very capable at a junior level without too many weaknesses, besides, again, the undersized and very narrow gloves issue. Both goalies are good enough that Germany should stave off relegation for yet another year.

#9 Latvia

Projected Starter: Nils Roberts Maurins

Projected Backup: Mikus Vecvanags

Last year’s Latvian team was highlighted by the legendary performance of Linards Feldbergs, who stole a game from Canada. Unfortunately for Latvia this year, their goalies don’t seem to be able to fill in the large shoes Feldbergs left. The starting role is really up in the air this year, and it could realistically be any of the three goalies. Mikus Vecvanags is an NHL draft pick; however, he has been struggling mightily in the North American junior scene, not having played a game in the QMJHL since November 21st, with no report of an injury. Vecvanags has a solid frame and stance at 6’3 and is a decent skater on his feet and an athlete. However, his rebound control is erratic, and he’s had issues with angling, tracking, and compete. Nils Roberts Maurins, from the USHL, is probably the fastest and best skater, who has a great frame, but lacks control and is inconsistent in the butterfly. Ivans Kufterins, the WHL goalie, is probably the better athlete of the three and definitely plays with intensity and speed, but has less control over his body, making his movements and decision-making erratic. We very well could see all three goalies make appearances, with the true starter being picked at the end of the tournament. Their expectations are to just survive.

#10 Denmark

Projected Starter: Anton Emil Wilde Larsen

Projected Backup: Patrick Tiedjen

The starting goalie for Denmark realistically could go to nearly anyone, but Anton Emil Wilde Larsen has appeared in more international games this year and was the U18 D1A starter last year, as well as several games in the top Danish league, making him the probable starter. The 17-year-old goalie Larsen, like his other two counterparts, has been playing in the second-tier professional league, which houses no tracked goalie data on elite prospects. However, it has been found that Larsen has played in 19 games across both leagues and has amassed just one win. The very first game of the season. Hopes, understandably, are not skyrocketing high for this Danish squad, but a draft-year starting goalie is always of intrigue. Despite the obvious lack of results from Larsen's club season (including a game with 13 goals against), he doesn’t seem to be an irredeemable goalie. He has a good frame, has a solid understanding of positioning and tracking, and appears to be a solid skater and athlete as well. It’s not off the table that we see all three Danish goals make an appearance this year, but if Larsen can display even a little talent facing 50+ shots a night, a North American junior team might come calling.

2026 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – SWITZERLAND – Team Preview, Key Players and Draft Eligible Profiles

Chapin Landvogt — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:44:08 +0000

Back in 2020, the Swiss managed to wrap up the preliminary round in second place. Since then, their yearly task at this tournament has more or less been about avoiding the relegation round. In most cases, that has meant gaining a single victory in the preliminary round, and it’s a goal they’ve usually achieved. Heck, in 2023 they managed to gain three overtime victories in the preliminary round, but that was still only good enough for fourth place. Nonetheless, mission accomplished. Last winter, a 2-1 loss to Slovakia proved to be the biggest preliminary round disappointment but the team’s 3-1 victory over an eventually demoted Kazakhstan ended up being the key. It wasn’t easy for the “Eidgenossen” as the contest was tied at one right on up until likely returnee Robin Antenen’s 2-1 tally in the 38th minute of play.

Fast forward to this winter and the Swiss are coming in with all the makings of being this tournament’s upstart contestant. The goaltending is as solid as ever with experienced returnees Christian Kirsch (SJS) and Elijah Neuenschwander (ANA). Both stand huge in goal and could take the bull by the horns at any time. The blueline only features one North American legionary in Rouyn-Noranda’s Gus Van der Kaaij and one Swedish legionary in Frölunda’s Gian Meier, both undrafted, but also a vast array of NL- and SL-leaguers coming straight from the pro ranks, three of whom have been drafted, with Leon Muggli (WAS) already on his ELC. Up front, the team is perhaps lacking overall star power but in Lars Steiner (2026) and Jonah Neuenschwander (2027), it features two top prospects for the coming drafts as well as a whole bundle of players coming in with pro experience, with Jamiro Reber being a second year SHL regular and Paul Mottard having suited up in the Finnish Liiga.

If the Swiss manage to get over the preliminary humps that are archrival Germany and bogey team Slovakia, they could finish third in Group A action. And other than perhaps Canada, there’s not a Group B team this squad feels it can play its game against in the quarterfinals!

Key Players to watch

Joel Grossniklaus – Center (2026 Draft, third year eligible)

Yes, it’d be reasonable to expect the aforementioned RHD Gian Meier or QMJHL winger David Bosson to be a part of this list, but it’s hard to overlook how much the real Grossniklaus seems to finally be standing up this winter. Chipping in for Malmö at a PPG pace, his +18 rating leads the entire U20 circuit in Sweden and by all accounts, the midsized forward is a verifiable two-way forward who impacts the game in all three zones. Having signed a contract with NL power Bern for next season, this WJC is a good spot to have a coming out party in an international context. The Swiss have a number of pro-tested forwards with an understanding of lower line roles but few have the playmaking savvy the Swiss side will need him to bring to the table.

Ludvig Johnson of Switzerland looks dejected after 0-1 during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Switzerland and Sweden on December 29, 2024 in Ottawa
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

Ludvig Johnson – Defense (Utah Mammoth)

Being drafted as an overager last summer, Johnson swapped powerhouse Zug for midweight Fribourg-Gotteron, a team ready to give him a legitimate top four opportunity. In one less game than last season, he already now has one more point and six more penalty minutes. His ice time tends to hover between 10-17 minutes per game. But aside from being a full-time pro in a top European league, he’s coming in as a WJC veteran and was one of Switzerland’s better defensemen last year. With old buddy Leon Muggli coming straight off an injury, Johnson should have plenty of responsibility on what is a fairly experienced blueline. Serious power play duty is his to lose at this tournament.

Goaltender Christian Kirsch of Switzerland during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Switzerland and Slovakia on December 27, 2024 in Ottawa.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

Christian Kirsch – Goaltender (San Jose Sharks)

In 6-foot-4, 195-pound Kirsch, we’re looking at the player who should steer Switzerland to third place in the group. He’s not only a WJC vet as a 1a/1b starter but has also been everything the Kitchener Rangers could have realistically hoped for in net pitching a 12-7-1 record with a 2.61 GAA and .901 SV%. All of those numbers are top 15 in the OHL this season. Once committed to UMASS, the San Jose draft pick is now open for NCAA destinations, and nothing would make him more attractive to a top-flight program (which UMASS certainly is!) than an outstanding WJC performance. He should certainly be seen as one of the goalies at this tourney who could guide his team to a medal.

Leon Muggli – Defense (Washington Capitals)

Already an assistant captain at his second WJC last winter, you can expect the Washington Capitals prospect to be the team’s captain. In the midst of the first year of his ELC, Muggli should be viewed as one of the most established defenseman at this tournament. The thing here is that he’s missed most of the season, having last played on October 19th, when he sustained an upper body injury. The Caps have nonetheless assigned him to the Swiss national team and until further notice, he is the chief of this blueline. Will he be up to speed?

Jamiro Reber - Wing (2026 Draft, third year of eligibility)

After a 19-point season in the SHL last year, the undrafted Reber is clearly the most established player in Switzerland’s attack, if not overall. Alas, his mere 3 points and -10 in 22 games this winter seem to have fewer people asking why he didn’t get drafted last summer. Moreover, despite several nominations, Reber hasn’t scored a goal for Switzerland (and only three assists over three tournaments) since he put up one at the U18 Worlds in 2023. That was over two years ago. If Switzerland is to make any noise at the upcoming tournament, it’s time for Reber to be one of the key factors. If he has any hope of being drafted in his 3rd go-around, he’s really going to need to have a doozy of a time in Minnesota. His motivation should be off the charts.

Other Draft eligible players to watch

Niklas Blessing – Defense (2026 Draft, third year of eligibility)

One of several overagers in this squad, Blessing is in the midst of his second pro season and has, well, really arrived on the scene. He’s not only been a regular on Biel-Bienne’s blueline but has had a top 4 role while putting up 10 points. Heck, in recent weeks, he’s garnered upwards of 18 minutes of TOI per game, breaking 22 minutes twice. In what seems to be a yearly occurrence for some young defenseman in the NL (The Moser Effect?), scouts will have to decide exactly what they think of him moving forward and as a possible option down the line in North America. Performing like this as a 19-year-old in the NL is usually a pretty good sign of things to come.

Jonah Neuenschwander – Wing (2027 Draft)

Only 16, the 6-foot-3 winger is preparing to appear in his second WJC. Yes, you read that correctly. The author of six points in 18 NL games this season, Neuenschwander has gained the type of high-end prospect status once held by players such as Nico Hischier and Kevin Fiala, even if the gleam of the 2026 draft has tamed the excitement shown for players beyond that (thus far). Will we see him in North America next season? The CHL would surely have loved to have gotten him over this season, but his hometown club of Biel-Bienne was clearly able to sell him on the prospects of playing NL hockey this season. Here’s hoping he’ll show us all why he’s so highly touted!

Lars Steiner – Wing (2026 Draft)

Expected to be a top 45 pick in next summer’s draft, the slightly undersized winger already put up 60 points in 57 QMJHL games in his DY-1 and is clipping at roughly a PPG pace this year as well, even if he’s only suited up for 15 games due to an October injury that has held him out since. Sans injury, we’d likely be raving about him as the most important player on this team, something he may yet prove to be. His offensive pedigree is the team’s most established, but he didn’t gain any points at last winter’s WJC, which was his first major tournament representing Switzerland. We’d love to see the kind of tourney that boosts his currently slipping draft position.

2024 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: GROUP B – Team Previews – Players to Watch

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:40:39 +0000

Alfons Frej.
Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN /

On April 25th, the IIHF Under 18 World Championships will commence with Team USA looking to defend last spring’s gold medal victory over Sweden, which itself had an extremely impressive tournament in gaining silver. For Group B action at this spring’s event, spectators and tournament followers alike can expect some fierce competition and any number of combinations in the standings, as each of Canada, Czechia, and Sweden enter tourney action with their sights rightfully set on first place. Should they finish 1st through 3rd, chances are that they’ll avoid facing off against the returning world champions in the quarterfinals, a goal each will take seriously. At the other end of the spectrum, Team Switzerland will be absolutely focused on what should be their decisive preliminary round match against newbie Kazakhstan on the 26th, 24 hours after facing off against the Czechs. For the Kazakhs, that game will mark their first appearance in the elite pool since 2003. Rest assured that both clubs are well aware that relegation is once again part of the fun again.

Sweden

The reigning silver medalists are heading to Finland with a line-up worthy of a medal favorite status, even if not heavy on 1st round draft options. Amazingly, not a single player was part of last spring’s valiant silver medal effort yet features six players who got into SHL action this winter, one center who is currently taking a regular shift in the Hockey Allsvenskan finals, and in general, an entire squad that spent the vast bulk of the season playing in the nation’s top U20 circuit, many of whom were dominant offensive contributors. Throw in a couple of goalies who saw plenty of playing time this winter and you’ve got a fairly well-oiled squad that will get a load of attention from the scouting community. The group is for sure a toughie, but it’s hard to imagine the Swedes finishing anything less than 3rd in group play and if that means Finland in the quarterfinals, the Tre Kronor will be more than keen on having the opportunity to knock off their archrival in their home venue.

Top Players to Watch

Victor Eklund (F)

As impressive as the emergence of teammate and 2024 draft-eligible Linus Eriksson has been this season, Eklund is authoring a story that may end up being all that much better when all is said and done. A statistical playmaker by trade, the 6’1” lanky winger has been making sweet offensive music over the past weeks of playoffs for Djurgarden’s men's team, putting up 6 points and a +3 rating in 14 games. Incredibly strong on the puck and capable of turning on a dime, Eklund looks a bit like a taller, skinnier version of his brother William, a recent 1st rounder who just concluded a 45-point rookie season in the NHL. Although this will be Eklund’s final go-around at the U18 Worlds, he’s first eligible for the 2025 draft and all signs are that he too will jostle for a position among next summer’s top 10 draftees like his brother before him. First, he’ll want to put a nice exclamation mark on this season’s achievements with some solid production for what has to be seen as a medal contender. He could very well end up in the team’s top 6.

Linus Eriksson (F)

After chipping in 21 points and a +15 in 25 U20 league games for the ambitious Djurgarden organization, Eriksson was called up to the pro team and hasn’t looked back. Currently mired in the Hockey Allsvenskan championship series against Brynäs, Eriksson has shown no sign of being a junior player, handling all the rough stuff while continuing to score goals and make plays. In total, he’s collected 7 goals and 15 points in 40 pro games this season, often lining up with Djurgarden star Linus Klassen. As could be expected, his star has risen in draft rankings as well and this tournament should serve as one in which he solidifies whether he’s a 1st or 2nd round talent in the upcoming draft. Eriksson likes to drive the puck to the goal and has no qualms shooting rather than passing, which should be an admirable trait for the Swedes.

Alfons Freij (D)

Very smooth on his feet and possessing some often silky mitts, Freij has been a delight to watch all season as he brings all sorts of thrills to the table and can often be seen conducting his signature stick twirl in one hand when he scores. At 6’1”, 198 pounds, he has wonderful size, but is still very mobile and makes good use of his long stick. The author of 16 goals over 45 total U20 league games, Freij was already a PPG player at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer and will be counted on to be a top 2 defenseman at this tournament, hopefully keeping up the offensive production while at it. We won’t hold back in saying that he does have his detractors in the scouting community, so what he does at this tournament will likely decide if he’s a first round pick in June - or not.

Herman Liv (G)

Liv was a minute-muncher all season long for Örebro’s U20 outfit, ultimately standing in goal for well over 2000 minutes in that league’s regular season alone. All in all, he went 20-16 with a 2.82 GAA and then topped that off with a 6-2 record and 2.09 GAA in the playoffs. Already the nation’s starter last summer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he went 3-0 with a miniscule 1.60 GAA, he should be the man in net for the team this spring, which will make this team an emotional one for fans across the country as Liv’s father Stefan was a legendary Swedish goaltender who tragically passed away in the 2011 plane crash carrying nearly the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL team. Only 6-foot tall and weighing just 170 pounds, his presence in goal is reminiscent of Sweden’s most recent gold medal-winning goaltender Hugo Hävelid in more ways than one. Liv could easily end up being one of the top three goalies at this tournament.

Lucas Pettersson (F)

A regular offensive contributor at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer (4 points in as many games) and the WJAC-19 (8 points in 6 games), we currently see Pettersson as a likely high second round draft pick in this summer’s draft. One of a half dozen players on the team to get into SHL action this year (5 games), his 57 points and +27 in 44 U20 league games had him firmly implanted as one of the circuit’s most dominating offensive players, having played fewer games than the majority of his company in the upper echelon of the league. Here in Finland, we’ll be looking for him to be one of the offensive motors in the top six and although it would be unfair to expect him to produce like Otto Stenberg did last season, it is a role this Swedish team is going to need Pettersson to try to fill for this spring’s edition.

Leo Sahlin Wallenius (D)

Thought to be a bit of a stiff player by some, Wallenius is ultimately a very mobile defenseman who only measures in at 6-foot, 180-pounds. However, he plays like a defenseman who is four inches taller and there’s a lot of stretch to his stick and willingness to lean into opposition players. Moreover, there’s some sly offensive ability here as he enjoys walking the blueline every bit as much as he happily jumps up into the play to replace a forward or serve as the 4th man on the rush. After putting up five points in four Hlinka Gretzky Cup games and 19 through 19 games played with the U18 squad throughout the season, he also had 45 points and a +21 through 48 U20 league games, tying him for the league scoring lead among defensemen. Coming from the same Växjö program, he and Freij already build an experienced pairing with chemistry. This tournament could be decisive in pointing which of the two is actually the more impactful player.

Canada

Same procedure as every year for a Team Canada that is heading to this tournament chock full of players the scouts have been watching all winter long with other options having just come available as teams get knocked off in the CHL playoffs. With little time to gel being afforded to what is a bit of an all-star team among players not still active with their junior clubs, coach Gardiner MacDougall will have some interesting weapons to go with, several of the underage variety, including returnee Porter Martone. For the Canadians, the big battles against the Czechs and Swedes, which will come right in games 1 and 2, will be key for jockeying for the top spot in the group as well as getting the team ready for playoff competition. Having defeated Finland 5-1 in an initial test game, it’s hard to imagine this team won’t make the semifinals and thus, play for a medal. The team’s impressive overall construction and 3 lines of scorers places the gold medal very much in reach as long as the blueline group and goaltending can hold up their end of the bargain.

Top Players to Watch

Liam Greentree (F)

You don’t often see 90-point CHL scorers at this tournament, but thanks to Greentree and Gavin McKenna, Canada will be throwing two of them on the ice. Perhaps even together. For the burly, well-built winger who is widely considered a strong top 20 candidate for the upcoming NHL draft, this tournament will be about showing the scouting community that he’s ready to lead a team towards the promised land in a tournament where a player of his quality simply has to step up to the plate. He won’t be alone in this endeavor by any means, but he should be a part of the top six and an installation on the powerplay. We’re also thinking he’s going to need to drive the nets hard and be in on his share of the garbage goals around the goalmouth. On the personal front, his performance at this tourney may just mean the difference between being selected in the first rather than the second half of the first round.

Tij Iginla (F)

Expected to be a late addition to the team, Canada should be adding a player in Iginla who has all the makings of being the tournament’s top goal getter, if not its top scorer. Coming off a 47-goal season in the WHL, one in which he added another 9 goals and 15 points in 11 playoff games, Iginla may be the hottest player coming into the event. Son of NHL legend Jarome, Iginla has steadily made his way up the draft rankings all winter long, having raised eyebrows right off the bat with 13 goals in his first 12 games and 15 in the first 20. Possessing a heavy shot, plenty of moves, meticulous passing skills, and the ability to use his edges in a manner that perhaps his own father couldn’t even do, he’s going to be the type of player you can’t stop, but only hope to contain. A dominating performance in Finland would surely fortify him as a top 10 pick in the upcoming draft.

Porter Martone (F)

A 6’3” winger first eligible for the 2025 NHL draft, Martone is entering this tournament as a returnee who just spent this winter putting up 33 goals, 71 points, and a +25 in the OHL, chipping in another 6 points in 5 playoff games. We already saw at last spring’s U18 Worlds that Marone is a big fan of the bigger ice surface, where he can go on a deking tear while gaining speed or swerving through the masses. There’s a ton of skill here, but also a lot of the ideal prerequisites for a power forward and Martone always brings that “joker” quality to the table, as he can slice open a game at any given time. Doing so on an even more consistent basis could be just what Canada will need if the gold medal is to be obtained.

Maxime Masse (F)

At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, Masse informed the hockey world that he was in for a big winter by knocking in 5 goals in his first 4 games. With just one goal in his first 9 games with Chicoutimi of the QMJHL, it looked like he might not be able to live up to the expectations he had set, but his 35 goals over the next 58 games told an entirely different story. By the time the regular season concluded, he had amassed 75 points in 67 games and went on to add another 6 in 8 playoff games, the last of which being a goal just 8 days before tourney begin. Expect to see Masse placed next to a couple of like-minded offensive players and then we should see some fireworks. Like Iginla, Masse has the potential to be the tournament’s top goal scorer.

Gavin McKenna (F)

It’s already quite the claim to fame to say you’re Connor Bedard’s cousin (admittedly, by marriage), but McKenna may be the most marquee name of this tournament whatsoever coming off a 97-point regular season for the Medicine Hat Tigers, having done so entirely as a 16-year-old. That age bears taking to heart because McKenna is on track to the be the #1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, which is still a long ways away. A sniper and deker with off-the-charts offensive instincts, McKenna is already 6-foot tall and handles the puck as if there’s a magnet on his stick. Just seeing him here will be a treat for hockey fans across the world and there’s really no reason he can’t end up being the most impactful player at the tournament.

Henry Mews (D)

His seven points in five Hlinka Gretzky Cup games last summer told us that the righty shot defender was in for a big draft year season. He did not disappoint! When the dust settled on his OHL season with the Ottawa 67’s, Mews had put up 15 goals, 61 points, and a +16 with a healthy dose of penalty minutes sprinkled in over 65 games. Another 5 points were chipped in over 10 playoff games, which - truth be told - was a bit quiet for the defender with the heavy and accurate blueline shot, especially when one sees that those points were spread out over only 2 of ten games. He, if not Spencer Gill, will now have a chance to be the ne plus ultra on the powerplay for Canada and can be realistically viewed as one of the top 5 defensemen heading in the tournament.

Marek Vanacker (F)

Of decent, but below average height and weight, the 6-foot forward managed to pull off one of the biggest OHL point jumps you’re ever going to see, going from 16 points in his rookie season to 82 in his draft year. Despite playing for a team that missed the playoffs, he also managed to collect a +7. Not shabby! Knowing how to get feisty at times, Vanacker has thrown a bit of a wrench into the plans of prospect rankers leaving some to think he may be worthy of a late 1st round pick. All the more important for this top 6 forward to put an exclamation point on his fantastic regular season with a big U18 Worlds showing. But will he get the kind of situational ice time to do so? The competition within the team will be fierce, especially from the likes of Jett Luchanko, Cole Beaudoin, and underager Malcolm Spence, all of whom could just as easily been mentioned here.

Czechia

Outside of Canada, not a team at this tournament can feature this many players currently playing for a CHL junior club. There are another half dozen players on the team who spent their winters in Sweden or Finland. Those who do play domestically have put up dominating junior numbers and spent this season gaining pro experience as well, save for a few exceptions. That means that the combination of experience and talent is one that should have the Czechs right in the thick of things with regards to medaling. The team has a few big boys, but plenty of undersized players as well. The program is hoping that the CHL experience might pay off best against Team Canada, a rivalry that has grown considerably at no less than the U20 level in recent years. One way or another, the Czechs will be gunning for a top 2 spot in the group and it’s hard to imagine anything less than a 3rd place finish. We can guarantee that no-one is looking forward to facing the Czechs in the quarterfinals after their final’s appearance at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Top Players to Watch

Adam Benak (F)

He’s as small as it gets but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more dynamic player and generator of offense in this tournament. Slick, crafty, and creative, Benak enters opposition zones looking to slice them apart and then use a variety of pathways to the goal. Primarily a playmaker, Benak understandably dominated U18 play in the Czech Republic while scoring at a PPG pace in the nation’s U20 circuit. He also got into 18 games in the country’s top league, ending the season having suited up for 60 games over several layers of the Plzen organization. This came off the tails of a 10-point outing in 5 Hlinka Gretzky Cup games last summer, which topped the tournament. Look for Benak to be no less than an absolute fixture on the top power play unit at this tournament as he continues to lay the tracks for “the little engine that could” rubric of the ever evolving 2025 draft rankings picture.

Max Curran (C)

One of the younger players available for the upcoming draft, Curran is an enticing 6’3”, 190-pound playmaking center hailing from the Slavia Praha program in Prague. A top import selection of the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, it’s safe to say that his initial season in North America wasn’t exactly what the doctor ordered for the American-based WHL participant, but in light of the team’s overall dearth of offensive production, his 32 points in 40 games had him on pace to finish among the top 4 team scorers, several of which are already drafted. Moreover, he’ll need to be a key contributor for this Czech team, bringing valuable international experience to the table in a group featuring a highly anticipated Team Canada. With his draft stock having dropped a wee bit, we’re betting on Curran delivering a notable performance over the next 12 days.

Jakub Fibigr (D)

Part of a huge wave of Czech players drafted by CHL clubs in last summer’s import draft, Fibigr may be the one player of that group who actually exceeded expectations. Ultimately, he put up 43 points in 61 OHL contests and little of what he had done before had indicated that he’d have such production in him. As such, his stock continued to rise all winter long. A first round playoff loss for his Mississauga team still saw him chip in 4 assists in 5 games. He’ll now man the left side of one of Czechia’s top two defensive pairings and will be bringing a whole lot of experience to the ho-down in Finland as the Czechs should feature one of the better defensive units.

Tomas Galvas (D)

Measuring in at solely 5’10” and 150 pounds, it may seem astounding that Galvas has gained top 3-round consideration for the upcoming draft, but the slick skating defenseman with dominating edgework has presented himself to be a cerebral player whose size doesn’t curtail his effectiveness. He’s already spent most the year playing pro hockey in the Czech Republic’s top pro league, where he unfortunately gained perhaps the most notoriety by getting decked with an open-ice check to the head. Still, despite missing time and only seeing roughly 10 minutes of ice time per game throughout the season, Galvas played with the poise of a veteran in gaining 7 points and a +8 while collecting 19 points in 23 U20-league games. His WJC performance was every bit as impressive, gaining an average of roughly 15 minutes of ice time per game for a very successful Czech club. There’s really no reason Galvas can’t be a difference-maker at this tournament as the heavy play of the favorites shouldn’t phase him in light of his experience.

Adam Jecho (F)

A veteran of three Hlinka Gretzky Cups, the 6’5” Jecho has had a strong winter putting up 47 points in 54 games for a disappointing Edmonton Oil Kings team in what was his first season in North America. He’ll be heading to Finland as one of the tournament’s heaviest players and can serve as a coast-to-coast winger for the team, hopefully adding a strong goalmouth presence when he’s not manning the power play from the faceoff circles. He’s got a lot to work with on this team and is quite familiar with a number of his teammates, so there may be more space and better feeds than what he was experiencing in the WHL this winter. A top tourney could lead to a first round selection this June.

Oskar Lisler (F)

At 6’1”, 196 pounds, Lisler is one of the more solidly built players on a team filled with smaller participants. In addition, he’s one of only two of the team’s players to spend the bulk of the season playing in the Swedish U20 league. Much like more ballyhooed teammates in North America such as Adam Titlbach and Jiri Klima, he hasn’t separated himself from the competition in a scoring capacity (10 goals, 17 points in 35 games), but he’s been on fire for the national team since the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and is clearly a go-to player in all situations for this coaching staff. We’re viewing Lisler as being one of the players who wouldn’t be drafted if the draft were today but will worm his way into a late round pick with an inspired performance in Finland.

Radim Mrtka (D)

We’ve often looked at the size of Czech and Slovak defenders developed in the course of time and wondered what the heck is in the water in Central Europe. Now enters Mrtka who, at age 16, already measures in at 6’4”, 183 pounds. It’s just not normal! And that any possible awkwardness in his skating may have as much to do with his age and the effects of puberty as anything else, Mrtka spent this winter showing himself to be an absolute shutdown machine who can contribute in the offensive zone (30 total points and +22 over 47 total games) at both the U20 and U17 levels in the Czech Republic. His Trinec program even entrusted him to suit up three times with the pro team. Start taking notes on him now because he’s in line to be a top prospect for the 2025 draft.

Petr Sikora (F)

One of the more prized Czech forwards for the upcoming draft, Sikora has been part of the Czech program for several years now and was already a chief contributor at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer. He’s coming off an outstanding season in the Czech Republic where the average-sized playmaker had 47 points and a +34 in 34 games. He also got into 22 games in the nation’s top pro league, where he’s expected to take on a bigger role next season. He’ll be expected to start all that “bigger role” stuff right here at the U18 Worlds as a top 6 forward with powerplay time.

Switzerland

A 3rd place finish and quarterfinal loss last spring was understood as getting the expected result for a Swiss team that should be heading into this tournament thinking almost solely about maintaining the class more. Unfortunately for Switzerland, it best compares with participants Latvia, Norway, and Slovakia, all of which are nations that will be conducting their preliminary round against each other in Group A. Instead, Switzerland will have to hope for a victory against a very unknown Team Kazakhstan in their most vital preliminary round task. That would likely see them avoid the relegation round and wrap up a playoff spot right off the bat. Even in the case of a victory, it’s hard to imagine the boys around captain Leon Muggli will be able to muster much should they face the US or Finland in the quarterfinals, having lost to the latter in a recent test game 7-0. Nonetheless, the Swiss will approach every game knowing the score is 0-0 to kick things off.

Top Players to Watch

Robin Nico Antenen (F)

At 6’2”, 187 pounds, Antenen provides ideal size while displaying a penchant for the fancy play here or there. Despite garnering international interest, Antenen stuck to his guns at home this winter and promptly became one of the top 17-year-olds in the country’s U20 league, chipping in 47 points in 55 total games. His play was so impressive that he got into 6 games of NL action in the course of the season. In Finland, you can expect the winger to ride shotgun with playmaker Jamiro Reber while creating space on the ice with his big frame and slick skating.

Christian Kirsch (G)

The future UMASS goaltender was already quite an interesting case at last year’s tournament thanks to his future plans and his 6’4” netfront presence as a 16-year-old. He ended up getting heavily hit in two outings but parlayed that experience into dominating play at Switzerland’s U20 level this season, going 22-5-1 in the regular season and then in winning the league championship with a 7-3-1 playoff record. His 2.32 GAA in the regular season was followed by a 2.17 GAA in the postseason. Large, rangy, and yet still quite athletic, we’d say the #1 job is his to run with if the program weren’t so high on the similarly sized Phileas Lachat. The NCAA crowd will nonetheless be excited to see what he can do here before he likely ventures over to the USHL in preparation for his 25-26 debut in college hockey.

Leon Muggli (D)

The heart-n-soul of this Swiss entry, Muggli will be the man with the “C” on his chest and is in line to rack up gobs of ice time. Whenever a situation is deemed to be critical, which should be often in this tough Group B play, you can expect to see Muggli on the ice. He’d probably just play all 60 minutes if you could fit an oxygen tank under his equipment. A tough-as-nails warrior who may be as valuable to the Swiss effort without the puck as he is with it, Muggli already has a U18 Worlds, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and WJC under his belt. He’s also coming off a full season of NL play that even saw him suit up for 11 playoff games (2 points and a +4). He’s rightly the highest ranked Swissman for this summer’s draft and the reasons why should become quite apparent to all in attendance at this tournament.

Yannik Ponzetto (F)

Ponzetto is a gritty and active-in-the-corners type of player who was all over the ice at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, often finding himself in the middle of top opportunities and collecting 3 points along the way. Not long thereafter, he found himself in the QMJHL and although his 14 points in 68 games for three different teams don’t scream “resounding success”, he’ll be bringing crucial international experience to the table and will serve as one of the key players for this Swiss team, especially when the going gets rough. There’s more to the package here and we suspect he’ll be very involved in anything promising the Swiss manage to put together.

Jamiro Reber (F)

We saw Reber flashing his goods at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Not the biggest player, he’s definitely got some jazz and above-average offensive instincts paired with some slick edges in tight corners. Despite only being one of the youngest players eligible for this summer’s draft, Reber put up a very impressive 41 points in 48 U20 league games for HV71 before leading the U18 team with 9 points in 5 playoff games. There’s some real jam in his game and he already represented Switzerland at the WJC this winter, so he’s coming in with some great tournament experience and chemistry with players such as Muggle, Antenen, and Daniil Ustinkov. Expect him to be a cog on the power play and a go-to first line player throughout the tournament.

Daniil Ustinkov (D)

After a full season of pro play (10 assists and a +13) and a WJC performance with a fairly regular shift, Ustinkov is clearly a key component of this Swiss outfit, what with his prior experience at this tournament and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer also factoring in. A shifty skater who can create a head of steam, Ustinkov should be in line for a whole lot of ice time, especially in key moments of the game. Adept at playing a physical game, his value should increase in bouts with group opponents Canada and Sweden. In the past, Ustinkov was a fixture on the powerplay and that shouldn’t change here. Being his draft year, this will be the last opportunity for Ustinkov to accentuate how NHL teams should view him as June approaches.

Kazakhstan

It’s been a long time coming for a hockey nation that has spent many years mired in the D1A and D1B echelons of the IIHF, 21 to be exact. We’ve seen the men’s team at the top level on a number of occasions and even the U20 squad has snuck into the WJC a couple of times, but the U18 level is one that has struggled to get ahead of its peers. As such, the promotion last spring was a monumental success and was achieved despite the fact that the Kazakhs lost to heavy favorite Denmark by a score of 8-3 along the way. Ouch! But the producer of former NHLer Nikolai Antropov enters tourney play knowing it's the heavy underdog but that an upstart win over Switzerland could mean all the difference in the world to retaining the class. Other than that, the program will be finding out just what it’s actually capable of, considering the team is sending 12 players from its own U20 league into the running, with the majority of the rest playing in Russian junior circuits, including 4 in the MHL.

Top Players to Watch

Semyon Cherkasov (F)

After three years as part of the Spartak Moscow program, Cherkasov returned home to suit up for MHK Astana to play in the Jastar, the nation’s own 12-team U20 league. There he was the league’s dominant scorer with 36-33-69 in 52 total games. Strong to the net despite his 5’9”, 154-pound body, Cherkasov has the makings of a playmaker but showed a keen sense of goalscoring from all sorts of angles. If he doesn’t produce in Finland, the D1A will once again be beckoning next spring.

Artur Glukhikh (F)

Still just 16, the 6’1”, 176-pound Glukhikh will be the player scouts will be most interested in seeing from Kazakhstan. He too played in the Jastar, being the driving force for Kamenogorsk with 30 goals and 52 points in 52 games and is expected to be one of the few players on the team who can provide offensive flair, especially in the department of goal-scoring. Like with most everyone on the team, this will be his first international appearance for his nation.

Asanali Sarkenov (F)

On a team full of smaller skaters, the 6’4”, 200-pound Sarkenov will not be hard to miss. A player not foreign to the penalty box, Sarkenov clipped at about a PPG pace in the Jastar but spent the great majority of the season playing in Russia’s MHL, where he had 8 points and 53 penalty minutes over 42 games. We’re anticipating that he’s going to let the beast out at this tournament, hoping to gain notice of the many scouts in attendance.

Mstislav Shipilin (D)

Still eligible for this tournament by a single day, Shipilin is the one player on the team who was also a member of Kazakhstan’s D1A U20 team and just concluded an entire season of MHL play as a 17-year-old. Just average in size, he does have a decent all-round package and will be expected to do a lot of the heavy lifting in Finland. Like his teammates, he’s lacking international experience, even if that D1A U20 Worlds gave him more than most.

Abylaikhan Toleubai (G)

Although 6’1”, Toleubai is a lightweight goaltender who will be experiencing his first international tournament for Kazakhstan. He’s coming off a season in the domestic Jastar league where he went 21-6 with a 2.10 GAA. Those numbers faltered a bit in the playoffs, where he lost the starting job on the way to the league championship. Together with tiny tot Danil Lytkin, he’ll have to be a magic man anytime he may stand in goal if his country is to stave off elimination. That he’s an open book heading in may be just the advantage he needs.

Welcome to the 2024 NHL Draft – European Region

Scouts: Chapin Landvogt, Felix Robbins, Matej Deraj, Viktor Fomich — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:16:41 +0000

230823 Simon Zether of Sweden during the U20 5 Nations tournament match between Sweden and Slovakia on August 23, 2023 in Nyköping.
Photo: Emma Wallskog / BILDBYRÅN / COP 320 / EW0239

Autumn is just around the corner and you know what that means? It’s time to start thinking about the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The majority of players have already seen their seasons begin, be it European or North American based, and that gives us a ton to talk about already. As part of a large series, each of our scouting regions and regional scouts will be introducing you to some of their early favourites; names to keep an eye on.

This is ‘Welcome to the 2024 NHL Draft: - European Region

Scouts: Chapin Landvogt, Felix Robbins, Matej Deraj, Viktor Fomich

Favourite Player from Europe Heading Into the Draft Year:

Daniil Ustinkov, Defense, ZSC Lions

There are two defining players for Switzerland in this year’s draft, namely Ustinkov and forward Jamiro Reber. As the latter is spending the season with HV71 in Sweden, he is now the domain of our Nordic scouts. That makes Ustinkov - who had the option of playing hockey in North America this season - the hands down top Swiss prospect coming out of Switzerland for the 2024 NHL draft. A bulwark of a player who can be extremely sturdy, we can’t wait to see what comes of this season, one in which he could see action in his country’s top U20 league and the SL but has looked real good for his NL club in several appearances during the preseason, gaining ample ice time along the way. Steadfast and mobile, both with and without the puck, he’s an adept puck-distributing blueliner. We’re big fans of his poise and presence on the ice, where he displays a constant eye for passing opportunities while ever ready to move with the biscuit when that’s the best option. He’s got physicality too and finds a way to be very involved, even when things might not be going his way. He enters this season looking like a solid option at the tail end of the first round in 2024. (Chapin Landvogt)

Edwin Tropmann, Defense, Kölner

Tropmann is a right-shot defenseman who has been making some serious noise in Germany for several seasons now. Does this assessment sound familiar? No need to get our hopes up too high yet, but Tropmann already has two U18 Worlds appearances under his belt and is far and away the best first year draft-eligible this German class has to offer. Of just average size, Tropmann is a strong skater who plays a heavy game laden with confidence. Capable in all three zones, transitional play with the puck and the occupation of the Ovechkin wheelhouse spot on the power play have been his fortes to date. Tropmann also loves to create momentum heading up the ice with the puck on his stick. After two DEL and four DEL2 contests (one point) last season, it’s felt that Tropmann will get a real look at ice time in the pro ranks this season although his junior team in Cologne (for whom he’s off to a slow start) would love a season for the ages out of him in light of their championship ambitions. Cologne’s head coach Uwe Krupp would be all too ecstatic to see Tropmann push his hand at the DEL level. International fans should get to see Tropmann in a top 4 role at this winter’s WJC. (Chapin Landvogt)

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Wing, Mora IK

It isn’t every year that the nation of Norway can boast that they have a top NHL draft eligible prospect, let alone one under serious consideration at all. Michael Brandsegg-Nygård has definitely earned that status, with many scouts penciling him into the top 20 going into the season - setting him up to be the highest drafted norwegian-born player in NHL history. Not only is he immensely talented, he is a ton of fun to watch. Brandsegg-Nygård’s game is that of a modern power forward. His physical prowess allows him to put immense pressure on his opponents during puck battles (and sometimes take them out of the play entirely) along the boards and win possession for his team. He can also stand guys up in open ice, delivering bone crushing hits. He is an elite forechecker, which allows him to capitalize on turnovers created by his hard work and create a rush opportunity the other way. He’s more of a shooter than a passer - and he can really shoot it hard. He’s a great north-south skater, and he possesses great anticipation and awareness in all situations. Simply put, he plays a game that translates easily to higher levels. Heading into the season, he is already an excellent prospect and would be in most drafts. However, if he can refine his passing game and add some more fine skill to his arsenal then the sky's the limit for Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. He is staying with Mora IK and will most likely be getting a sizable opportunity with the big club for the upcoming season - as sending him to the J20 level would be trivial - and I cannot wait for him to make his mark on the league. (Felix Robbins)

Ivan Demidov, Wing, SKA St. Petersburg

There are no other options here (from my region): whether you actually like him or not, if at this point your favorite Russian 2024 NHL draft eligible player isn’t Ivan Demidov then you’re clearly doing something wrong. Demidov possesses an insane concentration of attacking skill that allowed him to score a huge amount of points in the MHL junior league last season, which resulted in him receiving the MHL MVP of the season award (and that is extremely impressive for someone his age). He can do everything in the attacking zone thanks to his creativity, but the concerns are there too: he isn’t physical (not too surprising for a 17 year old kid, but still) and I have question marks written down from the last season about him being able to keep up with the intensity and pace of the pro levels of Russian hockey. This will be monitored closely this season, but for now he is among the top names of pretty much every draft ranking and deservedly so. (Viktor Fomich)

Maxim Burkov, Wing, HK Dukla Jihlava (Czech U20)

I´ve always loved draft prospects from non-traditional hockey markets and one of them has now joined my region. Maxim Burkov was born in Estonia, a country with only one drafted player in history and Burkov might become the second one. Prior to the season, he joined Dukla Jihlava and even though he started the season with the U20 side, he's expected to move up to the A-team sooner or later. He left a strong impression during the pre-season. Burkov is still very much a raw prospect. He needs to get better at many aspects of the game. He lacks physicality and needs to add muscles to put up with older and bigger opponents. However, he's a fun player to watch, a true sniper who loves to shoot the puck. He has decent hands and uses his feet well. It's difficult to evaluate him properly since he had never played at a semi-decent level before this season (and the Czech juniors is not exactly the strongest league in the world either), but he's a fun prospect with a great story. His draft season might be one for the books. (Matej Deraj)

First Round Candidates:

Elias Pul, Center, EC Salzburg U20/RB Hockey Juniors

The strongest German forward option among first-year eligible players, Pul was one of the rare underagers to appear for Germany at the U18 Worlds, even garnering some looks in the top six. A two-way bulldog of sorts, there’s skill, smarts, and hop in his game, something we really got to see in the final two contests at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer. Still a lightweight, we have little doubt he can dominate for Red Bull’s U20 academy team that plays in the Czech junior league as he already was 3rd on the team in scoring last season as a 16-year-old, thus we’re keen on seeing if he’ll ultimately be part of the RB Juniors AlpsHL outfit. That, at this age, would put him in Julian Lutz territory. Could a WJC appearance be in the cards as well? German coach Abstreiter is very familiar with him. (Chapin Landvogt)

Leon Muggli, Defense, EV Zug

Outside of Ustinkov, it’s doubtful that any draft-eligible players based in Switzerland will push for the first round in next summer’s draft, but Muggli would likely be the guy if any were to throw his name into the hat. He’s a classic stay-at-home defender who likes to play it rough, move opponents out of the crease, and end their momentum along the boards. Average in height and still lacking weight, especially for his rough ’n tumble style of play, we’re hoping to see more out of him from a transitional standpoint. A stalwart for Switzerland’s international teams the past two years, Muggli’s game with the puck has been all about keeping things simple. All indications at the moment are that Zug is looking to keep him around for NL action this season. That would say a lot about his standing in Switzerland, but would it be best for his development? (Chapin Landvogt)

Simon Zether, Center/Wing, Rogle BK J20

Simon Zether is a very interesting player with a very interesting toolkit. He’s got a big frame, which he most comfortably uses to protect the puck on offence and in creating angles to clog up passing & shooting lanes on defence. Zether has fluid skating mechanics and good straight line speed for his size, though his agility needs improvement. He is an excellent rush attacker and very good (if not a little aggressive) at supporting breakouts by bolting up ice and making himself available for the outlet pass. Zether’s game really shines in the offensive zone. He has great vision and is a good puck distributor. He can find soft ice very easily, and possesses a tremendous shot - powerful, thanks to his frame, and accurate as a laser. Despite possessing average hands, he is a creative and deceptive player with an extensive bag of tricks..

While Zether’s offensive toolkit is very impressive, his play on the defensive side of the puck really needs improvement. He doesn’t use his frame or reach to his advantage, and rarely engages in board battles. For a big man, Zether’s game is rather small. He will need to develop a more robust physical dimension and round out his defensive game in order to gain serious 1st round consideration. (Felix Robbins)

Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Defense, Växjö Lakers J20

Leo Sahlin Wallenius was perhaps the most impressive blue liner for Sweden at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, and he hopes to continue to impress heading into the season. Wallenius profiles as an offensive defenceman. He is a reliable and creative passer with exceptional vision - he makes the long stretch pass up ice look easy. He isn’t afraid to jump up on the rush or to activate into the play in the offensive zone - he’s got the offensive toolkit for it. He’s got a pretty good shot, which opens up a lot of options for him when the puck is on his stick. Wallenius is a stellar rush defender. He controls his gaps well and rarely gets burned thanks to his awesome skating. He has a bit of a tough time staying calm under pressure from forecheckers, often bailing out or firing a pass to an unoccupied area of the ice. He isn’t the strongest physically either, often getting outdueled for inside position in front of the net or in the corners. This sort of “offensively gifted - defensively middling” dichotomy is fairly common amongst offensive defencemen, and will typically dictate what sort of player they will become at the NHL level. His skating and passing are exceptional, no question, but can he take his offensive toolkit a step further and raise his ceiling even higher? If he can do that, as well as improve his physical strength and decision making under pressure, Leo Sahlin Wallenius could definitely play himself into the first round. (Felix Robbins)

Igor Chernyshov, Wing, MHK Dynamo Moskva

In terms of Russian draft candidate discussion Igor Chernyshov is usually a bit in shadow of Ivan Demidov, but what he brings to the table makes him very easy to like. Chernyshov is built like a potential power forward, but also has very good hands, skates well and is competent both at playmaking and finishing. Might be nothing record-breaking for him last season in the MHL, but he was still right in the point-per-game territory, which is high-end enough considering his age. As the cherry on top of that he also added a goal in his limited KHL call-ups, which has been the youngest ever goal scored in his franchise’s KHL history. Injuries got in his way a bit at the end of the season, so he missed a solid chunk of preseason action and, at the moment as I write this, is looking a bit rusty, yet he certainly is someone to watch out for and consider for the first round this season. (Viktor Fomich)

Yegor Surin, Center, Loko Yaroslavl

The hardest thing about scouting Yegor Surin is looking at something other than his hands, as his skills are almost Datsyukian in nature. Additionally, his shot is an absolute laser with precision and sudden release. Surin had a decent season in the MHL last year playing well in a rather limited role on a strong Loko team, at least well enough to be considered as a potential first-round talent. With that being said he is viewed mostly as a late first round guy, as despite all the skill his skating level currently is not a strength and will need to be improved. Also, since he projects as a center, his ability to be a quality two-way player is still something that needs to be proven too, although he certainly possesses the right playmaking talents to be developing as a center. (Viktor Fomich)

Adam Jiříček, Defense, HC Plzeň

A well-known last name when it comes to hockey prospects; Adam´s older brother David is one of the best young defensemen in the world and Adam does everything he can to follow in his footsteps. However, he's not a true clone of his brother. He doesn't enjoy throwing devastating hits that much and doesn't have his brother´s bomb of a shot. On the other hand, Adam plays a more poised and balanced game. The younger Jiříček is a two-way defenseman who moves quite well for his size (6´2”). He´s a smart player and a skilled passer, who likes to contribute all over the ice and doesn´t hesitate to join the rush, yet he doesn't forget to do his job in his own zone. Just like his brother, he's been given a solid opportunity with HC Plzeň in the Czech top tier league, even with power play minutes. A top 10 candidate. (Matej Deraj)

Tomáš Galvas, Defense, HC Olomouc (Czech U20)

I´ve always liked Galvas as a prospect. He´s a smooth-skating, smart two-way defenseman who possesses a lot of intriguing tools. He´s a great puck-carrier who´s really confident in his abilities and likes to join the rush. His defensive skills are solid as well, especially his defensive stick work. However, he´s undersized (5´10”) for a defenseman and lacks physicality to be more effective in board battles and in front of his own net. Nevertheless, Galvas is a smart player whose game could translate really well to pro hockey despite lacking a couple of inches and pounds. In my opinion, he could push for the 1st round if he continues to improve throughout his draft year and works on his weaknesses. (Matej Deraj)

Under the Radar “Sleepers:”

Nick Maul, Wing, EC Salzburg U20/RB Hockey Juniors

Quite possibly the top forward for Germany at this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Maul was noticeable for regularly showing up as Johnny on the spot on the attack while showing a strong understanding of positioning in all game situations. He also wound up being the team’s top producer, showing strong instincts for the net and a high IQ with respect to getting open and putting the puck in advantageous places for his teammates. A solidly built 5-foot 10er, he already put up four points in his first U20 game for RB Academy and may be with the pro Juniors squad before we know it. (Chapin Landvogt)

Paul Mayer, Defense, Adler Mannheim

With games already played for Germany’s DEL2 Kaufbeuren as a 16-year-old, then a transfer to organizational powerhouse Mannheim, the 6’2”, 192-pound Mayer was looking to be the talk of this year’s German class not too long ago. Alas, despite a strong 11-goal, 38-point DNL performance and one DEL showing for Mannheim, his international performances for Germany, even those in test phases, have done little to foster the belief that there’s a bonafide NHL prospect here. Nonetheless, the soon-to-be 18-year-old is staring at a winter of probable pro play at the DEL2 level with an outside shot at a WJC appearance. (Chapin Landvogt)

Robin Antenen, Center, EV Zug U20

Just 17 until next May, Antenen was a very pleasant revelation for Switzerland in its very successful Hlinka Gretzky Cup performance. Already measuring in at 6’1”, 190 pounds, Antenen plays with exceptional coordination and a strong nose for the net. There are some hands in this package, which Antenen places on display in subtle phases of a game while often popping up wherever the puck is. He spent more than half the season last year with EV Zug’s U20 team and that’s where he’s started this season, already clicking at a PPG pace. By the time the U18 Worlds swing around, we expect him to be one of Switzerland’s go-to players up front. (Chapin Landvogt)

Christian Kirsch, Goaltender, EV Zug U20

A part of Switzerland’s U18 Worlds entry last spring and then again at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the 6’3”, 180-pounder is well known to the scouting community already, especially in light of his commitment to UMass as of the 25-26 season. For this season, fans can expect to see him manning the nets for EV Zug’s U20 squad, which has clear championship ambitions. His part in next spring’s U18 Worlds outfit is a given as well, health allowing. As pro play is out of the question as long as NCAA ambitions are clear, we’re expecting the 23-24 season to be his last in Switzerland for a while. (Chapin Landvogt)

Stian Solberg, Defense, Valerenga IF

Stian Solberg has been playing top 4 minutes on the men's team in 1st division Norwegian hockey since he was 16 years old, and for very good reason. He is a smooth skating, all-situations defenceman with exceptional puck moving ability. He can eat minutes, hit hard, and break the puck out with ease. His positional awareness is borderline elite. He rarely ever gets walked or caught out of position, and if he does, he works hard to get back and make up for it. When the puck is on his stick, he does a very good job of manipulating defenders. He uses simple yet effective moves like outside body fake-drive inside to evade defenders and open up space for himself and teammates. He has been used effectively as a pointman on the 2nd power play unit, where his puck distribution skills greatly benefit from the extra space. Despite this, he doesn’t have a dynamic offensive toolkit, which could limit his upside. (Felix Robbins)

Bruno Idzan, Center/Wing, HV71 U20

Another player from a non-traditional hockey market, Bruno Idzan has been playing high level hockey in Sweden since 2021 in hopes of being the first Croatian-born player ever drafted by an NHL team. Idzan brings a ton of energy whenever he’s on the ice. He plays with his head up, his feet are constantly moving and he never gives up on the play. He is an excellent forechecker - he has the footspeed to catch up to puck carriers and does good work with his stick to disrupt play and cause turnovers. He’s a lightweight, but that doesn’t stop him from going to the dirty areas and battling or finishing his checks. He may not dazzle you with high-end skill, but he is a very smart player who processes the game as fast as he plays it. Ultimately, most of Idzan’s production will come from hard work rather than high end skill, and he will need to get a lot stronger physically to translate his game to higher levels. (Felix Robbins)

Anton Silayev, Defense, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

The scouting action is so dynamic that when I started writing this Anton Silayev was just an interesting sleeper, yet now it looks a little ridiculous to include him in this section given where some scouting agencies have him ranked after his hot start in the KHL. Seriously though, even just a brief look at him makes you think that it is quite amazing that a guy at the size of 6’7” can skate so smoothly. However it is also not hard to see that he is very raw (and in case of Silayev this should be written in uppercase) and needs to improve almost every component of his game; he is a classic long term project. That said, his impressive start to the KHL season has opened eyes for a reason and his processing ability does appear to be a major strength which bodes well for future improvement. (Viktor Fomich)

Maxim Velikov, Wing, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva

I can’t find any reasonable explanation why there isn’t a lot of discussion about Maxim Velikov right now: he scored a solid amount of points while playing fourth line minutes in the MHL last season and really turned heads playing for Team Russia in a Summer tournament. Obviously it is not only about the numbers, as the eye test has been passed so far too, especially in terms of skating. His acceleration is a major strength as it only takes him a few strides to build to full speed. Additionally, he blends skill and quickness well making him a dynamic attacker. If he continues to perform well, look for him to shoot up rankings. (Viktor Fomich)

Petr Sikora, Center, HC Oceláři Třinec (Czech U20)

Sikora is a player who impressed me at the recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup and his pre-season with Třinec was really solid as well. He is a smaller forward (5´10”, 168 lbs), but plays a fearless style of game and has a lot of intriguing tools. He´s a two-way center who´s pretty good defensively, wins a lot of faceoffs, and plays well on both special teams. Sikora is a skilled playmaker with great vision, who´s able to find his teammates consistently. He´s expected to spend the most of the year in juniors, but he might be worth a pick in the next draft even if he doesn´t get many opportunities in the men´s league. (Matej Deraj)

Samuel Kupec, Defense, Dukla Trenčín

Unlike recent two years, there are not many draft eligible prospects skating in Slovakia right now. One of the few is Samuel Kupec, a left-handed defenseman who´s decided to stay in Trenčín despite being drafted to the CHL. Kupec is a big (6´3”, 214 lbs) defenseman who loves physical play. He´s a hard hitter, plays very aggressively and never hesitates to get into a scrap or drop the gloves. He´s a reliable defensive defenseman who´s able to shut down opposing forwards, but lacks premium offensive skills. He´s not the best skater in the world and doesn´t offer much apart from his physicality and defensive skills, but if he´s able to play well in the Slovak league, he might be worth a late-round pick. (Matej Deraj)

NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS: 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Preview – Players to Watch

Brock Otten — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:19:17 +0000

The first scouting event of the new draft season is right around the corner, and everyone is rightfully excited. On July 31st, action gets under way at the 2023 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in Breclav and Trencin, with Canada looking to repeat as Champions. Last year, Canada captured gold on the back of strong play by Cal Ritchie, Brayden Yager, and Cam Allen, and they enter this year’s tournament as the favourites again. Once again, Russia will not be participating due to the ongoing war with Ukraine, and Germany will be taking their usual spot.

Let’s go over some of the players to watch for each team.

Group A

Czechia

Adam Jecho - Forward

Amazingly, this will be Jecho’s third Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. He’s still looking for his first goal at the event but should definitely earn it this year as one of the top forwards in the tournament. A potential lottery pick, he has recently signed on with Edmonton of the WHL for this year. The big winger is dynamite in transition with his size and speed.

Adam Jiricek - Defense

The younger brother of top Columbus prospect David Jiricek, Adam plays a similar kind of game. He can have a real positive impact on the game offensively but is still finding his footing as an elite two-way player. He is another potential lottery selection on this roster.

David Svozil - Defense

Another brother of a solid NHL defense prospect, David is the sibling of Stanislav. He too is a smooth skating puck mover, but he has a larger frame than his brother giving him a bit better defensive upside.

Tomas Galvas - Defense

Intelligent, two-way defender with high end skating ability. Galvas has already seen action in the Czech Extraliga. There will be questions about his high-end upside, but this is going to be a big tournament for him to prove that he belongs in the first round conversation like his teammates.

Jakub Fibigr - Defense

If you hadn’t guessed, the defense should be the strong suit of this Czech team with four potential high selections coming into the season. Fibigr is also a smooth skating defender, but one with the potential to quarterback the powerplay and put up points.

Adam Benak (2025) - Forward

One of the few 2007 born players at the event this year, Benak is an incredibly talented center who dazzled at the U17’s last year as an underager, even pulling off “The Michigan.” His role on this Czech squad could be more support oriented, but he’s a potential top prospect for 2025.

Germany

Manuel Schams - Defense

The likely captain of this Germany squad, Schams has been relied upon to be the top defender in the ‘05 age group thus far. A two-way defender and possibly Germany’s best hope to have a 2024 draft selection, look for him to eat heavy minutes.

Rio Kaiser (2025) - Defense

Kaiser is a raw defender with great upside thanks to his massive 6’7 frame. He is a late born 2006, so he’s not NHL draft eligible until 2025. Recently selected by Peterborough in the Import Draft, he will stay in Germany this year.

David Lewandowski (2025) - Forward

The 2007 age group is a much better one for Germany with several players showing the potential to be potential NHL draft selections. Lewandowski is a rangy pivot with strong puck protection skill, and he could be the team’s first line center despite being an underager.

Gustavs Griva (2025) - Forward

Another 2007 born player on the roster who will likely play a large role. Latvian born, but German raised winger who also has a twin on the team (Richards). While both are great players, Gustavs is the likely higher touted for now.

Carlos Handel (2025) - Defense

Yes, another high end 2007. Handel could be one of the top defenders on this German team as an underager. He’s going to be playing this year in Sweden with the Malmo program. There is high hope that he can turn into a Seider/Reinbacher type of prospect in the future.

Sweden

Alexander Zetterberg - Forward

No, he is not the son of former Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg, but there is apparently some distant relation between the two. What is certain is that Zetterberg enters the year as the top 2006 born Swedish player eligible for the draft (there are other strong late 2005’s). As such, the diminutive, but skilled and feisty center will be counted upon to be an offensive leader for this Swedish team.

Alfons Freij - Defense

An aggressive offensive defender with quick feet, Freij has the potential to be the first Swedish defender selected in 2024. He is ultra confident with the puck on his stick, and he was good for Sweden in a depth role at last year’s World Junior A Challenge, an event containing some pretty solid older prospects.

Anton Olsson - Defense

Not to be confused with the Nashville stay at home defender of the same name. This Anton Olsson is much more offensively oriented and fleet of foot. He should help anchor the blueline with Freij, as he did at last year’s U17’s.

Lucas Pettersson - Forward

Pettersson is an intelligent two-way center who has great playmaking chops. He was the second leading U17 scorer in the Swedish J20 league last year behind Zetterberg and he should form a great 1/2 punch down the middle for Sweden.

Karl Sterner - Forward

Lately there seems to be a big Swedish forward with intriguing athletic potential available every year at the draft. This year, that player appears to be Sterner. He shows an ability to put defenders on his back and control the wall. The skill, size, and skating combination will be very interesting to watch this year.

Linus Eriksson - Forward

Don’t let the limited production at last year’s U17’s fool you, Eriksson was one of Sweden’s top players at the event. He uses his strong skating ability to impact the game in all three zones and has the creativity to be a topflight playmaker. Eriksson’s upside is very high, and he will be one to watch at this tournament and throughout this season.

Victor Eklund (2025) - Forward

A large contingent of the top end forwards on this Swedish team are late birthdays. Victor is the younger brother of top San Jose Sharks prospect William Eklund. He plays the game in a similar way, as a slippery and creative playmaker. However, he did struggle at the J20 level last year and at the U17’s.

Viggo Nordlund (2025) - Forward

Kind of a similar player to Zetterberg…and yes, he is also a late born 2006 player. Nordlund was very noticeable at last year’s U17’s due to his combination of vision, passing ability, and strong agility. He can really keep the puck on a string, and he should play a top six role at this event.

Love Harenstam (2025) - Goaltender

In contention to be the best 2007 born goaltender on the planet, there is no guarantee that Harenstam sees considerable action given that he is an underager. However, he is a player to watch based on his immense upside as the next great Swedish netminder…and of course his amazing name.

United States

Trevor Connelly - Forward

One of the key figures on this U.S. team, Connelly was already an impact player in the USHL last year as a 16-year-old for Tri-City. He brings size, speed, and skill and is a lethal scorer from inside the dots. He also competes hard away from the puck and could ultimately be a first round pick next June.

Mac Swanson - Forward

Not the biggest forward, but Swanson is incredibly skilled. He was a near point per game player in the USHL as a 16-year-old for Fargo and was one of the best players in last year’s Clark Cup playoffs. His playmaking ability and vision are near elite. This tournament will be a big test for him. Players at his size (5’7) need to produce to be drafted.

AJ Spellacy - Forward

A big power forward playing for the Windsor Spitfires who was having a terrific rookie year prior to a season ending knee injury. He was a surprise addition to camp given his injury timeline but ended up making the team. He brings a ton of physicality and energy to the ice and can be a difference maker in transition.

Aidan Park - Forward

One of a few California kids on this roster, Park is a Shattuck St. Mary’s standout who is committed to the University of Michigan in the future. He’s an intelligent two-way forward with good skill and speed who didn’t look out of place in limited USHL action last year.

William Zellers - Forward

Another Shattucks St. Mary’s player on the roster, Zellers is a high IQ support winger who should play on the first two lines of this U.S. team. The Boston University commit is also a member of the Green Bay Gamblers.

Owen Keefe - Defense

Expect Keefe to be a defensive anchor for the U.S. at this event. He’s got a very polished and mature defensive game already thanks to strong mobility, reach, and a high IQ. The Muskegon (USHL) defender is a Boston University commit.

Will Felicio - Defense

Felicio is an undersized, but talented offensive defender who can run the powerplay and move the puck. He was a member of the USHL All Rookie team last year after a great season with Madison. Look for Felicio to run a potentially dangerous powerplay at this event.

Thatcher Bernstein - Goaltender

One of the top goalies in the prep school scene last year as a 16-year-old, Bernstein appears to have the inside edge to be the starting netminder for this U.S. team. He has the size that NHL teams are looking for and he’ll be playing for Dubuque this year in the USHL.

Ryker Lee (2025) - Forward

Lee is yet another Shattuck St. Mary’s player and is perhaps the only one guaranteed to return to the program this year as a late born 2006. He is a highly creative and skilled offensive player who could play a top six role on this team despite some size/strength deficits.

Group B

Canada

Sam Dickinson - Defense

Dickinson, a London Knights defender, is a potential top ten selection this year as a dominant two-way player. He controls the play with his combination of length and mobility, and he can have a profound impact on the transition game. Look for him to be one of the better defensemen at the event.

Henry Mews - Defense

Another potential top ten selection on the blueline out of the OHL, Mews is a different player than Dickinson, but he is equally effective and intriguing as a prospect. He oozes offensive potential thanks to his high-end vision and touch. He will also be an integral part of this Canadian Hlinka team.

Zayne Parekh - Defense

Look for Parekh to quarterback to the top Canadian powerplay after a record-breaking season in the OHL. His 21 goals set a new record for scoring by a U17 defender in the OHL. He’s a hybrid style defender with a high skill level and the skating ability to play aggressively with the puck.

Berkly Catton - Forward

The former first overall pick in the WHL by Spokane, Catton will be one of the main forwards to keep an eye on at this event. He is a potential top five selection thanks to the pivot’s complete game and skill level. He can do it all on the ice.

Cayden Lindstrom - Forward

Lindstrom is a huge, but lanky forward who is still learning how to unlock his physical potential. He can be an absolute force on net drives already and flashes high end skill in transition. Imagine how good he’ll be once he fills out his frame? Expect him to be a draft riser over the course of the year and it could start with a strong performance here.

Maxim Masse - Forward

One of the few players from the QMJHL on the roster this year, Masse was the CHL Rookie of the Year last season. Masse is a skilled scoring winger who also has good size and plays hard away from the puck. The Hlinka/Gretzky offers him an opportunity to show scouts that he has worked hard to improve his skating.

Michael Misa (2025) - Forward

The lone 2007 born player on this Canadian roster, Misa was granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada to enter the OHL early. He did not disappoint in his rookie year, albeit in the face of some injuries. He is a dynamic force when attacking with pace because of his ability to blend speed and skill. His shot is insanely good too. Look for him to be among the team’s offensive leaders despite his age.

Porter Martone (2025) - Forward

Expectations for Martone at this event will be quite high after he was great for Canada in a depth role at the U18’s as an underager. The late born 2006 winger plays a power game and has the size and skill to dominate down low.

Malcolm Spence (2025) - Forward

Another late 2006 born forward on this roster who could play a large role, Spence is an athletic beast. His rookie year with Erie had its ups and downs, but he did enough to flash his high-end offensive upside thanks to his combination of size and skill. Of all the players on this Canadian roster, Spence is the one that I’m most intrigued to see improvement from.

Gabriel D’Aigle (2025) - Goaltender

The last time we saw D’Aigle, he was thrust into action in the medal round for Canada at the U18’s despite being only 16. While he wasn’t fantastic, he held his own under the circumstances and should be one of the best goalies at this event. He’s not NHL draft eligible until 2025 with a late November birthday.

Finland

*of note, top Finnish ‘06’s Aron Kiviharju and Konsta Helenius will compete with Finland in the upcoming U20 showcase in Plymouth instead of the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup.

Veeti Vaisanen - Defense

There is some thought out there that Vaisanen has a chance to push ahead of Kiviharju as the top Finnish defender available this year. With Kiviharju out of the event, he will get his chance to shine. He’s a highly mobile two-way defender who will need to show that his offensive capabilities are high end.

Niilopekka Muhonen - Defense

Muhonen is a big defender who has already been playing at the U18 level for a year now, suiting up at last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky and this year’s U18’s. He’s already very polished in the defensive end and has great upside as a shutdown type. Does he have the upside to match? He could easily be a first-round pick next June if he shows that.

Joona Saarelainen - Forward

Likely to be the first line center and primary play driver for this Finnish entry, Saarelainen is a skilled, but undersized pivot. He played at this tournament last year as an underager and will try to use that experience to help Finland overcome the loss of their two best players.

Roope Vesterinen - Forward

Another undersized, but skilled forward, Vesterinen was lethal at last year’s U17’s, helping Finland take bronze. He thinks the game at a high level and has the high-end skating ability to beat defenders one on one.

Emil Hemming - Forward

A nice contrast to the undersized, high skill forwards in the age group for Finland, Hemming is a skilled power winger who excels driving the middle. The question for Finland is, do they load up a first line with their three top forwards or try to balance out the roster?

Petteri Rimpinen - Goaltender

Rimpinen was on Finland’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup squad last year as an underager and returns this year as the starter. He may not have the elite size scouts are looking for (currently listed at 6’0), but he does have the athleticism. He was terrific in the Finnish junior leagues last year and has a chance to be the tournament’s best goaltender.

Switzerland

Daniil Ustinkov - Defense

Ustinkov is a player that many scouts will have their eyes on at this tournament, to see how he can lead a strong ‘06 group for Switzerland. He’s a dynamic offensive defender who looks to consistently push pace and who looks poised running the point of the powerplay. He already has a ton of experience at this U18 level internationally too.

Jamiro Reber - Forward

Heading into the tournament, Reber is the other top talent for Switzerland. He is slick and skilled, making him difficult to contain as he pushes into the offensive zone with speed. He’s leaving Switzerland to play in Sweden this year as part of the HV71 program.

Leon Muggli - Defense

Muggli has long been the captain of this strong ‘06 group and he will help anchor the defense along with Ustinkov and Gian Meier. He doesn’t have the flash of Ustinkov, but he is a hyper intelligent blueliner who excels in the defensive end.

Gian Meier - Defense

A big right shot defender, Meier is going to get a ton of ice time at this tournament as part of a strong defensive group for the Swiss. A raw player still trying to find his game, it will be interesting to track his development this year.

Yannik Ponzetto - Forward

Already signed on to play with the Halifax Mooseheads this season, Ponzetto is another integral piece of the forward group along with Reber. The big winger plays a power game, which should blend well with Reber’s skill on the top unit.

Christian Kirsch - Goaltender

Likely to be the starting netminder for the Swiss, Kirsch is a hyper athletic netminder with size. We saw him struggle at the U18’s this year as an underager, but he’s fared much better against his own age group. He has a commitment to UMass and is a draft pick of the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL).

Slovakia

Ondrej Maruna - Forward

Drafted by Charlottetown in the Import draft this year, there is belief that he will end up in the QMJHL this year. He’s a versatile two-way forward with size who may just be the top NHL draft prospect of this 2024 Slovak group. He played at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup as an underager last year too.

Theo Kiss - Forward

A UMass commit who has been playing with Mount St. Charles Academy the last few seasons, Kiss will likely play with Des Moines of the USHL this year. He is a very creative and skilled offensive player and it will be interesting to see what he can do on a larger stage.

Tomas Pobezal (2025) - Forward

The only true star of this 2006 Slovak group, Pobezal has already been on the international stage for a few years now. He played at both last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and this year’s U18’s. Thanks to a late birthday, he’s not draft eligible until 2025. This will be a big event to prove that he belongs in the conversation with some of the other top Slovaks who have dominated the tournament recently.

Luka Radivojevič (2025) - Defense

The son of former OHL’er and NHL’er Branko Radivojevič, Luka is quite different from his father. He’s a smooth skating, puck moving defender without the elite size his father had. He has been playing in Sweden the last two years and is part of a much stronger 2007 group for the Slovaks.

Tobias Tomik (2026) - Forward

Likely the youngest player at this entire event, Tomik is a December born 2007. He’s already been playing a level up Internationally for the Slovaks and now faces his next challenge as part of the U18 group. He is a pure shooter with high end goal scoring potential.

2023 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: DIVISION B – Team Previews – Players to Watch

Chapin Landvogt — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:32:44 +0000

On April 20th, the IIHF Under 18 World Championships will commence with Team USA looking to turn last spring’s silver medal into this spring’s gold. The preliminary round should serve as a rather quick path to a prime playoff position before things get real hard in the round where every game counts. Certainly, Finland will have no intention of simply gifting the US with first place in the group, but it’ll require an otherwise down draft class to get some help from a handful of 2006-born players rising to the occasion. The hometown Swiss could be good for a hard showing and will be gunning for no less than third place, hoping to maybe surprise the Finns in the process. A tenacious Latvian club sniffing opportunity and an upstart newbie in Norway, which will nonetheless be lacking just about everyone of note who got them back into the top division, round off a group that, after the US, is looking fairly wide open.

United States

It’s like groundhog day all over again when talking about the goal for Team USA at this year’s U18 Worlds. All sites are on gold and there’ll be extra motivation after dropping a tight gold medal game against Sweden last spring that saw the third period get out of their grasp. The winner of 10 U18 gold medals and a whole slew of silver and bronze medals will be keen on regaining the main prize and this year’s US squad has plenty of reason to expect no less than a medal round appearance in Switzerland, seeing as how it’s chock full of prospects throughout the line-up who are gaining notoriety as probable top 65 picks this summer. Throw in the always imminent chemistry that the USNTDP spends two years investing in (there are only two players who have been added from outside the program, namely high schooler Hampus Slukynsky and OHL forward Carey Terrance), and you’ve got a built-in advantage that should first be tested in the quarterfinals.

Top Players to Watch

Trey Augustine - Photo by Rena Laverty

Trey Augustine (G)

We rarely get to see a goaltender this established at the U18 Worlds. After having stood in goal for four outings last spring, including the gold medal game, he’s had a brilliant winter that also saw him in goal for six games (3-1-0) at the WJC. Primed to work again with former US coach Adam Nightingale at Michigan State next fall, this tournament will serve as Augustine’s swan song with the USNTDP and there’s really nothing more for him to achieve but gold. Inspiring great confidence in this endeavor is the fact that Augustine has lost all of 5(!) games all winter, two of which came in overtime. It’s questionable whether any team this century has entered this tournament with a more established and successful goaltending presence.

Cole Eiserman (F)

Naturally, everyone was extremely excited to see Team Canada nominate Macklin Celebrini to its squad, but there’s nothing stopping the hockey community from just getting downright giddy about seeing Eiserman as well, as we may be getting a preview of the players going 1st and 2nd overall in the 2024 draft. We won’t go too much into the details of his 137 points collected this winter, but we would like to point out that he put up 17(!) goals in 13 games for the U18 team internationally. One of the most talked about US players in recent years, Eiserman can be a game-changer right here at this tournament and would have made just about any other team’s roster, despite being an “underager”. Expect him to show you why.

James Hagens (F)

Considering Eiserman is the next big thing, then is Hagens we’re all going to be seeing the next next big thing. Only 16 and first a 2025 draft eligible player, he’s along for the ride after accumulating 66 points for the U17 team and another 54 in 41 total games with the U18 squad. Surrounded by a plethora of more established players, Hagens should have fairly little pressure to deal with at this tournament, but there really isn’t any reason he shouldn’t be able to contribute offensively, especially in preliminary round play. Enjoy a glimpse into the future. We sure will.

Cole Hutson (D)

You may have trouble seeing him at 5’8” and 143 lbs., but you won’t be able to miss him. Yes, that name is familiar because his older brother Lane not only killed with the program, but then set a variety of records this past winter in getting his BU team to the Frozen 4. First draft eligible in 2024, and already a commit to the BU school his brothers are attending, Cole has big shoes to fill but already spent this season putting up a total of 81 points split between the program’s U17 and U18 teams. There’s every reason to believe we’ll see him on the power play every now and again here, and the US had no qualms in playing his older brother regularly as an underager back in Texas, so get ready for some more Hutson dynamism on the blueline this time around too.

Ryan Leonard (F)

A returnee to this tournament after a nice little underage showing last spring that saw him contribute six points and a whole lot of moxy, Leonard’s winter has been all about building on his draft profile, and his 97 points and +81 stats have him scheduled to perhaps go in the first half of this summer’s draft. For this tournament, Team USA is going to need Leonard to not only produce, but basically be the sniper on the team, which features a whole lot of players who can set things up.

Oliver Moore. Courtesy of the U.S. NTDP.

Oliver Moore (F)

One of the more established profiles on the team, Moore is expected to continue providing secondary scoring while supporting all efforts in all three zones. Heading into the draft this summer as a probable mid-first rounder, Moore brings a lot of the traits that are generally aligned with the pro game. For now, spectators can expect him to be the ying to Smith’s and Perreault’s yang while being a go-to player in just about all situations.

Gabe Perreault (F)

The son of former NHLer Yanic Perreault and brother to already drafted Jacob, Gabe is the actual leading scorer for this winter’s USNTDP squad, chalking up a total of 159 points. He’s a surefire top 40 pick in this summer’s draft and his performance here could decide if he’s a first or second rounder, as if the scouting community doesn’t already know what he can do. Nonetheless, this tournament is where there’s no tomorrow and the team will need him to continue coming as advertised. We’ll point out that he’s certainly not the biggest player out there and that can definitely factor in when the dice are rolled.

Will Smith (F)

In Mr. Smith, we’re looking at the US player who will likely be drafted highest this summer and a strong tournament in Switzerland could even fortify him as a top 5 pick, if he isn’t seen as such already. An outstanding player with a potpourri of tools, you’ll find plenty of people willing to gush about his future possibilities and we here at McKeen’s are no different, but we want to see him when the money is on the line. He’s been working up to this point and is no less than 7 games away from gold. If anyone here can will it into fruition, it’s Smith.

Finland

The Finns enter this tournament with a bronze medal in their pocket from last spring. That included a tough 1-0 semifinal loss to eventual gold medal-winning Sweden before knocking off Jiri Kulich and the Czechs for third place in the bronze medal game. And to kick off the playoffs, the Finns were able to defeat Canada in overtime of a game that required two late third period goals on their behalf to even get to overtime, so there was lots to be excited about last spring. This year, the Finns are expected to be right back in the thick of things, with perhaps no other reason than that there are three other teams in the group that should all have no business beating the Leijonat in the preliminary round. But despite the plethora of recognizable names in the line-up (be they related to former NHLers or not), this year’s team doesn’t feature an identifiable offensive star and, in general, doesn’t feature all too many players expected to be drafted top 45 this summer. A top three group finish is in the cards, but we expect things to get tough once the playoff round kicks off.

Top Players to Watch

Kasper Halttunen (F)

Having been a top 6 forward in last spring’s tournament, the 6’3”, 207-pound giant moves well for his size and has impressive offensive instincts and hands. He displayed that last spring and in his nation’s top U20 circuit this winter. His one point in 27 Liiga games gave reason to doubt his prospect status, at least in seeing him as worthy of a first round selection. With his team in need of point-producers at this event, he can kill two birds with one stone with any considerable offensive outburst. Expect him to make himself seen in several games this upcoming week.

Sweden's Oscar Davidsson and Finland's Konsta Helenius during the P17 international ice hockey match between Sweden and Finland on August 26, 2022 in Nyköping.
Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN /

Konsta Helenius (F)

Here’s a player who’s ready to steal the show for Finland. Not only can proudly look back at 33 Liiga games (11 points, +9) this winter, the most of any player on this squad, he’s also only 16. As such, Helenius will be using this tournament to further back the belief that he’s headed for a first round selection in 2024. His international outings for both the nation’s U18 and U17 clubs this past season have been fantastic, seeing him scoring at over a PPG pace in each. Will he be doing the same in Switzerland? We won’t put it past him.

Topias Hynninen (F)

Another prospect for the 2024 draft, Hynninen was a PPG player and assistant captain at the U20 level this winter. He also got into 15 games of Liiga action (3 goals) and 7 games of Mestis play (3 points). If the name looks familiar, then you likely remember having seen him at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, where he chipped in three assists. We see him being a top 9 forward at this tournament and, like Helenius, further boosting his status as a top prospect for the summer of ‘24.

Emil Järventie (F)

The younger brother of Ottawa Senators draft pick Roby, and former Muskegon Lumberjack of the USHL, Järventie should be one of the more recognizable players at this tournament. Not necessarily the scoring star his brother was, he nonetheless has tested his metal in the pro game, suiting up 15 games of Liiga action and then another 28 in the second league Mestis (12 points) this past season. This makes him a clear-cut go-to guy for Finland and his value may also be most pertinent in how often he’s on the ice when the team needs to maintain a lead or sway momentum.

Jesse Kiiskinen (F)

A winger with solid skating and, at times, strong offensive instincts, there are talent watchers out there who feel this guy is ready to be a top 40 pick this summer. He’s scored plenty at the U20 level (45 points in 35 total games) and got into 8 games of Liiga play. He’s got good size and roll with the punches. We’ll be watching closely and hoping he shows us his best side, especially when the going gets tough.

Aron Kiviharju (D)

Kiviharju was all the rage this time last year. A double underager, the hockey world got to see a little tyke gaining tons of attention as a top 4 defenseman and getting all sorts of minutes for a medal contender. Fast forward to this spring and his status has cooled off. But is that fair? He still got into 21 Liiga games and his 20 points in 22 U20 games is nothing to frown upon. And we are still talking about a slightly undersized player who won’t be 18 until January. We feel there’s no reason he won’t be a major factor for Finland gaining just as many minutes, if not more, than he did last spring. He should be clipping at over a PPG pace this upcoming week.

Jesse Nurmi (F)

Another recognizable name, Nurmi was a dominant point producer in the U20 league this winter, finishing 6th overall in scoring only to get shut down come playoff time. It still earned him 9 games of Liiga action. Of very average size for his age, there are some really nice offensive attributes in this player, who can still be pushed off the puck too often for our taste. It’s a vanilla group Finland is sending to the Worlds and they’ll be looking for unexpected contributors, so there’s no time like the present for Nurmi to show the scouting community what he’s really made of.

Latvia

The Latvians are always a tough out. The little engine that could seems to continually be a thorn in the side of some unlucky opponent that needs to get by them with an “easy win” in the preliminary round. And then it doesn’t happen. In recent years, the nation has profited from there being no relegation. That circumstance ends now. The small nation has to enter preliminary round play with the intention of avoiding the relegation round. Fortunately, with newcomer Norway in the group, that task would appear to have become a whole lot more possible. Some strong outings before the tournament, including a 5-4 victory over Germany, should have the Latvians revved up for a tournament in which 3rd place in Division 2 is very possible with a couple of victories at the right time.

Top Players to Watch

Peteris Bulans (D)

A returnee from last spring’s event, Bulans is coming off his first season in North America with primarily Chicoutimi of the QMJHL, where he was a pleasant surprise with 18 points in 29 regular season games followed by 6-point outburst in five playoff games. In essence, a rarity for a Latvian player that has the recently turned 18-year-old forcing people to take note. He’ll now be a key to a blueline that features several players who spent the season in Finland, Sweden, or Switzerland and several who played pro in the Latvian entries to the Estonian league. He’ll be given top minutes in this tournament.

Harijs Cjunskis (D)

Not a team in the tournament comes close to fielding this many 16-year-olds, much less with four on the blueline, but we feel it’s pertinent to mention the 6’1”, 180-pound Cjunskis because he spent this winter playing in Switzerland. In fact, he did some heavy hitting in the U17 circuit to the tune of 10 goals and 30 points in 44 total games for Lugano, a team he captained. There’ll be special meaning to him for this tournament, even if much of the competition has been playing at a higher level this winter. Expect him to prove competent and ready for the challenge in wrapping up his DY-1 season.

Kristofers Krumins (F)

Committed to the University of Vermont as of the 24-25 season, Krumins has been playing in North America for several years and measures in at 6’2”, 198 pounds. He’ll need to be doing some heavy lifting at this tournament and is actually one of the team’s older players, having turned 18 in March. His season was a bit short, but he put up 21 goals in 24 total games for the Jersey Hitmen, so look for this program to put him in a position to shoot.

Eriks Mateiko (F)

Like Bulans, a returnee from last year’s event and a fellow QMJHLer, the 6’4”, 200-pound Mateiko is going to be a hard boy to contain at this tournament. Production to the tune of 16 goals and 36 points as a first year CHL rookie is nothing to bat an eyelash at and the Latvians will need him to be a key provider of pressure up front, at least in the games where it matters most. He’ll be a noticeable figure on the ice and will surely keep opponents on their toes while opening up avenues for fellow skill players.

Nils Maurins (G)

Whereas a number of talented Latvians have been making their way to Swedish juniors in recent years, rarely has it been a goalie who has gained notoriety in being an impact player for a U18, much less U20 club. However, Maurins was downright dominant for Södertälje’s U18 team this season going 18-3 with a 1.56 GAA and .932 save percentage. He’s also 6’3” and whereas that is a delightful sight for any goaltender, it becomes even more daunting when you see that Maurins just turned 16 last September, meaning there’s a lot of growth for a young man who could be a hot topic come the 2024 NHL draft. For now, we’d like to see what his tools and experience in Sweden can mean at a tournament of this magnitude and really hope the team is invested in going with him, despite the fact that Leonard Feldsbergs - who missed the entire season - returns after having been last spring’s starter.

Switzerland

We look at this squad after its non-descript showing last spring and see the potential of finishing anywhere from 2nd to 5th in its division. On paper, there’s plenty to like, especially in comparison to Latvia and Norway. Nonetheless, a lot is going to have to go right in order for this team to do anything but make a quarterfinals exit, which would be a shame for the program in light of being the tournament’s host. Coach Marcel Jenni will surely be hoping that home ice advantage leads to as much fan support as was seen in Zug in 2015, when a Denis Malgin-led squad battled its way to play for a medal. Truth be told, we don’t see any Margins or Jonas Siegenthalers on this year’s club, so we’re expecting an uphill battle where much depends on the team’s outcomes against Latvia and Norway.

Top Players to Watch

Léo Braillard (F)

Entering the season on fire for Biel-Bienne’s U20 outfit with 15 goals and 19 points in 16 games, we felt he was Switzerland’s top candidate for this summer’s draft. He’ll now be ranked with North Americans with respect to the draft after making a late fall jump to Shawinigan of the QMJHL where his eight goals and 22 points in 41 games served as a decent introduction but cooled down his overall prospect status. Nonetheless, he’ll be counted on as a go-to player at this tournament and will need to find some offense if Switzerland is going to get much done. We’d love to see him do so, because up to now it’s looking like he could find himself in the prospect anonymity that landsmen Lorenzo Canonica and Attilio Biasca have been mired in.

Christian Kirsch (G)

There’s no telling who coach Jenni is going to have in net on any given gameday at this tournament, but after a fantastically dominant performance for Zug’s U17 and U20 programs this winter, we’re hoping (and believing) that this 6’4” 16-year-old will be getting the nod in goal for any game that truly matters. A commit to UMASS as of the 26-27 season, Kirsch has some attributes that make us think he could end up being the next true goaltender of note to come out of Switzerland. Admittedly, it’s been a while. For this tournament, Ewan Huet may be his biggest combatant for ice time. If that name is familiar, it should be, as he’s former NHL Christobal Huet’s son.

Simon Meier (F)

Perhaps the team’s best pure playmaker, Meier will be found in a top six role, perhaps next to his partner in crime - and twin brother - Rafael, with whom he was an offensive force at the U20 level for Kloten’s junior team. Free of pro experience to date, the soon-to-be 18-year-old (no relation to teammate Endo) has shown some cerebral tendencies in his game and is currently seen as a bit of a longshot to be drafted this summer, which he is surely aware of. We’re thinking that that plus being part of the host nation will allow us to see his chocolate side at this tournament.

Erik Schneller (D)

One of the few players on this squad who spent his winter on foreign soil, Schneller plied his trade for Rögle BK this winter, where his 21 games of U18 play coupled with the trust installed to see him get into 18 games with the U20 team. A mobile player who seems to pride himself more in a strong +/- than goal he could score, you can expect to see Schneller in a top 4 role with his ice time increasing whenever Switzerland has something to protect.

Daniil Ustinkov (D)

A beautiful aspect of the U18 Worlds is that we almost always get to see a handful of 16-year-olds in their DY-1 seasons. First turning 17 in August, the 6-foot, 183 pound Ustinkov is coming off a full season of U20 play for Zurich’s partner club, the GCK Lions. His play was so impressive that he not only got into two SL (second league) games, but also five NL games for Zurich. All in all, Ustinkov showed a lot of promise and poise although there was little in the line of offensive output. That hasn’t stopped coach Jenni from having Ustinkov on the power play in U18 test game action. Time to sit back and enjoy a young man who could be a very hot topic at this time next year.

Lenn Zehnder (F)

The mid-sized left winger is probably the single-most noteworthy jumper-upper when it comes to his appearing on the draft scene. There was little indication (for or against) of him being among notable Swiss players at this tournament, but he’s had a monster winter in the nation’s U20 league as primarily a 17-year-old (turned 18 one month ago), finishing 10th overall in scoring with 48 points in 47 games. Not a player in the league who finished ahead of him in scoring was any less than six months his elder, most already over 19. He’s primed for a top line role and has scored to the tune of 5 points in 8 U18 games over the course of the winter. Expect him to make an impression over the next 10 days.

Norway

The most important thing you need to know about Norway’s entry in this tournament is that there is one Norwegian forward in particular who the entire scouting community was just licking its chops to see. His name is Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and well, ladies and gentlemen, you won’t be seeing him. He’ll be missing this event after having undergone season-ending surgery at the conclusion of his junior season with the Mora IK program. Clearly, this is a severe blow to Norway’s aspirations to maintain the class, a goal that was in jeopardy even with his participation. After a fairly strong wave of Norwegians who got the nation into the top group had graduated, the Norse selection is one consisting of three forwards who play their junior hockey in Sweden, a goalie who is active in North America, three players who spent the bulk of the season in Norway’s pro circuit, and then a group of young men who took their shifts in Norway’s U20 league. The only goal here can be class retention and that will almost surely require a relegation round battle.

Top Players to Watch

Felix Granath (F)

A true little tyke at 5’9” and 150 pounds, the trickster should be the guy up front for Norway who surprises us all with a nifty little deke and pass. He was part of the club that gained promotion last spring as an underager and is coming his second of junior play in Sweden, where his 28 points in 21 eye-opening U18 games parlayed into 9 points in 32 U20 league games with Frölunda’s junior program. A notable player on a team void of notable players.

Ludwig Lafton (D)

Having just turned 17 in January, Lafton is already 6 feet tall and had a very busy winter scoring at an above-average pace at Norway’s U20 level while crushing it in the nation’s top U18 league. He also slotted in 13 games with the club’s top league pro team, including two playoff games, collecting 3 assists along the way. There’s a possibility he may be headed to Sweden next season, but for now he’ll need to be a minute muncher for Norway at a tournament where one preliminary round win would be a humongous success for the Group A newbie.

Alieu Moldal Bah (F)

Coming off his second season with the Brynäs program in Sweden, where he got into 18 U20 league games after an above-average offensive showing in the club’s U18 team, Moldal Bah is one of the few players on the squad eclipsing the 180-pound mark and brings among the best experience of anyone on the team. More of a playmaker than goalscorer, there’s work to be done in the skating department, but he’ll be spoonfed top 6 duties at this event. If there’s any success enjoyed at this tournament, it's hard to see it happening without Modal Bah’s contributions.

Elias Straume Vatne (F)

Another little fella at 5’8”, 152 lbs., Straume Vatne will celebrate his 17th birthday on the first day of tourney play for Norway. Like Granath, he’s playing his club hockey in Sweden and was a go-to scorer on Färjestad’s U18 team but played only one game for the U20 team. That after he spent the entire season prior playing (and scoring) for Stavanger’s U20 squad in Norway. With Michael Nygard out of the picture, the onus of scoring when it counts most is falling into very few laps, with Vatne’s being one of them.

Stian Solberg (D)

First eligible for the 2024 draft, Solberg just turned 17 on December 29th and is the best Norwegian defensive prospect the team has had since, well, maybe ever. Already 6’1” and 194 pounds, he should be logging insane minutes throughout this tournament. Nonetheless, this past season saw him miss a huge chunk of time due to injury and has cost him a good bit of developmental time. Just 3 U20 games (5 points) were accompanied by 18 contests with Norwegian champ Stavanger (5 points and +5), albeit he didn’t see any playoff action. We don’t know where he’ll be next season. We only know that there has been talk of him having first round drafting possibilities, so he’s going to need to be somewhere more competitive than Norway next season. For now, we can enjoy him being Norway’s go-to guy at the U18 Worlds.