Hugo Hävelid – McKeen's Hockey

NHL DRAFT: Five undrafted prospects who made an impression at The World Juniors

Jared Brown — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:40:02 +0000

Goaltender Hugo Hävelid of Sweden and Will Smith of USA during a under-20 international friendly ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2023 in Ängelholm.
Photo: Maxim Thore / BILDBYRÅN

While a lot of focus goes to the first-year draft-eligible prospects playing at the World Juniors. There have been many undrafted players who leave a last impression for NHL scouts to consider taking them in the upcoming NHL Draft as reentry draftees. At the 2023 World Juniors, Marcel Marcel from Czechia, Luke Mittelstadt from USA, and Thomas Milic from Canada are just a few examples of players who left their mark, which will certainly help them hear their names get called at the 2023 NHL Draft. Most famously was Slovakia goaltender Adam Gajan who put on a show last year. Voted as the tournament's best netminder, he ended up being the first goalie off the board in last year’s draft at 35th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks. I wonder if Connor Bedard had any say in that after what he witnessed playing against him in that thrilling quarterfinal matchup. Now with that all being said, here are five players who stood out to me, and we start with a goalie once again!

Hugo Havelid - Goaltender - Sweden

2004-01-01, HT: 5’10” WT: 170

Add Hugo Havelid to the list of goalie prospects who have been passed up on due to their size. Hugo was voted the best goaltender of the tournament. He stopped 41/41 shots in his first two games but unfortunately didn’t have the best game in the gold medal game against Team USA. Still, outside of his obvious lack of size in the crease, he’s a composed, technically sound goalie with above-average reflexes. When I watch what kind of goalies have success at the pro level, they all have one very similar quality in their game. That is having full control of their movements and the ability to get set early. Havelid has both those skills. He’s great at keeping his hands set while moving side-to-side and staying square to the puck carrier. His rebound control is another strength in his game. He calmly swallows up shots in his glove or into his chest or steers away low shots towards the corners with his stick. If you want more reasoning as to why Havelid should get a look from an NHL team, just go to his EliteProspects page, scroll down to his career highlights, and look at the accolades he’s already accumulated in his young career. I’ve watched Hugo since his draft year, and I honestly thought he was the best goalie prospect in the 2022 NHL Draft (it was a weak goalie crop to be fair). The only real weakness I see in his game is his size and even if an NHL team isn’t going to take a shot at him, I believe he’ll have a successful pro career in Europe.

Matyas Melovsky - Centre - Czechia

2004-05-25, HT: 6’0” WT: 183

Melovsky, quietly, had a terrific tournament finishing third in points and tied for first in assists. It would appear that NHLCS took notice of his performance as he was just ranked 82nd amongst North American skaters. He registered a point in six out of seven games and maybe saved his best game for last as he tallied three primary assists to help Czechia beat Finland 8-5 in the bronze medal match. He’s a skilled centre whose passing and playmaking ability is his biggest trademark offensively. Showcased to be a catalyst on the powerplay for Czechia operating inside the left faceoff circle on his off side. He picked apart Finland's penalty kill with his terrific delay game to open up the seam pass over to Jiri Kulich. He uses his vision to find the open man and execute skilled passes that other players in this tournament couldn’t make consistently. His ability to find passing lanes is terrific. Primarily looked to be a pass-first player and didn’t impose as a shooter/scoring threat really at any point. A fluid skater with smooth hands in transition but isn’t blazing fast. He was utilized on the penalty kill for Czechia, but his defensive zone compete could’ve been better. He’s got a quick stick to where he can fish picks out from board battles

but lacks physical engagement in his game. He did look to get chippy with Finland after whistles in the bronze medal game, however. Melovsky possesses the offensive skill to create chances and as long as a team can unlock a bit more off-puck work ethic out of him, then I think you got a future pro.

Jere Lassila - Centre - Finland

2004-03-08, HT: 5’10” WT: 176

I’ve always been a fan of Lassila’s game and his work ethic. He’s led his country on the international stage at numerous events. Captained Team Finland at this year’s World Juniors, he played hero scoring the OT winner in their quarterfinal matchup against Slovakia and led his team in scoring with eight points in seven games. Lassila doesn’t have a high ceiling, but he brings a consistent effort on every shift and is positionally reliable without the puck. He takes intelligent off-puck routes and worked overlapping plays with his teammates in the offensive zone nicely. I liked his puck facilitation from along the boards and using his edges to quickly stop up to alleviate pressure. He also looked stronger protecting the puck and as he continues to add more muscle, his puck protection in battles will continue to improve. Lassila has the puck-carrying speed in transition to drive through the middle and back defenders off their blueline. He doesn’t have the smoothest of hands (he’s a choppy stickhandler) but he’s effective at controlling the puck far out from his body (also uses a long stick for his size). Lassila could be worth taking a further look at down the stretch in JYP and potentially using a late-round pick in the draft. His skating, playmaking, and ability to read off his teammates have me optimistic he’ll have a successful pro career. We’ll see if an NHL team sees the same.

Dominik Rymon - Left Wing - Czechia

2004-05-29, HT: 5’10” WT: 154

Coming into the tournament, Rymon wasn’t seen as a focal point for Czechia’s offence. Still, he managed to register a point in six out of seven games (as Melovsky did) and quietly had a very solid tournament as a depth forward for his team. The consistency in his play from game to game was excellent. He’s a fast North/South player with a two to three stride acceleration to separate himself from opposing players. His skating allows him to bring an up-tempo, fast-paced playstyle approach to his puck pursuit along with his quick stops and starts. Rymon is quickly in motion when he picks up the puck. He showcased some quick hands while moving the puck through the middle of the ice off the rush. His puck skills are a bit underrated. Rymon may be undersized, but he has the willingness to go to the dirty areas and battle like a grinder. His puck retrievals are only going to get better (even though he already understands how to use his blazing speed to his advantage). He clearly still has lots of room to put on more muscle and further physical maturation will improve his effectiveness of stealing pucks on the forecheck and then fending off checks better in the corners. Rymon has had a strong start to his second season in North America, playing in the WHL for Everett. Putting together a solid tournament performance should’ve only increased his chances of hearing his name called in June even more. His speed and competitiveness are top-notch qualities.

Owen Allard - Winger - Canada

2004-01-13, HT: 6’2” WT: 190

It’s not often you’ll see a player make Team Canada who has been passed upon in the draft. Allard missed the majority of last year. He didn’t suit up for his first game until late February. However, Hockey Canada clearly took notice of Allard’s skillset to perform in a checking, depth role for Canada, and he did

just that. He was a perfect fit alongside Owen Beck and Nate Danielson, playing a straight-line power forward game that provided energy and a physical presence. He skates with powerful long strides to propel himself around the ice and tends to be the first man on the forecheck. He works tirelessly at both ends of the ice to recover pucks. Allard has the size for the pro level to maintain this play style and be effective with it. He’s engaged defensively, is an effective penalty killer, and plays a reliable, 200-foot game that will go a long way in his career. With the puck, he’s going to make simple plays and doesn’t have the creativity to be a persistent threat offensively. He’ll go hard to the net and crash and bang his way en route to goals in and around the crease. Allard was ranked 109th amongst North American skaters in NHLCS recent rankings list and I can understand why an NHL team would entertain using a mid-late round draft pick on him. It’s not impossible to think Allard could become one of those unsung heroes for a team in a third line checking role, providing the physicality, responsible play, and energy a team needs from their bottom six players in the playoffs.

BELL: 20 Prospect Points – 2024 World Juniors Edition

Josh Bell — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:48:31 +0000

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - JANUARY 2: Filip Mesar #10 of Slovakia celebrates his third period goal against Finland in Quarterfinal Round action at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship at Frolundaborg on January 2, 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)

Welcome to 20 Prospect Points, a bi-weekly column where I dive into the trending prospects - drafted and draft-eligible - from around the globe.

This edition focuses on the biggest event going on right now - the 2024 World Junior Championships. I look at 20 prospects that have been standing out throughout the preliminary round or have captured headlines.

Drafted Prospects

#1 Arguably the biggest story out of the World Juniors preliminary round, Servac Petrovsky was dominant. He led the tournament in points through Slovakia’s first four games, with nine points (five goals, four assists). At the start of the event, I noted that he was a player to watch and he very much delivered. His excellent shot was on full display as was his overall offensive ability. He did well to raise his stock at this event.

#2 Sticking with Slovakia, they were so strong throughout the round-robin portion of the tournament, outside of a 10-2 loss to the USA. A large reason for that, other than Petrovsky, was Montreal Canadiens’ prospect Filip Mesar. The centreman finished with seven points (one goal, six assists) before the elimination round. It was known that he’d be a significant factor for the Slovaks and he delivered.

#3 One final drafted Slovak that I want to mention here is Maxim Strbak. The Buffalo Sabres’ prospect tied for the points lead by a defenseman with six points (one goal, five assists). He was one of the team’s top players throughout the tournament and has earned some consideration for the Top Defender honour. He was unquestionably the top defender for the team, playing significant minutes and making his presence felt. With some confidence coming out of the tournament, look for a big second half of the year from him back with the NCAA’s Michigan State University.

#4 Tied with Strbak for the defensive point’s lead through the prelims was Swedish defender Theo Lindstein. He also had one goal and five assists, matching Strbak’s output while playing about four minutes less per game. With defenders like Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Elias Salomonsson, and Tom Willander on the Swede’s roster, Lindstein’s performance is all the more impressive. The St. Louis Blues’ prospect and recent first rounder always stands out at international competitions and the 2024 World Juniors have been no different. He also tied for the points lead on the team through their first four games.

#5 Part of the reason Sweden has been so strong in this year’s World Juniors is their depth. All four lines are producing offense and contributing. With a star-studded roster, it’s all the more impressive that Otto Stenberg has been one of the brightest spots for this team. He stood out every game for me, putting up six points (three goals, three assists) along the way, tied for the team lead. Another Blues’ prospect, he should continue to be a factor as the team searches for a gold medal.

#6 After standing out in last year’s World Juniors, it’s no surprise that Jiri Kulich has once again been impressive for Czechia. With seven points (four goals, three assists) in his team’s first four games, he’s helped the team to the medal round where they look to take home hardware for the second straight year. The Sabres’ prospect is officially Czechia’s all-time goalscoring leader at the World Juniors and will look to build on that with the team’s remaining games.

#7 Another standout for Czechia has been goaltender Michael Hrabal, who has to be in the conversation for goaltender of the tournament. The Arizona Coyotes’ prospect has played in every game for the Czechs, and while there have been some goals he’ll want back, he’s been the backbone of this team and kept them in every game. He’s one of only two netminders to have played every game for their team and will be leaned on heavily en route to the medal games.

#8 Team USA came into this event looking very much like the favourite to win it all and they haven’t disappointed so far. Leading the charge has been Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect Gavin Brindley, who led the round-robin with six goals in his four games, adding two assists for eight points. He plays hard on every shift and it’s been paying off in this event. He’ll be a huge factor in the elimination round.

#9 Brindley’s centreman throughout the tournament, Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect Frank Nazar, has been right there with him, with the two regularly connecting. Nazar led the tournament in assists through the first four games with eight - accounting for all of his points. The two, along with teammate Isaac Howard, have arguably been the best line in this tournament and should continue that moving forward.

#10 The third American with two points per game through the preliminary round, Philadelphia Flyers’ prospect Cutter Gauthier came into the tournament expecting to be a catalyst for the USA and he’s been just that, helping the team to an undefeated record. He finished the prelims with one goal and seven assists and will expand on that moving forward.

Draft-Eligible Prospects

#11 The biggest story surrounding draft-eligible prospects has to be the injury to Adam Jiricek. After suffering an injury in the opening game of the World Juniors, Jiricek was ruled out for the tournament. It has since been announced that he’s done for the remainder of the season - a significant blow for the potential first-rounder. He’s been a bit of a polarizing prospect this season, with some considering him a top-15 or even a top-10 pick and others questioning whether he even belongs in the first round. There was some hope for a strong second half of his season to prove himself, but he’ll be a slightly risky selection in June.

#12 While Canada lacked the star power that they typically have at the World Juniors, they once again had a draft-eligible prospect that carried the way for them. Macklin Celebrini was as advertised, the top skater for the Canadians in arguably every game. He led Canada in points with eight (four goals, four assists) and saw his ice time increase every game. He’s eligible to return next year - if he’s not already in the NHL.

#13 Another draft-eligible that stood out for Canada was goaltender Mathis Rousseau, an overager who dressed for Canada for the first time in his young career. Rousseau has backstopped the Canadians in every single game, going 3-1 and recording one shutout. He had a .923 save percentage and was one of the top netminders in the event. If he wasn’t on the draft radar before, he should be now.

#14 While we’re talking about netminders, another worth mentioning here is Swedish goalie Hugo Havelid. While he played just two games, he didn’t let in a single goal in either one, facing off against Latvia and Canada. The overager was especially impressive against the Canadians and should be the guy for Sweden down the stretch, granted Melker Thelin has been strong as well.

#15 On a high-powered Team USA roster, the role that Zeev Buium played in this event was a question mark coming in. But the potential top-15 selection has been strong, going a point-per-game through the preliminary game with four points (two goals, two assists). He was behind only Lane Hutson for points from a defender on the back end and should take over the No. 1 spot next year. His strong season continued into this event and should down the stretch to the draft as well.

#16 Coming into the tournament, it was expected that Konsta Helenius would be the guy for Team Finland. That wasn’t the case for the potential top-five pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, who failed to register a point in the prelims. The hope was that he would lead this team and be relied on heavily to provide offense, but he’s been extremely quiet throughout this tournament. He’s eligible to be back next year, but this year’s performance has been slightly disappointing. He should still have some chances to prove himself in the medal rounds though.

#17 While Helenius has been in the background, team captain and overage prospect Jere Lassila has been on full display, tying for the team lead in points with five (two goals, three assists). He does seem to be dominant in international competition when the stakes are high, which could be intriguing for an NHL team in the later rounds. Lassila has been one of the best overagers in this event and should continue to show why when the games matter even more.

#18 Every time I see Peter Repcik play; I leave impressed. The undrafted prospect has been quite strong in the QMJHL this season and carried that into the World Juniors for the Slovaks. He has points in every game in the rebound robin, finishing with six points (three goals, three assists) in four games. This is his third World Juniors event, and I’d bet it’s not the last time we see him don Slovak colours.

#19 While the expectations for Norway weren’t very high coming into the World Juniors, the anticipation for Michael Brandsegg-Nygard was extremely high. He didn’t disappoint, looking like the top player for the Norweigan’s throughout the tournament. He tied for the lead in points on the team with three (two goals, one assist) in the four games played. If Norway can avoid relegation, you can bet that the potential top-15 pick will be a big reason why.

#20 Brandsegg-Nygard hasn’t been the only Norweigan draft-eligible to stand out though. Tied with him for the team point lead was Petter Vesterheim, an overager who was a big reason Norway was promoted last year. He was named the Top Player for Norway when they won the D1A U20 tournament last year. Expect him to do everything he can to maintain his country’s place in the top U20 division.

2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – December 26th, 2023 Game Review

Derek Neumeier — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 13:29:51 +0000

Gavin Brindley of USA during the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship between USA and Norway on December 26, 2023 in Gothenburg.
Photo: Carl Sandin / BILDBYRÅN

Slovakia 6 vs. Czechia 2

The most recent match between these hockey rivals and former nation siblings went in the favour of Slovakia, with the Slovakians riding a three-goal burst early in the third period to extend a narrow 2-1 lead into a 5-1 rout and eventual 6-2 finale. It was an impressive victory considering their last medal at this tournament was a bronze in 2015, as well as the fact that the two best eligible players for their country, Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec, are currently playing for their NHL clubs instead. Forward Servác Petrovský led the way offensively for the winning side, with two goals and one assist, while Samuel Honzek, Filip Mešár, Maxim Štrbák and Viliam Kmec all chipped in two points apiece. Czech starting netminder Michal Hrabal was never quite able to find stable ground in his crease, allowing six goals on 34 shots while looking shaky throughout.

Canada 5 vs. Finland 2

Canada's depth and balance will be their most important attributes at this year's event, and they utilized both masterfully on Tuesday, skating away with a 5-2 win in a game that they were in control of throughout, aside for some penalty troubles. Despite being assembled as more of a checking line, the trio of Nate Danielson, Owen Beck and Owen Allard was Canada's best overall, generating the first two goals and tilting the ice throughout most of their shifts. Projected 2024 1st-overall draft selection Macklin Celebrini also had a huge goal in the second frame on a net-front scramble that needed video review to be confirmed. Crucially, the undrafted Mathis Rousseau made 24 saves and looked plenty sharp, instilling some confidence about the team's seeming weakness between the pipes. Defenseman Arttu Kärki recorded assists on both Finnish goals, while goaltender Niklas Kokko turned aside numerous quality scoring chances but wasn't able to deny all of them.

United States 4 vs Norway 1

If the Americans were expecting a casual skate in their tournament opener, they were given a quick wake-up call, as the heavy underdog Norwegians came out ready to play hard. While the outcome of a U.S. win was easily predicted the narrowness of the 4-1 score and the back-and-forth exchange of scoring chances in the first half certainly wasn't. Gavin Brindley's 2-0 goal finally broke the dam for the red, white and blue, and he followed it up with another two and a half minutes later, snuffing out most of the spark that their opponents showed early on. The diminutive Markus Stensrud was simply sensational in net for Norway, making a multitude of stellar saves, and 40 overall, while preventing the score from getting obscene, which could end up being important later on in the tournament if goal differential comes into play as a tiebreaker.

Sweden 6 vs. Latvia 0

The last match of the day was by far and away the least eventful of the opening four, as the host Swedes outshot Latvia 35-20 and trounced them on the scoreboard to the tune of 6-0. At no point did the game ever really seem close, though that didn't deter the cheers from the raucous home crowd. Latvia had a five-minute powerplay just 25 seconds into the first period, on a nasty boarding penalty by Swedish defender Elias Salomonsson, but wasn't able to generate anything from it, and shortly after it ended it was obvious that a vitally important opportunity for them as underdogs had been unfortunately squandered. Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Filip Bystedt, 1st-round picks of the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks, respectively, each scored two goals apiece, while goaltender Hugo Hävelid didn't face the toughest of tests to earn the 20-save shutout.

Three Stars:

1) Gavin Brindley — United States

The first half of the game between the United States and Norway had all the necessary ingredients for an historic upset. However, Brindley had other ideas. A notorious workhorse and spark plug who was also part of the bronze medal-winning American roster last year, he narrowly pounded home a powerplay one-timer to make it 2-0 and then went beautifully bar down shortly afterwards to make it 3-0. That second marker took the wind out of Norway's sails for a while and they never fully recovered.

2) Maveric Lamoureux — Canada

Lamoureux didn't have a particularly flashy or exciting game, but that was by design, focusing his attentions instead on keeping the Finns quiet and under control over the course of his team-leading 24:50 of ice time. The rangy blueliner was a suffocating defensive presence and undoubtedly frustrating for his opponents to get through. He did, however, help create the game's opening goal when his shot from the point went off Danielson and in, and he was similarly rewarded on the score sheet in the dying minutes when he calmly buried an empty-net goal from center ice.

3) Adam Gajan — Slovakia

Things easily could have gone south for the Slovakian netminder Gajan after allowing a goal just 1:01 after puck drop, but to his credit he immediately bounced back and once again looked like the star player who was crucial in almost upsetting Canada in the quarterfinals of the 2023 tournament. Dialed in and on his toes, he kept things tight and tidy for the remainder of the game's opening 40 minutes, which in turn helped his confident teammates break the deadlock late in the second period and then produce their outburst of goals in the third.

MCKEEN’S 2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – Team and Player Predictions – Biggest Surprises

The McKeen's Scouting Team — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 12:31:13 +0000

The 2024 World Junior Championships are set to kick off on Boxing Day (December 26), with Gothenburg, Sweden hosting. Can Canada accomplish a three peat for the first time in over a decade? Can host Sweden capture their first gold medal in over a decade? Can the betting line favourites, the United States, live up to their high expectations? Members of the McKeen’s team have come together to bring you our predictions for the tournament.

Final Medal Standings Predictions

GOLD

USA - 5 votes

Sweden - 4 votes

Canada - 2 votes

SILVER

USA - 5 votes

Sweden - 3 votes

Canada - 2 votes

Slovakia - 1 vote

BRONZE

Canada - 5 votes

Czechia - 3 votes

Sweden - 2 votes

USA - 1 vote

Cutter Gauthier. Photo by Rena Laverty, USA Hockey.

Who Wins Tournament MVP?

Cutter Gauthier -3 votes

Jonathan Lekkerimaki - 2 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Denton Mateychuk, Lane Hutson, Matthew Poitras, Rutger McGroarty, Ryan Leonard, Will Smith

Who Wins Best Forward?

Cutter Gauthier - 2 votes

Jiri Kulich - 2 votes

Jonathan Lekkerimaki - 2 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Rutger McGroarty, Ryan Leonard, Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, Matthew Poitras

Lane Hutson of USA during the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship bronze medal game between USA and Sweden on January 5, 2023 in Halifax.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN

Who Wins Best Defender?

Axel Sandin Pellikka - 5 votes

Lane Hutson - 3 votes

Denton Mateychuk - 2 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Seamus Casey

Who Wins Best Goaltender?

Trey Augustine - 3 votes

Michael Hrabal - 2 votes

Hugo Havelid - 2 votes

Also receiving votes (1): Matthias Rousseau, Adam Gajan, Jacob Fowler, Niklas Kokko

BASEL, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 27: Canada's Macklin Celebrini #17 celebrates with teammates during the Canada vs Switzerland Quarterfinal Round action at 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at St. Jakob Arena on April 27, 2023 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

Which NHL Draft Eligible Prospect Has the Best Tournament?

Macklin Celebrini

“I know this is the obvious answer, given his status as a potential first overall pick, but it's the obvious one for a reason. He's going to be put in a position to earn significant ice time on a strong team, which isn't guaranteed of the other draft eligibles. I see him having a really strong round robin but expecting him to take over games in the medal round at such a young age might be a little too unreasonable.”

“One couldn't be faulted for making an argument that Konsta Helenius might be the guy here based on the fact that Celebrini has a lot more competition for prime offensive minutes on a team that should roll 4 lines more often than just about any participant in Gothenburg. But one look at Group A competition gives me reason to think Finland will have a hard time scoring. Canada, on the other hand, is put together such that opponents should be kept busy in so many ways that Celebrini will be able to take the bull of a 2nd line center role by the horns and run with it. That should include ample PP time as well. Whatever line he ends up pivoting, he'll be working with players who are used to generating offense. It's also a safe bet that Canada's defensemen will be solid with their breakout passes. Celebrini should show up in a scoring capacity and challenge for Canada's lead in production.”

“The obvious choice. Celebrini had a great camp, and his performance has secured him a top-six role on Team Canada. He's a dynamic talent who creates offence, has a ton of skill and plays the game at a high pace. He has the potential to have a great impact on the tournament and help Canada to secure a medal.”

“Macklin Celebrini is dominant on the Powerplay and produces at a goal per game pace solidifying himself at #1st overall.”

“Even with Matt Poitras joining Canada, Celebrini may still be the player with the best chance of having a dominant WJC tournament. He's been absolutely brilliant at BU and I see no reason for him to not continue that brilliance onto this big stage.”

“He's a hyper advanced hockey player for his age in all facets of the forward position, and he already knows how to excel against strong older competition. The Canadian coaches will give him opportunities to play his game and be himself, and he'll excel.”

Zeev Buium

“He’s going to play a pivotal role on the tournament's best roster and really establish himself as one of the best defenders in the 2024 draft class. His ability to control the pace of play from the blue-line is really going to help the Americans throughout the tournament.”

Adam Jiricek

“I think Adam Jiricek steps up and has a big tournament for Czechia. Just a perfect storm of a short tournament where a player who can struggle with consistency gets hot and plays a huge role on a team that isn’t a favourite but could still do some damage.”

Konsta Helenius

“I think Macklin Celebrini is the easy answer here as he's expected to be a catalyst for the Canadians, but Helenius is likely coming in as the 1C and arguably the top player for the Finns. I expect him to lead Team Finland in this event and likely be the offensive leader. Playing against men and excelling this season, Helenius will likely pop against U20 competition. Look for him to drive the Finnish offense, be a tournament leader in assists, and impress with his non-stop motor.”

Michael Brandsegg Nygård

“Tough, but gotta go with my boy Michael Brandsegg Nygård. I think he's going to be in the spotlight for Norway every game, which is something he isn't going to take lightly. I think he's going to rise to the occasion and be "the guy" and really turn some heads this tournament.”

What is the Biggest Surprise of the Tournament?

“This is probably not the answer that Canadians want to hear, but I think Canada ends up being a surprise disappointment. At one point they were the betting line favourite to win (if you are into that sort of thing), which I believe is unfair given the strength of some other nations in the tournament. The team draws both Sweden and Finland in the round robin. A loss to one or both of those nations would set up a quarterfinal matchup with one of Czechia or Slovakia, two teams which might scare me even more than Finland this year. I'm just not confident that this team will be able to score enough against the other top teams (even with the surprise addition of Matt Poitras), in addition to getting the kind of game stealing netminding needed to find success at the WJC's.”

“Latvia - they’re going to come into the tournament, make it to the Semi's and keep it close between the big dogs in their division. This is the deepest Latvia roster we’ve ever seen at the WJC and they’re going to be playing spoiler all tournament long.”

“Whereas part of me would like to mention Team Sweden simply because it's not easy to win this tournament at home in a country whose hockey media will be religiously following your every move for 3 straight weeks (and I'm thinking the Swedes will win gold anyhow!), I'm going to tip my hat on Czechia being the big surprise over the next few weeks. The team simply has everything necessary at all five positions to rather safely finish no less than 2nd in Group B play. In addition, the sheer amount of players currently competing - and excelling - in North America has me thinking they'll be able to give both the US and Canada a real run for their money, which was obviously already the case last winter. I've now got them facing Canada in the playoffs at some point. Lastly, my interior hockey energy radar is getting massive blips anytime I hear the name Jiri Kulich, as the AHL's top scorer among U20 players was not only a force last winter with his 7 goals and 9 points, but currently leads the entire AHL in goalscoring. With his determination and a shot like his, I'm thinking we'll be seeing him light the lamp a good 10-12 times in this tournament.”

“Team Slovakia - The Slovaks have brought a strong roster to Sweden, featuring eleven drafted players, including three 1st round picks and four second-rounders. They stood out at the last tournament, gave Canada a hard time in the quarterfinals and even had the best goaltender in Adam Gajan. The team is now more experienced (15 returnees) and hungry for success. Slovakia doesn't lack high-end talent (Dvorský, Mešár, Honzek) or top goaltending (Gajan) and I do believe they can medal this year. However, the absence of Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec raises concerns and the defense seems mediocre.”

“Latvia’s Sandis Vilmanis finishes top 15 in tournament scoring. I think Latvia’s top-heavy offense is dangerous enough that they’ll pile up some goals and hopefully make things interesting, even if they don’t challenge much in the Round Robin. Vilmanis is the centerpiece of any offensive creation on the roster.”

“Team Norway - The recently promoted Norwegian group will avoid relegation and could even avoid the relegation game altogether. They have some impressive pieces and a potential surprise star of the tournament in Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. We've seen some teams widely considered for relegation surprise before, and I think that Norway could be one of those teams that steals a big, shocking win in this event.”

“Norway, for once, doesn’t get relegated. Latvia and Germany are the ones fighting for relegation due to a surprise upset by Norway against an established team, snatching valuable points which end up being the difference.”

“Oliver Moore makes teams regret passing on him as he works his way up the USA lineup throughout the tournament and plays a big role in the State's success.”

“Hugo Hävelid; It won't exactly be a surprise for people who have paid attention to Hävelid and the hometown crowd in Sweden, but to a wider audience, the undrafted goaltender could come away as the breakout star of the tournament. Highly athletic, Hävelid will benefit from a formidable Swedish blueline as well as a reputation for raising his form as the stakes get higher.”

“The Czechs. I predict they will have a strong round robin, put up a great fight in a narrow losing effort in the semifinal against Canada or the United States, and then pull off a big upset of Sweden in the bronze medal game.”

McKeen’s Hockey Rank for 2022: 110

Scouting report:

Nguyen stood out this year on a strong Portland team, while playing in a depth role. He is another high energy winger who excels using his combination of speed and tenacity. Nquyen is one of the fastest draft eligible players out of the WHL this year, as he is able to generate power with his first few strides, be active in the forecheck and push pace in transition. On top of his speed, Nguyen is not afraid to attack the dirty areas of the ice, often engaging in physical battles even as someone who is 5’10. Finally, his goal scoring ability is a plus-attribute of his, he has a strong shot, good shot selection and the offensive instincts to be in dangerous shooting lanes.

What’s next?

Nguyen has been invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp and looks to showcase his talent. He will be playing another season with Portland Winterhawks, this time hopefully in a larger role to display his speed and goal scoring ability. Nguyen has an August birthday, meaning he was one of the youngest prospects in this draft. A larger sample size and another year of development could be enough for a team to take a flyer on Nguyen in next year’s entry draft.

Beau Jelsma of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Beau Jelsma, F

McKeen's Hockey Rank for 2022: 112

Scouting Report:

Jelsma is a high energy forward who is always on the attack. He uses his strong skating ability to apply pressure on the forecheck and the backcheck, in addition to pushing the pace with the puck on his stick in transition. He has a good shot and profiles as a solid, pesky, complementary goal scorer. A lack of size and strength prevented him from being more consistent this year for an underwhelming Barrie Colts team.

What's Next?

Jelsma will attend the Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp as a camp invitee. He will then return to Barrie of the OHL next season and will receive top six ice time. This should give him a shot to seriously improve his production and put himself back on the draft radar.

Brayden Schuurman, F

McKeen's Hockey Rank for 2022: 115

Scouting Report:

Schuurman is another undersized scoring forward, who finished with 54 points in 68 games for a struggling Victoria Royals team. Schuurman’s game is reliant on his ability to anticipate play in the offensive zone and use his offensive awareness to find the soft area of the ice. He is a strong shooting threat in high-danger areas both in the slot and around the crease. His hockey intelligence allows him to compete in all three zones, projecting him as a middle-six scorer if he can overcome his lack of size.

What’s next?

Schuurman was invited to join the Edmonton Oilers’ development camp. The hope is for Schuurman to continue to lead a young Royals team and aim for a playoff spot this year. Schuurman will have a large role cut out for him and should help his draft stock next year.

Ilya Kvochko, F

McKeen's Hockey Rank for 2022: 118

Scouting Report:

Kvochko, while undersized, is an energetic, creative and smart two-way centre. Kvochko has a good motor and never takes a shift off. His edgework is refined and he has good linear speed to help push the pace of play. His intelligence allows him to read the ice well and position himself to alter momentum in his team’s favour. Like almost every undersized forward, Kvochko could use some growth in his strength.

What’s next?

The Russian factor this year has really harmed Russian players’ chances of being selected in the NHL entry draft. It does not help that Russians are currently banned from being selected in the CHL Import draft as it would have been beneficial for Kvochko to come over to North America and develop. The Russian factor brings an uncertainty as to whether Kvochko will be selected, however if he is not selected in the following years, he could be an interesting UDFA down the line.

Maxim Arefyev, G

McKeen's Hockey Rank for 2022: 121

Chapin Landvogt — Mon, 02 May 2022 20:13:05 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - MAY 1: Sweden's Hugo Havelid #35 makes a against USA’s Gavin Brindley #16 during Gold Medal game action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena in Landshut, Germany on May 1, 2022 (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Notes & Quotes – SWE vs USA – Gold Medal Game

NOTES:

USA vs SWE for GOLD

Making a statement: The US came out firing on all cylinders and had Sweden back on their heels right from the get-go. The Ryan Leonard (2023) 1-0 goal at the 2:24 mark was absolute textbook, from the Devin Kaplan pass to the resounding force of that typical USNDTP determination. The goal followed several top-flight opportunities. At that point in time, it looked like this was going to be a long night for the Swedes.

Weathering the storm: What may arguably have ended up giving the Swedes the confidence they needed to win this game was how they not only persisted after allowing that first goal but calmed down the US momentum. You saw the calming influence of the Mathias Havelids, Calle Odelius’, and Jakob Norens of the world (all 2022). You saw the intelligent play of all three lines that were getting the bulk of the action. There was no throwing pucks away needlessly. The concentration was there. By the time the period had ended, it didn’t matter that a late US goal had tied it at two. It was clear to everyone in the stadium that the USA was not simply going to have its way with Sweden like it did so many other opponents throughout the tournament.

Right place, right time: Arguably the save of the day came from US defenseman Ryan Chesley, who otherwise had his least effective game of the tournament, like many of his colleagues. A high puck came bouncing into the US zone from afar and goalie Trey Augustine took a step out of the crease to engage. It slipped through. Had it not been for Chesley’s late stick pulling it out on the goal-line, we would have seen the tournament’s oddest goal.

Doin’ it Lekkerimaki style: The 1-1 goal was a heck of a wrist shot. It was such a ripper, that plenty in the stadium must have been surprised to see it come from a righty shot not named Jere Lekkerimaki (2022). Indeed, it was Oskar Pettersson (2022) that riffled it to the upper right-hand corner from a good 10-12 yards out. Truth be told, it wasn’t the type of goal you can allow when you’re going for gold.

Murphy’s Law: The USA had two clear-cut breakaways and a partial breakaway before the halfway mark of the game. In each instance, a shot was taken. There was no attempt made to deke out Hugo Havelid, who measures in at 5’10”, 175 pounds. There was no attempt to make him have to put his acrobatic athleticism on display. Noah Ostlund (2022), however, had a partial breakaway that led to a fluky, yet beautiful, goal (2-1) and then Liam Ohgren (2022) got a breakaway and deked out US goaltender Trey Augustine (2023) for another lovely goal, giving Sweden a 5-3 lead at that point. How often do you see one team fail to capitalize on such huge opportunities, only to the see the other then capitalize on theirs?

Pulling a Bedard: US forward Frank Nazar (2022) tied things up at two on a great pass from Tyler Duke (2022). He entered the zone with speed and after somewhat flubbing a drop pass, took a shot from an almost impossible angle around the right face-off circle that went in, well, pretty much in the same manner as several Connor Bedard (2023) goals in this tournament.

Instant karma is gonna get you: Lane Hutson (2022) told the press after the 6-1 victory over the Czech Republic that the US was a 2^nd period team. With the score tied at two heading into the second, the US not only couldn’t gain an edge despite a full out effort, but it then also found itself needlessly in the penalty box several times in succession, eventually leading to a 4-2 lead for the Swedes. One could say that this game’s second period is what cost them the game – and a gold medal.

The all or nothing game: For those who watched most of this tournament, we saw one of the strongest offensive outputs by a US team, perhaps ever. It started with the 8-3 victory over Canada and the US boys marched right through to the final, never scoring less than six goals. Then of all nights, they faced their greatest challenge and suddenly weren’t up to it. I think few would have a problem theorizing what would be in a Best-of-7 or Best-of-5 or even a Best-of-3 series. But the beauty of these tournaments is that gold goes to the one team that wins that one last game.

Top effort goes to waste: US captain Rutger McGroarty (2022) had arguably his best game of the tournament. He ended the day with two goals, both in comeback efforts, but he had the opportunity to be the day’s hero on several occasions. Not only was there a breakaway, but he was fed pucks for several more one-timers and a number of goalmouth scrambles could have seen him double his output. Unlike many of his teammates, he decided to make the most important game his best yet. But it was a performance that would have to settle for silver.

Sheer determination: By golly, this game hasn’t been decided by happenstance. This Swedish club didn’t just find a way to be victorious and take gold, it’s willed its way to this victory. It’s made use of just about every dangerous opportunity it’s had and then some. And the kids have thrown themselves into shots, fought around the net to protect their goalie, made intelligent decisions when it comes to moving the puck and simply getting it out of dangerous areas. There’s been no crumbling and feeling the pressure when the US has made a short and cut the lead. The composure has been convincing and extremely telling of the mental fortitude of these young men.

That important to his team: You may have noticed that top-scorer Lekkerimaki scored the empty-net goal to make it 6-4. But what does that say about coach Havelid’s faith in this mercurial scorer to have him out on the ice protecting a one-goal lead that late in the game. Maybe we’ve just been used to seeing him in all critical offensive situations, but we can’t pretend he doesn’t have the faith of his coach to be one of the guys protecting a lead. The proof was here tonight.

Hands of gold: We need to take this opportunity to talk about Noah Ostlund (2022) and just what he is. You see that he’s a bit smaller and weighs in at roughly 165 pounds. Then you watch him play hockey. Words like cerebral make pop into your mind. For good reason. He does things with rhyme and reason. All the time. He’s made amazing offensive plays and looks like a set-up man, but clearly knows how to score goals as well, having potted another two tonight. He creates and establishes zone control. He makes setting up the power play in the offensive zone very easy. And it feels like he takes every halfway important face-off his team has. Effectively, at that. He’s a cool, calm, and collective player. And he spent this gold medal game confirming what we had seen to date, namely that he’s a first round talent and just has “it”. Ironically, his performance today was everything we all expected of Logan Cooley (2022). These two don’t play all that differently, but the former outshined the latter on this evening.

MVPing it: Not much needs to be said about the performance goaltender H. Havelid had today – and in essence, with each and every game. He absolutely stood on his head and never crumbled despite repeated onslaughts. He looked like a wall, and one could easily tell that he was bringing his opponents to doubt themselves. He was just everything you want to see from a goaltender in a gold medal game. These tournaments are not just about seeing the talent, but seeing what talent steps up to the plate. And no-one stepped up to the plate here in Landshut more than Hugo.

Player of the game for Sweden: Hugo Havelid

Player of the game for the USA: Rutger McGroarty

QUOTES:

Press conference Gold Medal game

US forwards Cutter Gauthier and Rutger McGroarty

On his strong game, which didn’t result in a gold medal…

McGroarty: Obviously right now, it’s tough. You’re asking yourself what could have been done different. What if I had scored on this or that opportunity? You know what, we have a great team

On the team’s good start…

Gauthier: At the start, we were trying to force their defense to turn over the puck and get some good efforts on their goalie. He ended up being awesome. He’s a stud. But I felt that we had our legs today and the energy. The outcome sucks.

On cutting the deficit to 4-3 heading into the second intermission…

Gauthier: In the locker room, we talked about staying on them. I think we were ready for it. I felt like we had a lot of opportunities in the third and that particular goal definitely gave our team some juice and some energy. The guys were fired up in the locker room, but the puck didn’t end up bouncing our way.

On being physical from the get-go and putting a lot of pressure on the goalie, also physically…

Gauthier: Yes, it’s a key part of my game and I’ve been working on it all year. I use it when I can and in a big game like this, that’s what I’m trying to do. But their goalie had a really great game tonight.

US coach Adam Nightingale

On the shot clock being 51 to 15 in favor of the US…

Nightingale: I’m super proud of our guys. They should have no regrets. That’s our sport, a little bit. Hats off to the Swedes. They’ve got a good power play and they got a couple of goals with that. And then their goaltender played pretty well. It’s tough in a single-game elimination tournament, but that’s what it is and what we’ve trained for. It’s what you sign up for. This experience will pay off for this group of kids in the future. Because this is a group of kids that is going to win a lot for USA Hockey in the future.

On his feelings about the outcome…

Nightingale: There’s not much to say. It’d be crazy to think that I have words to help them here. They’ve done everything we’ve asked. Can’t say that we, as a staff, did everything perfect, but we don’t have any regrets. But the boys have nothing to hang their heads about. It’s just standard how we do things as a team, as a staff. How we interact with people on the road. How we treat support staff. How we approach things with humility. I think that’s important, especially when you’re talking about the top talent, to have that humility. This is a great example why. They should be super proud about what they’ve done the past two years.

On what the organization can take away from this tournament…

Nightingale: Like I said, no regrets. I think we’re the best team here from a conditioning standpoint, from a skills standpoint, from a play standpoint… It’s a credit to the guys. This is a tough, tough pill to swallow. But I did tell the guys after the game that when they look in the mirror, they shouldn’t just see the hockey player, they should see the person. We have a locker room full of great people with great parents who are supportive of what we do. It’s really critical in development. My words can’t make them feel better, I understand that.

On maybe learning something about his team in the course of the tournament…

Nightingale: You know, I thought we showed a ton of resiliency. With a group like this, your often up on teams early. We play in a really good league in the USHL, and we play a tough college schedule. I look at this tournament and look back to when we played Canada. That was a really good team, and we were up 2-0. The Canadians came back to tie it. But we did our thing, and nobody panicked. We made it 4-2. They made it 4-3. We still stayed with it. In both games against Czechia, we were down 1-0. And then today, I thought the guys really stayed with it. We probably just ran out of time, to be honest with you. But I’m just super proud of our guys.

Swedish players D Elias Salomonsson, LW Liam Ohgren, and G Hugo Havelid

On if we can now refer to Hugo Havelid as Hugo Boss…

Havelid: Maybe not yet, but hopefully soon. But not quite yet.

On what was going through Havelid’s mind during the game…

Havelid: It was a tough game for me physically. The USA put a lot of pressure on me. I had to put up with a lot and hold out, but the gold medal was on the line. So, I played for my life.

On the US’s attempts to get under his skin right from the beginning…

Havelid: It doesn’t faze me when they try to get me out of focus. It’s just fun. These are the games I live to play for, you know, semifinals and finals. Amazing games to play.

On when it started to set in that the Swedes were going to be able to win this game…

Ohgren: Maybe I’d say in the last 10 minutes when we had the 5-3 lead. I started to ask myself, “Is this really happening?” But you can never relax. The US has a very good team. They have a lot of great players, and you just have to keep bringing your best hockey out there. Thanks to Hugo, we were able to do that.

On the success of the power play in the second period when Sweden gained a 4-2 lead…

Ohgren: The power play has been good the whole tournament and luckily it was again today as well. We had some luck with the officiating today. We got some power plays and we had to kill some off too. But yes, our power play was really good.

On his two-goal night…

Ohgren: For the power play goal, I really am not on that side all that often. I’m usually positioned behind the net. But when I came up and got the puck from Mathias Havelid, I faked the pass and took the shot, which found a way in.

On how Elias Salomonsson felt to get back into game action after being suspended in the last game…

Salomonsson: I think it’s hard to watch your team play from the stands. I was more nervous up there than when I’m on the ice. It was great to back and we had quite a team effort today. We fought for 60 minutes, and Hugo was unbelievable. And now it’s time to party!

On the game Noah Ostlund had, including a surreal goal in the first period, one of his two…

Ohgren: Oh yes, he had a really great game and he’s had a really great overall tournament. He’s a fantastic player and I love playing with him. He’s an unbelievable playmaker and as you saw today, he can score too. So, yes, that first goal was a really big play.

On any possible advantage due to the fact that a number of these Swedish U18 team members got into pro action this past winter…

Ohgren: Yes, for sure. I think it’s really great to have that experience of playing against pro men. They are stronger, faster, and more physical. That experience is certainly of benefit for a number of players on our team.

Swedish coach Magnus Havelid

On his team’s achievements…

Havelid: Their effort was great. I mean, look at everything they went through. When we had that 4-3 lead after two, I told the guys that we are in a good position, especially considering that we’re the underdog. We knew we could get that effort, energy, and team spirit we needed for the third period and that of course helped a lot. And Hugo certainly had a great game. You need a good goalie. And we needed some goal-scorers as well. My best players played their best. The whole team put in the effort. Some players naturally had a lot of ice time, but some others didn’t get that many minutes, but they’re still so important. We had to do so much penalty killing, especially there at the end of the game in the third period. And we achieved that. That was the key. We have some very proud players and team staff. You have to believe you can do it.

On the US’s furious play to kick things off, including its first goal before Sweden had even taken a shot…

Havelid: Yes, the important thing was not to be too negative. We knew they were going to jump on us. You have to handle the situation on the ice. And you know that if you are something like two goals back, it’s going to turn into a long game. You’ve got to focus on the next shift, and you’ll eventually get your own goals as well. Otherwise, it gets to be too tough a situation if you allow too many goals against. You know that one team can be very good while the other plays in its own zone defensively. That second period…. We took some steps forward and scored some goals. That gave us energy.

On sharing this gold medal with his very own nephews…

Havelid: Yes, of course. That’s special. And my two daughters are here as well. But honestly, now I’ve got all these messages arriving on my phone and they’re from a lot of the coaches back in Sweden. Many of them coach these young men in their club teams and now they too are so proud of what we’ve done. We work so close together. I travel a lot in Sweden and visit the coaches. It’s a form of teamwork. Otherwise, it’s tough to get a team together that can perform here. I’m very happy for them.

On Sweden now having won two of the last three U18 tournaments…

Havelid: I think it’s a mix of immense work and good luck. When you win, you start to believe in it. That’s when you’re talking about a winning culture. But hey, it’s tough to win. Once it happens, you can start to believe in it. That was important because we started to win a couple of years ago. And that can be a lot of pressure for the coaches, because then you start to analyze everything too much and the negativity shows up. It’s so easy for that to become a factor. It’s such a fine line between a positive thing and a negative thing. As a nation, you work with development all the time. But you have to believe in what you do. And when you win, then everything thinks you’re doing the right thing.

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Update – May 2nd – Sweden wins Gold!

Zack Zsweras — Mon, 02 May 2022 18:49:45 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - MAY 1: Sweden's Jonathan Lekkerimaki #23 holds the World championship trophy with teammates behind him at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena in Landshut, Germany on May 1, 2022 (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Sweden 6-4 US

The gold medal match was set between the two teams who finished at the top of their respective Groups, United States the leader of Group A and Sweden the leader of Group B. Heading into the match, the United States were the only undefeated team, winning each of their games by at least four goals. Sweden on the other hand, started the tournament off with a shocking 3-2 loss to Latvia, however, ever since they have been on a tear getting consistent scoring from their top prospects as well as amazing goaltending from Hugo Havelid.

It didn’t take long for the United States to grab the early 1-0 lead, as Devin Kaplan made a crisp cross-ice pass to 2023 draft eligible Ryan Leonard who buried it past Hugo Havelid. The United States was looking to build off that momentum as they were dominating possession and shots on net. It wasn’t until seven minutes were remaining in the first, where Sweden was able to answer back, Oskar Pettersson received a feed in the neutral zone from Calle Odelius and ripped the puck on net beating Kenneth Augustine to tie the game. Shortly after their first goal, Noah Ostlund came flying into the offensive zone, bobbled the puck and with incredible hand-eye coordination batted the puck past Augustine to give Sweden their first lead of the night 2-1. Just when Sweden thought they had the momentum, US was able to strike right back. The play started with an outstanding defensive stop by Ryan Chesley, swinging possession in the US favour, where the puck was pushed up the ice by Frank Nazar who burst into the offensive zone went wide and squeaked the puck by Havelid to tie the game up a two apiece. Kenneth Augustine finished the first period allowing two goals on three shots, it was evident that the rest of the US team was going to have to play near perfect if they wanted to take home gold.

The second period was intensely close, neither team gave an inch. US had plenty of chances, but yet again Hugo Havelid kept the door shut, including on a breakaway from US captain Rutger McGroarty. It was the other captain who was the first person in the second period to find the back of the net in Liam Ohgren. Sweden, on the powerplay moved the puck around the outside, finishing it off with a goal through the five-hole by Ohgren to give Sweden the 3-2 lead. Sweden built off that momentum, drawing two more penalties giving them a minute 5-on-3 powerplay, where top 2022 draft eligible Noah Ostlund buried his second of the game extending the Swedish lead to 4-2. It didn’t take long for the United States to answer back, with 16 seconds of 4-on-4 Logan Cooley stick fought off a Swedish defender before feeding captain Rutger McGroarty who sniped the puck past Havelid ending the second period 4-3.

It was a close battle in the third before Jonathan Lekkerimaki created a 2-1 off a turnover, ultimately feeding Liam Ohgren who deked around Augustine to score his second of the night giving Sweden a two-goal lead with ten minutes left in the third period. As the third period winded down, US found themselves on a powerplay thanks to Logan Cooley drawing a slashing penalty. On that powerplay, Isaac howard made a perfectly timed pass to captain Rutger Mcgroarty who beat Hugo Havelid for his second of the night bringing the Swedish lead to one with three minutes remaining in the third period. US with all the momentum had many chances to tie the game up, pulled their goalie with just under two minutes left. However strong defence by Sweden and a late empty net goal by Jonathan Lekkerimaki killed all momentum and hope for the United States. Sweden took the lead to 6-4 with 30 seconds remaining on their way to win gold medal against the US team that everyone expected to dominate this game. The biggest difference in this game was goaltending. Hugo Havelid was able to continue his ridiculous play stopping 47 shots, compared to Augustine who was only tested 14 times, letting in 5 of them.

Noah Ostlund just scored a beautiful goal to give Sweden the 2-1 lead. What a few minutes for Sweden. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/9b5TjM0SGU

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Frank Nazar from a tough angle ties it up. 2-2 with four minutes to go in the first. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/e9WblORQbC

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Noah Ostlund has two goals with a power-play goal. That's four goals on 10 shots. 4-2 Sweden. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/UIUvmqaeXE

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Finland 4-1 Czechia

The first game of the day, the bronze medal match was an exciting one as it held tournament MVP Jiri Kulich and potential top 10 selection in the upcoming draft, Joakim Kemell. Coming into the game today, Finland was looking to bounce back from a devastating 2-1 loss to Sweden. Czechia on the other hand was looking to win a medal for the first time in this tournament since 2014 where they lost to the United States in the finals to capture silver.

This game started off well for Czechia as Adam Bares and Ondrej Becher were on a 2-on-1, with Bares feeding Becher who rifled the puck past Topias Leninonen giving Czechia the early 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, it was Finland’s turn to respond as a laser point shot from 16-year-old defenceman Aron Kiviharju was tipped past Czechia goalie Michael Schnattinger by none other than Joakim Kemell, tying the game up at one. That concluded all of the scoring in the first period as both teams played a closely-knit match. The tie was broken late in the second period as Joakim Kemell created a turnover, something which he has done many times throughout this tournament, giving Finland a 3-on-1. On the 3-on-1, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki fed Jere Lassila right in front of the net, but the shot was originally stopped by Schnattinger before Kaskimaki tapped the rebound right to Jokiam Kemell for his second of the night, giving Finland their first lead at 2-1.

It was more of the same for Finland as they added two more unanswered, both from captain Jere Lassila to finish the game 4-1 and capture the bronze medal. With this game finishing 4-1, it marked the first time this tournament that Jiri Kulich did not score at least one goal in a game. While Czechia is going home without a medal, their performance at this tournament will not be forgotten and is something that should encourage the future of hockey in Czechia.

Daily Top Performers:

Best Forward: SWE, Jonathan Lekkerimaki (1G, 3A, 4P)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki had an outstanding tournament, finishing at the top of the scoring leaderboard with 5 goals, 10 assists for a total of 15 points in only six games. While many may say that it was Noah Ostlund or Liam Ohgren who made the largest impact as a forward on this Swedish team, it has quietly been Lekkerimaki. He has used his brain, skill and patience to find the open passing lanes and exploit them putting his teammates in prime spots to score. While many already had Lekkerimaki as a top prospect for the draft, it is certain that he has justified being that high on people’s boards with his performance in this tournament and the gold medal game.

Liam Ohgren makes it 5-3 for Sweden on this breakaway. Just over 10 minutes to go in the finale. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/osPMOdksr1

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Best Defenceman: SWE, Mattias Havelid (0G, 3A, 3P)

This marks the third time Mattias Havelid has been chosen as the best defenceman in our daily top performer section and it is because of the amazing work he has done this tournament on the back end for Sweden. Whether it is at even strength or on the powerplay, Havelid is always finding his teammates and advancing the puck up ice. While many expected Havelid’s teammates Calle Odelius and Elias Salomonsson to be large forces on the backend, it was ultimately Havelid who took the majority of the brunt force. It goes without saying that if Mattias Havelid was not on a scout’s radar before this tournament, he most definitely is now. It will be interesting to see where a team will take a gamble on Havelid in the upcoming draft.

Best Goaltender: SWE, Hugo Havelid (47SV, 4.00 GAA, .922 SV%)

For the third straight day Hugo Havelid has captured the best goaltender award and should be considered team Sweden’s MVP. If it wasn’t for Havelid’s play in net Sweden would not have made it out of the quarter finals. Havelid has been heavily relied on, especially the past two games making consecutive 40+ saves on route to securing Sweden’s gold medal win over US. After a shaky start to the tournament losing to Latvia and letting in three goals, Havelid bounced back and was an anchor in net. In a draft year with very few high-end goaltenders, it is obvious that Havelid has worked himself into many scouts’ eyes as the best goaltender in the upcoming draft.

Hugo Havelid with an absolutely mega save here late. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/DND34ASm1a

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

What an effort by the Americans, but not enough here. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/HgGqTS9UVL

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

With the tournament at its end, here is the All-star team and MVP as voted by the media, compared to the All-Star team and MVP that I have chosen:

My All-Star Team

Forwards: SWE Jonathan Lekkerimaki – CZE Jiri Kulich – US Isaac Howard

Defence: US Ryan Chesley – CZE Mattias Havelid

Goalie: SWE Hugo Havelid

My MVP: CZE Jiri Kulich

Media All-Star Team

Forwards: SWE Jonathan Lekkerimaki – US Logan Cooley – CZE Jiri Kulich

Defence: US Lane Hutson – CZE Tomas Hamara

Goalie: SWE Hugo Havelid

MVP: CZE Jiri Kulich

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Notes and Quotes – Finland vs. Sweden – Havelid solid in net, heartbreaking loss for Finland

Chapin Landvogt — Sun, 01 May 2022 16:33:39 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - APRIL 30: Sweden’s Jonathan Lekkerimaki #23 celebrates with Liam Ohgren #20 and Noah Ostlund #11 after scoring a third period goal against Finland during Semifinal Round action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on April 30, 2022 in Landshut, Germany. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Notes & Quotes – FIN vs SWE

NOTES:

Hitting, hitting, hitting: Like in previous games, most especially against Canada, the Finns came out of the gate ready to put the hurt on and play physically. They are well aware of who the Swedes are and that the Finns have a fairly clear size advantage in this tournament. The throwing of weight around makes it clear that it's an integral part of the gameplan. Several big hits right off the bat set the tone.

Get the puck to the net: Another clear goal for Finland must have been to get the puck to the net. Over and over again. Hugo Havelid was tested solidly several times early and it continued right on through the third. More on that soon.

Big and mobile: Filip Bystedt came to play. For all that size, viewers may wonder why he isn’t throwing the body around more. They shouldn’t. He moves really well for a player his size. Really well. And he loves to have the puck and make his way around defenders, which that size of his makes very possible. He puts his shoulder into it and uses his leg to ward off offenders and their sticks. He had strong edges and of course his own reach. So corralling the puck and moving around defenders is something he’s turned into a regular occurrence today and in this tournament. How much production is there is another story. He does shoot and he does dish the puck off, so it’s understandable why some feel the numbers will eventually come.

Always in the thick of things: Finnish captain Jere Lassila is all of 5’10” and 175 pounds, but he looks even smaller on the ice. In addition, his speed can’t be classified as anything but average. But this young man is involved all over the place. Very sound, very solid with the basics, and always on the ice when things matter most, it’s been very noticeable that the coaching staff trusts him immensely. Still, – have to talk about him. All over the place. In the middle of everything, he played all of 25 games this past winter, so this tournament has given some important insight on one of Finland’s prime go-to guys.

Confidence boost: As much as the game has been a chess match throughout the first few periods, the Finnish team has played like a team with incredible confidence. It may be their most engaged 3-zone effort yet. Almost looks like defeating Canada was just the confidence boost this team needed.

Tall allrounder up for grabs: It’s easy to see why Topi Ronni (2022) has his appreciators. There’s good size, solid skating, confident moves, and involvement. He’s simply been a heady player all game long and very ready to make life as difficult as possible for the Swedes.

Filling in on the blueline: Swedish defender Elias Salomonsson was suspended for this contest after a poorly chosen hit from behind against Germany in the quarterfinals. Getting his spot in the line-up has been Theo Lindstein (2023), an underager who has played all tournament, but really showed up today, having to deal with a lot of physical play against some big boys on Team Finland. And he has been run at several times. There’s no backing down and he must be endearing himself to those making notes for the 2023 draft.

Filling in on the blueline part deux: Just six foot, 185 pounds, first line defender Calle Odelius (2022) has been playing what may be his best game yet. The decisions have been solid, and he’s been throwing checks as almost a one-man answer to Finland’s aggressive play. If we didn’t know better, you’d think he’s three inches taller based on how much he’s been ready to answer the call. If you like classic defensemen who don’t stick out too much because they just aren’t doing much wrong, while seemingly always recognizing when they have to do what to be effective, then this young man is one you’ll want to watch. Good reason to think he’ll be an important player for an organization when he's got his man weight.

Looking forward to what will be: He continues to be spoon-fed ice time, which tells you all you need to know about Aron Kiviharju and why he’s already a hot topic for the 2024 draft. The skating won’t yet knock you off your socks, but it looks more like a strength issue than anything else. He’s young. But in the way his teammates incorporate him on the attack and get the puck back to him to have him to lead the breakout. He’s gotten plenty of ice time in every game and been out there the whole time in this contest too.

Listen to me: Whenever the puck was in Sweden’s end, you could hear the yapping. Initially, you’d have to think it was the refs telling the players to move the puck or move away from each other, but in this case, it ended up being goalie Hugo Havelid talking to his teammates. It quickly became clear that it’s a way of life for him. When you see how focused he is, you know it’s part of the routine.

Give that man an award: Today has only come to verify that is there was an award for fluidity in one’s game, you’d have to give it to Swedish center Noah Ostlund. Time and time and time again, he moves with the puck in clear, fluid motion and time and time again, he moves the puck to teammates with rhyme and reason. On top of it all, he’s on the ice for most all situations, especially on the PK unit, and always found in the face-off circle. That the young man only weighs 163 pounds is evident and you sometimes wonder how he seems to move freely on the ice without paying a physical price, but his understanding of the game has made him one of the main players, and it’s clear why.

Heartbreaking: Finland tied the game at one late and then made a push. A real hard push. They had the momentum, and it was clear they could feel that 2-1 goal on their stick. Then it happened. An offensive zone penalty. In a game where it looked like the refs had put their whistles away for the third. In the last two minutes of the game. And it wasn’t just anybody, it was team leader Joakim Kemell (2022). On the forecheck, his stickwork on a Swedish defender led him right to the penalty box. Irate, he let the ref know how unfathomable it was at that phase of the game. And yet there it was – Sweden finishing off a 1-1 game on the power play.

Practice makes perfect: Team Sweden had a ton of power play time against Germany, scoring five power play goals. Then the special team’s unit went to work in the waning moments of the game. And as if all of time and space had designed this scenario, Ostlund made another perfect pass over to sniper Jere Lekkerimaki, whose father is Finnish, and he hammered the puck from the left circle as he has done so many times before. But instead of seeing an amazing bullet of a shot hit the back of the net or an incredible save by Topias Leinonen, who was clearly dialed in, the puck was partially blocked by the Finnish defenseman and slipped by in an almost inexplicable manner. The universe had taken its quirky course once again.

Player of the game for Finland: G Topias Leinonen

Player of the game for Sweden: G Hugo Havelid

For Finland, the following three players were named the players of the tournament: F Joakim Kemell (2022), F Kasper Halttunen (2023), D Aron Kiviharju (2023)

For Sweden, the following three players were named the players of the tournament: D Mathias Havelid (2022), C Noah Ostlund (2022), G5 Hugo Havelid (2022)

QUOTES:

Press conference FIN vs SWE

Finnish goaltender Topias Leinonen and forward Topi Ronni

On being so solid only to have to such a goal go in as the game-winner…

Leinonen: It’s really just so difficult to analyze the game at this moment. We’re still digesting this.

On playing so physically and setting the tone for so long against this rival…

Ronni: Yes, we tried to play our game. It worked quite well for a long while. But we couldn’t score, and I don’t know. Can’t really describe what happened. I don’t think the better team won today. There’s nothing we can do now.

On taking this loss in, but getting ready for a medal game not a whole day later…

Ronni: We just have to get prepared. We have to find focus and be ready. We need to prepare just as we have all tournament long. That’s what we have to do.

On helping Kemell digest the late penalty he took that lead to the game-winner…

Ronni: Oh, well, we had a chance to decide this game and then the ref makes the call. That’s it. I don’t know. Honestly, I can’t really answer that question.

Finnish coach Mikka Marttila

On the late penalty after there had been so many questionable non-calls throughout the last half of the game…

Marttila: It’s very difficult to think about that in the aftermath. One of our chief goals in this game was not to take penalties. We knew about the Swedish power play efficiency in this tournament. Now it has happened. The ref blew the whistle. The call went against us. That’s it.

On getting ready for the bronze medal game so short after such a difficult loss…

Marttila: There will be no problem with motivation tomorrow. We’re going to have a meeting today and we’re going blow this bad feeling away. We’ll be ready for the game tomorrow because it’s a very rare opportunity to play for a medal and win something at a world championship.

On Finland’s game in general, aside from those fatal last two minutes…

Marttila: Our third periods have been very good in this tournament. The first game against Sweden and then the tilt against Canada, we had great third periods. Today, both teams respected each other and knew each other. It was a typical one-goal game at the end of the day.

On the play of underagers Aron Kiviharju and Kasper Halttunen during the tournament…

Marttila: Kiviharju is very smart. He’s very skillful. He will have a bright future in the NHL. Halttunen is a big, physical guy with a good shot. He’s been one of our top players in this tournament.

Swedish goaltender Hugo Havelid and right wing Jere Lekkerimaki

On handling the over 40 shots thrown his way by Finland…

Havelid: It’s always fun when you’re the goalie to see a lot of rubber. Not always as fun when your team is always in the offensive zone. We handled everything well and there was good synergy between the defensemen and the forwards. We had to work a lot in the defensive zone and we did well today.

On his game-winning goal and noticing that the puck had been deflected…

Lekkerimaki: I got a great pass. I shot the puck. It went in. It’s just an amazing feeling. Yes, it did take a second for me to see that I had scored because the defenseman got a piece of the shot. But once it was in, it was amazing.

On his tendency to talk a lot with his teammates on the ice….

Havelid: I like to be involved in the game. When I’m talking a lot, it also allows me to focus. It keeps me concentrated. I like to think it helps the defenseman a lot with things like letting them know how much time they have. It’s good to know if they have an extra second and pick up their head for opportunities. I’ve been doing this almost my whole career, back in Sweden too. It’s never been seen as bad by the others, so I keep doing it.

On the difficulty of facing rival Finland in a playoff game…

Havelid: We’ve played against them a lot and it’s never been easy. There’s an extra level of happiness when we beat them. If we beat a team like the Czech Republic, we’re happy, but it’s a whole new level with Finland.

On the refs allowing a lot of rough stuff…

Havelid: Maybe a little bit, but you know what, I like games that have flow better than having the ref blow the whistle all the time and dishing out penalties. I like it that way. I can’t complain.

On his Finnish last name, Finnish connections and what makes this rivalry even more special for him…

Lekkerimaki: Yes, it’s a Finnish name and my father is from Finland. Playing them is always very special. It’s a special rivalry and I like it. And sure, there’s some trash talk on the ice coming from me, but a whole lot of it coming from them too.

On the progression of Sweden’s team since the loss against Latvia to open things up…

Havelid: I think we’ve played better and better every game. We’re going to keep trying to do that. I think we’re going to play our best game yet tomorrow.

On playing the USA for the final…

Havelid: We had a test game against them before the tournament and it was a tough game. Real hard to play. I think they’re considered the favorite for gold tomorrow, so I think we gotta go out and win it. Can’t complain about the underdog role.

Swedish coach Magnus Havelid

On the irony of having so much power play time against Germany and then using that power play to win late against Finland…

Havelid: We had a timeout before that goal. We hadn’t had our edge on the prior power plays. So we took the timeout, got the guys together and told them to feel comfortable. To trust each other. Don’t force anything with the shots and the passes. When you’ve got guys like Lekkerimaki, Ostlund, and Mathias Havelid, we know that we can score goals. So yes, I think those five goals against Germany helped us today. When you believe in it, you can make it happen.

On the difficulty of facing the Finns again in the tournament and getting ready for that match-up…

Havelid: The teams know each other, but you know what, it’s the semifinal and we know what the next step is. I mean there was more physical play than before. That definitely picked up since Kaufbeuren. But it’s the semifinal. We have to step it up and handle that situation. And I think we did. We had really, really steady goaltending and it’s a bit about their type of hockey and our type of hockey. Sometimes, I as the coach tell the guys we have to speed things up. We have to increase the puck-moving tempo. Stuff like that. Sometimes we give the puck away too easy and that’s something we’ll have to be better at tomorrow.

On how the three players of the tournament for Sweden took the reigns and stepped up from the first day to the last…

Havelid: Well, they are my three key players. You know going into a game that this is not going to be, say, a 5-1 affair. It’s going to be tight. You know that these guys have to step up. They did it tonight again and I hope they’ll do it once again tomorrow.

On the importance of Noah Ostlund, who got plenty of ice time…

Havelid: We had three centers today. He’s my best face-off guy. He got a lot of ice time, especially on the PK unit. He’s a playmaker, but he also works so hard. He can do so much to help us out in the defensive zone. He’s simply a very, very important player for this team.

On facing the USA for gold…

Havelid: Well, you know, they’re the big favorite because of the program they have. Those boys play together for two years. But that’s a great challenge for my team. We played against them before the tournament. They are a bit better. But now we have to be better for a night. We have to be really strong defensively but continue to play and go for it. I’m really looking forward to this.

On the often scrutinizing hockey media in Sweden and how they’ll view Sweden’s achievement here…

Havelid: Yes, I think they will. This game was broadcast back in Sweden, and this is good. You know, I know about Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz. When we won back in Sweden a few years back, we had tremendous media coverage and positive PR for the program. Now we have Lekkerimaki, and he was big in U20 play this year and got into the SHL as way, so he’s a big name for the younger kids out there watching. He’s now being compared to Holtz and Raymond. We’ve often been criticized for not having true goal scorers. So I told them about these guys and how Raymond and Holtz and Lekkerimaki are now there to fill that hole and be the role models for the next generation. It’s great that we’re in the final and that will be seen positively, but it’s also just wonderful to see what it means to the kids coming up.

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Update – May 1st – Sweden and U.S. advance to Gold Medal game

Zack Szweras — Sun, 01 May 2022 12:04:04 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - APRIL 30: USA’s Logan Cooley #18 and Czech Republic's Michael Schnattinger #1 look on during Semifinal Round action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on April 30, 2022 in Landshut, Germany. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

US 6-1 Czechia

In the first semi-final match of the day, it was a rematch between the top two teams of Group A. The first match started off close after Czechia took the 1-0 lead off a Jiri Kulich penalty shot, however they let up five unanswered on their way to a 6-2 loss to the US. The United States had been rolling in this tournament, as the only undefeated team left coming into today’s match. Czechia on the other hand had been riding high on confidence ever since defeating Canada in overtime to capture second place in Group A. They continued their momentum with a dominant win over Switzerland 8-0 in the quarter finals.

This game started off fairly even with scoring chances both ways. It was the special teams that made a large impact in the first period. US got the first powerplay of the night and had many opportunities to score, but Czechia goaltender Michael Schnattinger made some ridiculous saves to keep the game tied. With momentum swung in their favour, Czechia drew two penalties on the same play for a lengthy 5-on-3 powerplay. It was none other than top goal scorer in this tournament Jiri Kulich who ripped one off a beautiful feed from 2023 draft eligible prospect Eduard Sale to give Czechia a 1-0 lead. This goal marked the ninth of the tournament for Kulich and continued his streak of scoring at least one goal in each game this tournament. Czechia was looking to continue to carry this momentum into the second period against the dominant US team.

It didn’t take long for the United States to strike back, as Cruz Lucius intercepted a pass, walked into the offensive end and sniped the puck top corner to tie the game up at one apiece four minutes into the second period. That was just the start as US scored four more unanswered all from 2022 draft eligibles, Cutter Gauthier, Frank Nazar, Isaac Howard and Jimmy Snuggerud bringing their lead to 5-1 at the end of the second period. There were a lot of similarities with this game and the first match between these teams, as they both started with Czechia leading 1-0 after the first and US scoring five unanswered to kill all momentum Czechia had. Czechia was able to continue to battle in the third period holding the juggernaut United States team to only one more goal scored by Jimmy Snuggerud for his second of the game. At first, it seemed US finally met their match and would be challenged by Czechia, but as we have seen throughout this tournament, nothing can stop this US team. They are now only one win away from finishing this tournament undefeated and with a gold medal hanging from their neck.

An incredible shot for Jiri Kulich goes in and Czechia leads 1-0 on the PP.

Ninth goal of the tournament for him. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/2u833pn2qi

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) April 30, 2022

Frank Nazar from Gavin Brindley and Isaac Howard makes it 3-1 USA. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/SIoI7JZUaI

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) April 30, 2022

Sweden 2-1 Finland

Just like the first game, this game was also a rematch of the top two teams, but this time from Group B. Their first match was a nail biter right until the end, with the result of that match determining which team would finish first in Group B, Sweden narrowly beat Finland 4-3 in that game. Finland, however had more momentum after coming back against an always strong Canadian team in the quarter finals, winning 6-5 in overtime. Sweden on the other hand, dominated Germany with great play by twin brothers Mattias and Hugo Havelid, as well as top 2022 draft prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki. It was evident that this game would be another closely knit match between the two.

It didn’t take long to set the tone in this game as fifteen seconds in Swedish defenceman Jakob Noren laid a massive hit on Finnish star Jokiam Kemell. Shortly after the hit, Sweden turned the puck over giving Kemell a wide-open shot, which was saved by Hugo Havelid. Neither team was able to score in the first period in large part thanks to strong goaltending from both teams in 2022 draft eligible prospects Hugo Havelid and Topias Leinonen. Less than four minutes into the second period, 16-year-old Finish defenceman Aron Kiviharju made a costly turnover in his own zone allowing Oskar Pettersson to fling the puck on net, where 2023 draft eligible Otto Stenberg was able to find and tap the puck in to give Sweden the 1-0 lead. Sweden was able to take that lead into the third period.

Finland, while down, was controlling time of possession and winning in the shot category, up 22-17 through the first two periods. If it wasn’t for the amazing performance of Hugo Havelid, Finland would have been up big time, rather than being in a desperate position. It wasn’t until under five minutes left in the game when Finland was able to get on the scoresheet. Off an Elmeri Laakso point shot, Jani Nyman was able to grab the rebound, make a nifty move past Otto Stenberg before sniping the puck top shelf on Hugo Havelid to tie the game up 1-1. With the game looking like it would need overtime to determine a winner, Finland took a costly penalty with 2:23 left in the third period putting the dangerous Swedish powerplay in action. As the clock was dwindling down, top 2022 prospects, Liam Ohgren and Noah Ostlund took matters in their own hands, passing the puck between each other, before eventually feeding fellow top 2022 prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki with a cross-ice pass, which he one timed off a weird bounce and past Leinonen to take a 2-1 lead with 34.3 seconds remaining in the game. That goal turned out to be the difference maker as Sweden for the second time this tournament defeated Finland.

They will advance to the gold medal match against the dominating United States. While Sweden has been tested playing Finland twice, the US team has made each of their competition look like a play toy. It will be interesting to see if they can finally be the team to challenge the US team.

4:26 TO GO AND WE HAVE A TIE GAME! Jani Nyman doesn't let up and gets @leijonat back in it! #SWEFIN #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/mpUYr3CsD7

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 30, 2022

Daily Top Performers

Best Forward: US, C Logan Cooley (0G, 2A, 2P)

Logan Cooley entered the tournament as the top ranked prospect for the 2022 NHL draft playing in this tournament and he has led the United States to an impressive 5-0. When watching Cooley play it is clear that he is a complete hockey player with tons of skill to maneuver around oppositions. Cooley did exactly that, fooling everyone before sliding the puck to Cutter Gauthier to tap in the easy goal, which ended up being the game winning goal. While there was not much room for Cooley to move up in the eyes of many scouts, Cooley has proven why he deserves to be one of the first few names called for the upcoming draft.

USA leads 2-1. Cutter Gauthier from Logan Cooley. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/AxchV4xDvS

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) April 30, 2022

Best Defenceman: US, D Lane Hutson (0G, 2A, 2P)

While many expected Seamus Casey to anchor the blueline for the United States, it has actually been the defensive pair of Lane Hutson and Ryan Chesley that has held the fort down. Not only has Lane Hutson made strong defensive plays to stop fast break scoring chances for the opposition, but he also has taken the puck and transitioned it up the ice to the talented forwards on the US team. On the offensive side, Hutson has been a force, on his first assist of the night he showed immense patience with the puck, drawing in the Czechia defender before sliding the puck down to Jimmy Snuggerud who found Frank Nazar for the easy goal. This tournament has really shined a bright light on both Lane Hutson and Ryan Chesley, so it shouldn’t be surprising if either of them were taken earlier than expected in the upcoming draft.

Frank Nazar gets his second of the day to make it 6-1. Check out Lane Hutson's patience on the blueline. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/Dc02uKFwQ6

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) April 30, 2022

Best Goaltender: Hugo Havelid (41SV, 1.00 GAA, .976 SV%)

For the second day in a row, Hugo Havelid has deservedly taken home the best goaltender award. Facing a strong Finnish team for the second time this tournament, Sweden relied heavily on the strong play of Havelid and it paid off for them. Havelid only allowed one goal on 42 shots, 19 of which came in the third period alone. Sweden will look for Havelid to continue his strong tournament against the dangerous United States as they look to capture gold.

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Update – April 29th – Canada’s late collapse against strong Finns, US, Czechia and Sweden move on convincingly

Zack Szweras — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 16:48:23 +0000

KAUFBEUREN, GERMANY - APRIL 28: Sweden’s Hugo Havelid #35 makes a save against Germany during Quarterfinal Round action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Erdgas Schwaben Arena on April 28, 2022 in Kaufbeuren, Germany. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Finland 6-5 (OT) Canada

The first game of the quarter finals was the most even matchup coming into the day. While Canada finished third in their division, they are almost always a team you have to respect given the insane talent they have up front. On the other side, Finland started the tournament undefeated and would have finished that way if it wasn’t for a strong game from Sweden.

It was very important for both teams to score first and take the momentum. Luckily for Canada, four minutes into the game, Kocha Delic was able to bury the rebound off a Matthew Ward wrist shot to give Canada the early 1-0 lead. Penalties continued to be a problem for team Canada, who gave up five powerplay goals against Czechia in their last game. Half-way through the first, Connor Bedard took a lazy penalty, which Finland was able to capitalize off of with a snipe from projected top-10 pick in the upcoming draft Joakim Kemell. Canada was able to battle to get the lead back thanks to a beautiful backhander by 2022 draft eligible Connor Hvidston, his first of the tournament. Stop me if you have heard this before, Canada took another costly penalty, which Finland and star player Jokiam Kemell took advantage of, tying the game at 2-2 with another powerplay goal. This time it was Canada who took advantage of a powerplay getting a goal from Brayden Schuurman. Shortly after, Canada’s favourite duo, Adam Fantilli and Connor Bedard, connected for a spin-o-rama goal to extend the lead to 4-2. As Canada captured the momentum, they quickly gave it away off a costly line change, which gave Finland a 3-on-1, allowing Tommi Mannisto to walk in and snipe the puck past Reid Dyck cutting the Canadian lead to one.

A close battle in the third period left the first half of the period with no goals. Just under ten minutes left and Canada took another penalty putting Finland on the powerplay. Canada looking to solve their penalty kill struggles put Connor Bedard on the kill and it proved to be wise as Bedard took the puck down the ice and scored a short-handed goal from a ridiculous angle giving Canada a cushion, leading 5-3. However, you could never count Finland out, with another chance on the powerplay, they found the back of the net thanks to Aleksanteri Kaskimaki. The game went down to the wire as Canada took another late penalty in the third period. This time it was 2023 draft eligible Kasper Halttunen who roofed it past Reid Dyck to tie the game up at five apiece with under two minutes left in the third sending the game to overtime. It didn’t take long for this game to come to an end, a bad turnover by Canada led to a breakaway for Joakim Kemell who buried his third of the game to advance Finland onto the Semi Finals and end Canada’s hope for a medal. For the second game in a row, Canada lost in overtime after leading in the third period.

WHO ELSE?

Connor Bedard scores a shorthanded goal from a RIDICULOUS angle and then immediately goes to talk to the Finnish bench. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/gxxRKBjPYv

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2022

This game is feeling all too familiar for Canada...

Another PP goal against, scored by Kasper Halttunen, ties the game at 5-5 late in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/lyysn7iRlQ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2022

Czechia 8-0 Switzerland

Czechia came into the game today with a tremendous amount of confidence after taking down Canada in the final game of the preliminary round. Switzerland was also coming off a win, albeit against a lesser competition in Latvia. Both teams were hoping to carry that momentum into the game and take the early lead. It was Czechia who ultimately took advantage and the early lead, getting rare depth scoring from Marek Soukup. Czechia continued to pile on the goals scoring three more unanswered in the first, with goals from 2022 draft eligibles Matyas Sapovaliv, Ondrej Becher and Simon Slavicek. Czechia dominated Switzerland in the first period out shooting them 16-1. Czechia continued to dominate the second period, with Marek Soukup and Simon Slavicek each scoring their second of the game. Jiri Kulich continued his strong tournament with a goal in the second, scoring at least one goal in every game so far this tournament. Czechia held a 7-0 lead heading into the third period. At this point it would take a miracle for Switzerland to come back. The third period went as expected, Czechia only adding one more, another from star player Jiri Kulich, finishing the game with a dominant 8-0 win over Switzerland. Czechia will now advance to the semifinals to face the dangerous United States for a chance to win a medal for the first time since winning silver in 2014.

Šimon Slavíček with his second of the game, 5-0 CZE. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/RZj0O6pzBp

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) April 28, 2022

Jiří Kulich with his second of the game and eight of the tournament. #2022NHLDraft #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/dEl4JPTUJz

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) April 28, 2022

Sweden 7-1 Germany

After a shaky start to the tournament, Sweden has bounced back with wins in their last two games, one against Finland to capture first place in Group A. They looked to carry their momentum into this game against the only team without a win in this tournament in Germany. Sweden got off to a great start drawing a five-on-three powerplay within the first couple minutes of the game. Mattias Havelid was able to capitalize on the powerplay to give Sweden the early 1-0 lead. They continued to add to the lead in the first period with Isac Born scoring his first goal of the tournament off a nice feed from Calle Odelius, to increase the lead to two. Sweden added on one more on the powerplay with a goal from Tim Almgren, finishing the first period up 3-0 on Germany. Entering the second with all the momentum, Sweden slowed down from their first period pace allowing Germany to gain some confidence. Germany and Sweden traded goals in the second, the first by Sweden’s Liam Ohgren and the German goal by Luca Hauf. Sweden giving up the goal to Hauf gave Germany some momentum to carry into the third period. That momentum allowed for a competitive third period up until the five-minute mark in the third period when Sweden unloaded for three goals from Otto Stenberg, Jonathan Lekkerimaki and a second goal from Mattias Havelid. Sweden finished the game 7-1, advancing to the semifinals where they will face a rematch against Finland, hoping for the same result as the first.

Jiří Kulich with his second of the game and eight of the tournament. #2022NHLDraft #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/dEl4JPTUJz

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) April 28, 2022

Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Noah Östlund, Mattias Hävelid #U18Worlds #Sverige #2022NHLDraft
SvenskHockey TV pic.twitter.com/5hjSoXDAzP

— SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) April 28, 2022

US 13-3 Latvia

Entering the quarter finals, the United States had been the most dominant team in the tournament, finishing as the only undefeated team in the preliminary round. Latvia had a strong start to the tournament defeating Sweden before coming back down to earth with loses to both Finland and Switzerland, placing them fourth in Group B and in this David vs. Goliath matchup against the US.

The United States wasted no time getting this game going scoring the first five goals unanswered. Their goals came from captain Rutger McGroarty (2), Charlie Stramel, Seamus Casey and capping it off with a Michigan goal from top 2022 draft eligible prospect Logan Cooley. Latvia, however, was able to get on the board in the first period, thanks to the great effort from 2022 draft eligible Sandis Vilmanis. Ryan Leonard joined the US scoring party to finish the first period 6-1 in favour of the US. The second period was more of the same dominance for US as they produced goals from 2022 projected first round selections Cutter Gauthier and Frank Nazar. 2023 draft eligible Ryan Leonard scored another goal ultimately bringing the US lead up to 9-1 to end the second period.

Something unique about this US team is they have so much talent that their nine goals have come from seven different players with fourteen total players recording a point. At this point in the game, it was unlikely Latvia was going to make a comeback. They were just hoping they could keep the US team to their nine goals. That task was too much for them to do as US scored four more goals finishing the game with 13 goals and 63 shots. Latvia didn’t go out without some fun though, putting up two extra in the third to cut the deficit to only ten. US will now move on to rematch Czechia in the semifinals on Saturday. They are now one step closer to going undefeated the entire tournament and winning the gold medal.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Noah Östlund, Mattias Hävelid #U18Worlds #Sverige #2022NHLDraft
SvenskHockey TV pic.twitter.com/5hjSoXDAzP

— SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) April 28, 2022

Daily Top Performers:

Best Forward: FIN, F Joakim Kemell (3G, 0A, 3P)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki made a strong push to take the best forward of the day with his five-point performance against Germany. However, it would be wrong not to give it to Kemell today who played in by far the hardest match of the day and scored a hat trick including the overtime winner to complete the comeback against Canada. Kemell started off the game by scoring two powerplay goals in the first, both to tie the game up after Canada took a 1-0 and a 2-1 lead. Joakim Kemell is a consensus 1^st round draft pick in the upcoming draft and if there is one thing that is certain about his skill, it is the fact that he can shoot the puck. His lethal shot and finishing ability is a strong reason why Finland was able to advance to the semifinals. Finland will be looking for Kemell to continue his scoring against a Swedish team that kept him off the scoreboard in their first matchup in the preliminary round.

Joakim Kemell completes the hat trick in overtime!

Canada is OUT of the #U18Worlds. pic.twitter.com/q9IEYtvQLR

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2022

Best Defenceman: SWE, D Mattias Havelid (2G, 2A, 4P)

For the second day in a row Mattias Havelid captures our best defenceman of the day award. Ever since their uncharacteristic poor start against Latvia, Sweden has been on a roll, with Havelid establishing himself as the number one defence option and a proven weapon in the offensive zone for Sweden. Just like yesterday, Havelid opened the game up with a goal in the first few minutes to give Sweden the early 1-0 lead. On top of that, Havelid played a large role in extending the lead in the third period, recording a point on each of the three goals scored in the third, with a goal and two assists. Sweden will continue to lean on the play of Havelid as they enter the Group B rematch against Finland in the semifinals.

Joakim Kemell completes the hat trick in overtime!

Canada is OUT of the #U18Worlds. pic.twitter.com/q9IEYtvQLR

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2022

Best Goaltender: SWE, G Hugo Havelid (28 SV, 1.00 GAA, .965 SV%)

It turned out to be a great day for the Havelid family, as both twins Hugo and Mattias are being recognized for their performance in the quarter finals. Other than the Canada-Finland matchup, this game had to be the most competitive matchup and could have been a close game if it wasn’t for the consistent play of Hugo Havelid. After a shaky start to the tournament giving up three goals in his lone loss to Latvia, Hugo has settled in to the net and has been a force between the pipes for Sweden and a large reason why they have been on a three-game win streak. Havelid will most likely have another big test on Saturday as Sweden will face Finland again in the semifinals. This tournament should help boost his draft stock in a draft with few goalies that are worth being selected.