Linards Feldbergs – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025 NHL DRAFT GUIDE FEATURE: SECOND CHANCES – TOP RE-ENTRY CANDIDATES

Brock Otten — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 12:20:25 +0000

In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year, high-end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully, human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind do. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).

For those unfamiliar, North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. In the last decade, NHL scouts have increased the rate at which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European-based players especially attractive. Additionally, the new NCAA eligibility rules could also make later-born CHL players more attractive as teams steer them towards the college route for additional development.

These players have had a lot of success in recent years, too. Look around the league, and you see these players everywhere. For example, Calgary Flames standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. Ottawa Senators standout forward Drake Batherson was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Pyotr Kochetkov, one of the top young netminders in the NH,L was also one.

Last year, eight “re-entry” candidates went in the top four rounds: Ilya Nabokov, Jesse Pulkkinen, Ondrej Becher, Pavel Moysevich, Trevor Hoskin, Chase Pietila, Dmitri Gamzin, and Blake Montgomery. Nabokov and Pulkkinen were taken in the second round. In total, there were 42 taken, right around the trend of other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected).

While you can read more about the many re-entry candidates that we have ranked in the ranking profiles part of our guide, here are our top ten previously passed-over players:

Kristian Epperson of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

1. Kristian Epperson (W) - Saginaw (OHL) - McKeen's Rank - #55

Gritty winger out of the NTDP who formed instant chemistry with Michael Misa this year. Headed to the University of Denver next year to continue his development.

Petteri Rimpinen
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

2. Petteri Rimpinen (G) - Kiekko-Espoo (Fin) - McKeen's Rank - #79

The Rookie of the Year in Liiga and the top goaltender at the World Juniors. Rimpinen isn’t huge, but you can’t overlook his success this year.

3. Caeden Herrington (D) - Lincoln (USHL) - McKeen's Rank - #89

One of the USHL’s top two-way defenders this year as a rookie of the New England prep scene. A dangerous scorer from the back-end is headed to the University of Vermont.

Francesco Dell'Elce

4. Francesco Dell’Elce (D) - Massachusetts (HE) - McKeen's Rank - #92

Two years after being a big draft snub out of the St. Andrew’s College program, Dell’Elce is back on the draft radar after a tremendous freshman season at UMass.

5. Yegor Borikov (W) - Dinamo Minsk (KHL) - McKeen's Rank - #93

Speedy Belarusian winger who was a force in the KHL playoffs, scoring 7 goals in 11 games for Dinamo Minsk.

Sam Laurila

6. Sam Laurila (D) - Fargo (USHL) - McKeen's Rank - #95

A detail-oriented two-way defender whose offensive game made big strides post-NTDP this year in the USHL. He was possibly the best defenseman in the USHL this past year.

7. Julius Sumpf (W) - Moncton (QMJHL) - McKeen's Rank - #127

Sumpf helped Moncton capture a QMJHL title this year and helped Germany avoid relegation at the World Juniors. The big center has pro-level attributes and keeps improving.

Brendan McMorrow

8. Brendan McMorrow (C) - Waterloo (USHL) - McKeen's Rank - #130

Another former NTDP member, McMorrow slid to center this year in the USHL and was one of the best players in the Clark Cup playoffs. He plays with sandpaper and has improved offensively.

9. Linards Feldbergs (G) - Sherbrooke (QMJHL) - McKeen's Rank - #136

The unsung hero of the World Juniors this year for Latvia, helping upset Canada. However, he was good all year in the QMJHL, too.

10. Finn McLaughlin (D) - Fgo-Mus (USHL) - McKeen's Rank - #144

A mobile, two-way defender who has captured the Clark Cup as USHL champion two years in a row. Last year, he played a minimal role with Fargo, but this year, he was a standout for Muskegon.

2025 NHL DRAFT: SECOND CHANCES – Overage Draft Eligible Prospects – Part One – Canada

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Jérémy Tremblay, Jeremi Plourde — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:39:17 +0000

In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year high end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind does. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).

For those unfamiliar, North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th, will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st, will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. In the last decade, NHL scouts have increased the rate with which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European based players especially attractive. However, these players have had a lot of success in recent years too. Look around the league and you see these players everywhere. For example, Calgary Flames standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. Ottawa Senators standout forward Drake Batherson was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Pyotr Kochetkov, one of the top young netminders in the NHL was also one.

Last year, eight “re-entry” candidates went in the top four rounds; Ilya Nabokov, Jesse Pulkkinen, Ondrej Becher, Pavel Moysevich, Trevor Hoskin, Chase Pietila, Dmitri Gamzin, and Blake Montgomery. Nabokov and Pulkkinen were taken in the second round. In our “second chances” article last year (Part 1): (Part 2): (Part 3): We wrote about six of those eight. In total there were 42 taken, right around the trend of other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected). Additionally, of those 42, we identified and wrote about 25 (well over half of them) in our aforementioned second chances series. Just like in previous editions of this annual report, we aim to identify more.

In 2025, we have some very interesting candidates. Tanner Adams, a player we have ranked and written about previously, continues to improve at the NCAA level with Providence and has emerged as one of the better players in Hockey East. Jamiro Reber and David Granberg look like great picks out of Sweden. Reber has been fantastic in the SHL this year, while Granberg was one of Sweden’s top players at the WJC’s. Magomed Sharakanov has emerged as one of the top young defenders in the KHL. Kristian Epperson has paired with Michael Misa in Saginaw to become one of the OHL’s elite play drivers. This article intends to highlight them and many other candidates who could be part of that 20% this year.

This is part one of the series, putting the spotlight on those re-entries available from Canadian leagues.

OHL

Kristian Epperson of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Kristian Epperson - Wing - Saginaw Spirit

Epperson’s draft year with the NTDP was a year to forget. He fell out of favour with the coaching staff, saw his ice time reduced, and was eventually left off of the U18 team for the IIHF Championships (demoted to the U17 team in the USHL). However, he’s been a revelation for the Saginaw Spirit this season, pairing with potential top five pick Michael Misa to form a dynamic duo. They formed immediate chemistry, and it’s had a profoundly positive effect on the development of both players. Epperson is best described as a skilled, high-energy guy. He’s a very strong skater who does a very good job of altering pace, keeping defenders guessing as they try to contain him. He protects the puck really well in open ice with how good his edge work is. He leans more playmaker than scorer and isn’t as dynamic with the puck as linemate Michael Misa, but he’s proven to be a great complement to more skilled players because of his compete level, and with how he can drive play with his feet, find open space or open teammates. Not only is he finding the score sheet consistently, but Epperson has impressed in all three zones with his high energy approach. He can kill penalties. He is aggressive on the forecheck and the backcheck. There is definitely a middle six projection here and for that reason, Epperson has to be considered one of the best re-entry candidates from any league this year. (Brock Otten)

Ben Hrebik - Goaltender - Barrie Colts

This year was supposed to be the Sam Hillebrandt show in Barrie; the U.S. WJC netminder was considered a preseason favourite for OHL goaltender of the year. While Hillebrandt hasn’t been bad, he hasn’t been as good as OHL rookie Ben Hrebik, who has come out of nowhere to be one of the OHL’s best netminders this year. His strong play has created a platoon between the two of them and if the playoffs started today, I reckon Hrebik would be the starter. NHL Scouting staffs are bound to be intrigued by Hrebik’s upside given his size (at 6-foot-3) and athleticism combination. He’s very active and quick in the crease. He covers the net really well and never seems to quit on a play. A traditional butterfly netminder, he has lightning quick pads and scrambles to make saves in a way that makes one believe Hrebik is/was a Jonathan Quick fan growing up. The technical components are a work in progress. He can struggle with rebounds and often has to make an extra save or two than he needs to. He can overcommit on his pushes and not cover his angles properly. He can be susceptible five hole when teams get him moving. That said, these are correctable issues, especially given how athletic Hrebik is. So long as his strong play continues to the end of the year, he’s definitely going to be on the NHL draft radar. (Brock Otten)

Charlie Paquette - Wing - Guelph Storm

One of the hottest players in the entire OHL, Paquette is now knocking on the door of the top ten in goal scoring. Paquette has always been someone who has flashed the upside of being an impact OHL player (and NHL prospect), but consistency has been an issue. It appears that the light bulb has finally gone on, as he has emerged as a leader for the rebuilding Storm. In the 39 games since the beginning of December, Paquette has 30 goals and 26 assists. That’s pretty remarkable production. A big body presence with long powerful strides, OHL defenders are having a heck of a time stopping Paquette from driving the net and getting to the middle of the ice. Paquette also has a great shot and scoring instincts. He’s excelling on the powerplay as both a net front presence and a shooting option from the flank where he can utilize his heavy one timer. Given his size and improving skating and skill, it would not shock me at all if an NHL team jumped on Paquette this year at the draft. (Brock Otten)

Jack Brauti - Defense - Niagara IceDogs

A three-way deal in the offseason brought Brauti to Niagara, where he has blossomed into a quality two-way defender for the upstart IceDogs. We had Brauti ranked just outside our top 250 last year, but he has improved his projection this year with improved on puck play and playmaking ability. He’s not a natural fit to run a powerplay, but he has been effective doing so for Niagara and has them operating as a top ten unit in the OHL. He can lug the puck up with confident, smooth strides, and he gets shots through with efficiency. Brauti’s best asset is his energetic and assertive approach to defending. He’s a tough and physical competitor who blocks shots and who likes to take away space from opposing forwards. He can struggle, at times defending pace; his lateral and backwards stride aren’t always the cleanest. However, he’s largely effective and efficient. Does he have enough upside to entice NHL teams? There’s a profile here similar to a guy like Tampa Bay’s Darren Raddysh, who has taken some time to develop into a quality depth defender. (Brock Otten)

Anthony Cristoforo - Defense - Windsor Spitfires

Heading into last year, Cristoforo was seen as a potential top two round selection following a standout rookie year in the OHL. However, defensive and physical engagement issues, combined with offensive regression, led him to slide down lists and out of the draft altogether by June. This year, he’s unquestionably returned a better and more confident overall player. The Spitfires have returned to the top of the standings, and he’s been a big part of that as one of the OHL’s time on ice leaders. Look, he’s still not a defensive stalwart and he’s not going to project that way at the NHL level either. There’s still a need to improve his ability to clear the net front and win consistent battles along the wall. He still plays a fairly high-risk game at both ends. However, it can also be said that he’s been way more engaged and involved at both ends, blocking shots, killing penalties, completing breakouts under pressure, making better and quicker decisions as a powerplay quarterback. There’s progression here in his draft +1 that leads you to believe that he can continue to evolve. (Brock Otten)

Mitch Young - Defense - Sarnia Sting

We had Young on the draft radar last year as a re-entry candidate, but he ultimately went unselected. In his final year of draft eligibility, he remains on the scouting radar thanks to another strong season for the Sarnia Sting. It’s obvious that NHL scouts are looking at him closely too, since he was one of the few re-entry candidates named to the OHL Top Prospect’s Game in Brantford. Young, despite being older and gaining experience, remains a raw defender. He’s a high risk, high reward type of player and that likely won’t change. However, there’s no denying that he is one of the OHL’s most skilled individual defenders. He routinely escapes pressure thanks to quick hands and quick feet. He is aggressive offensively. He’s a high impact guy. Young is also a physical defender. He loves to play aggressively defensively too. Sometimes that means he gets burned at both ends, but you live with it. I remain steadfast that if he were playing for a better team (not a bottom five one in Sarnia), we’d be seeing Young in the top five of defenseman scoring in the OHL. Young has the athletic talent to be an NHL defender. Can his sense and decision making catch up? I think it’s worth a shot to find out. (Brock Otten)

Carter Lowe - Wing - Barrie Colts

The big winger has been one of the most improved 2006’s in the OHL this year, on pace to triple his production from last year. His straight-line skating has improved a lot, to the point where he’s now able to win races to space and to the puck. He’ll look to take on defenders one on one with the puck but has impressive vision and playmaking sense for a bigger winger. The physical element to his game has improved considerably too. He’s now leveraging his size to win battles, getting to the net, and is making plays in all three zones. The Colts have been using him as a primary penalty killer this year and to help them close out games, a testament to his upside as a two-way forward. The skating profile will need to continue to improve. The upside may not be significant. However, NHL scouts love bigger forwards who take big steps in their draft year plus one and that’s definitely Lowe. (Brock Otten)

Carson Campbell - Defense - Kitchener Rangers

Campbell is a player who has stepped up big time this year to take on a larger, top four role with the Rangers and he is excelling. While +/- isn’t the world’s best stat to use for player effectiveness, in this case, the fact that Campbell leads the Rangers at +16 (as of writing this) is symbolic of his importance to Kitchener. Campbell is not a defender who will wow you with skill, however, he is highly intelligent and aggressive offensively; always looking for opportunities to jump up in the play or lead the rush. If not for Cameron Reid, Campbell would likely be receiving significant powerplay time as a quarterback; there is offensive upside there. Defensively, Campbell’s game has grown. He’s counted on to kill penalties and his active stick, strong mobility, and tenaciousness make him an effective player in his own end. Campbell’s upside at the next level may not be significant, however, this is a right shot defender with decent size, mobility, and two-way sense. They don’t grow on trees. (Brock Otten)

Vann Williamson - Defense - Kingston Frontenacs

Like Campbell, Williamson is another two-way, right shot defender with good mobility. They’ve both become heavily relied upon by their teams in their draft year plus one. Williamson is an excellent transitional defender because of his mobility and aggressive physical approach. He’s not extremely aggressive offensively, but he moves the puck quickly in the offensive zone and does a good job getting point shots through traffic to generate second chance opportunities. Sometimes his decision making in the defensive zone can be questioned, be it in terms of puck movement or when to play aggressively, but he’s progressed well this year and has some pro level attributes. (Brock Otten)

Callum Hughes - Wing - Erie Otters

Hughes has been a great complementary piece for the Otters since signing out of the BCHL. The Boston University commit loves to play the game at a breakneck pace. He was on the draft radar last year with West Kelowna (BCHL), but NHL teams were likely concerned about a lack of upside so he went unselected. Those same upside concerns are likely still present, however, he’s been an effective high energy guy in the OHL. He looks to use his speed to get to the net, force turnovers, and get after it on the forecheck. He flashes goal scoring upside and that’s likely his ticket to a pro career. If he could pair that with his pro frame, tenaciousness, and speed, he could be a quality role player. NHL teams are likely keeping close tabs on him over the rest of the year to see if his offensive game and production can keep improving. (Brock Otten)

Lauri Sinivuori - Center - Oshawa Generals

When the Generals were hit with the surprise that Minnesota Wild draft pick Rasmus Kumpulainen was returning to Finland, they turned to selecting Sinivuori in the import draft and he’s filled a similar role for the team in the top six. Sinivuori is best described as a rugged, power center. His game is not complicated. He gets pucks to the net. He gets to the net. He looks to engage physically to gain leverage. His skating isn’t the most elegant, but he can build speed with some big strides. It’s just sustaining said speed or making sharp changes (due to a stride that tends to get very wide) that prevent him from being more dynamic with the puck. I also wish that he were a little more consistently engaged in the defensive end, given his physicality. NHL Central Scouting seems to really like him and he’s very clearly on the NHL draft radar, but he’s likely a player with pretty limited upside. (Brock Otten)

Trenten Bennett - Goaltender - Owen Sound Attack

With Carter George away at the World Juniors, the Attack brought in Bennett out of the CCHL and he was impressive in that limited appearance. So much so that NHL Central Scouting has ranked him inside the top ten of North American netminders. He returned to Owen Sound for one game in February too. The St. Lawrence commit definitely has size going for him (at 6-foot-8), so that’s where NHL CS’s rooting interest is coming from. As you might expect, he plays pretty deep in his crease in an attempt to utilize his size and minimize wasted movement. He’s got quick pads and moves well with his initial push, allowing him to take away the bottom of the net. However, in scramble situations, he can struggle to maneuver from the butterfly and often can’t make those second or third chance saves. Additionally, because he plays so deep in his crease and is a more traditional butterfly netminder, he can struggle with longer shots through traffic. If an NHL team drafts Bennett, it’s a major swing for the fences based on size alone. (Brock Otten)

WHL

Gavin Garland - Center - Tri-City Americans

Garland went on something of a tear in the 2024 calendar year. First, he helped his Calgary Canucks squad win an AJHL championship, while scoring at over a point-per-game pace throughout the postseason. And then, after changing his mind about going the college route for his development, he joined the WHL's Tri-City Americans and stormed out of the gate with his new team, scoring 13 points through his first 10 games. He is a smart, highly competitive center who plays with more intensity and bite than his smaller size might let on. While he's not a particularly fast skater, he has a great motor and always plays at as high of a pace as he can. His awareness and decision-making are acute in all three zones, along with an accurate sense of timing and a solid understanding of how to win pucks by getting under his opponents. If he makes the NHL it would almost certainly be as a winger, with any time down the middle being primarily spot duty. Garland should draw some interest in the back half of the 2025 draft as a potential plug-and-play support player in a similar vein as names like Nick Cousins and Vinnie Hinostroza. (Derek Neumeier)

Luke Mistelbacher - Wing - Swift Current Broncos

One of the WHL's leading goal-scorers and point-getters, Mistelbacher has unexpectedly blossomed into an offensive driver for Swift Current. He's a high-volume shooter with a real knack for finding good looks at the net and then smartly picking his spots. His release is more about accuracy than power, with an impressive ability to disguise his intentions and shoot from a variety of angles and body positions. He also displays plenty of poise when he's on the attack, comfortably dusting or dragging the puck until he finds a shot or pass option that he likes. Where things get tricky with Mistelbacher is that he doesn't have much of a "B" game to speak of — he's not physical, he doesn't kill penalties, and he leaves minimal off-puck impact in general. His average size and average skating ability do him no favours. That's all concerning, because his offensive contributions are good but not great. If he can't carve out a dedicated scoring role on an NHL team, which is a realistic possibility, he likely won't be in the league at all. Teams are already doing their due diligence on him, but final opinions will probably vary. (Derek Neumeier)

Bryce Pickford - Defense - Medicine Hat Tigers

Pickford was part of the championship-winning Seattle Thunderbirds team in 2022-23 as a 16-year-old, but he struggled the following season on a severely depleted roster and was completely passed over in the 2024 draft. However, an off-season trade to Medicine Hat has breathed new life into his game and is forcing scouts to circle back for more viewings. The points are flowing for him this year, stemming largely from his strong work quarterbacking his team's lethal powerplay. He's more of an opportunistic offensive producer than a true play-driver, utilizing his awareness and poise to recognize weak points in coverage that he can exploit. He loves to lean into his shots from the point, with increasing amounts of success. Defensively, his approach boils down to simplicity and consistency. He minimizes risk-taking with his exits and breakouts, opting instead to work safely within his limits. At the same time, there are concerns about his ability to make stops and win possession back for his team, as his size, reach and skating ability are all below average. Those concerns were the main reasons why he wasn't drafted last year, so the question now is whether his offensive improvements will be enough to change the minds of scouts. Could all of his time spent around and with high-end prospects provide a long-term advantage for him and help propel him to the NHL one day? That seemed to be the case for Tampa Bay's Darren Raddysh, a player with a comparable history and playing style. (Derek Neumeier)

Seth Fryer - Defense - Victoria Royals

Fryer is a truly towering human being, with his height officially listed as 6-foot-7 on the WHL's website. That hasn't changed compared to last season when he wasn't drafted, but what is different now are the improvements that he's made to his balance, puck management and ability to read the play as it unfolds around him. None of those traits would still be considered strengths of his, but they're not quite as concerning as before and do less to outweigh the inherent advantages provided by his rare size and length. With Fryer, what you see is what you get, right from the first few impressions: he has obvious potential as a defensive disruptor, but he's clearly not a natural when it comes to handling the puck and will never be relied on heavily as a carrier or distributor. Regardless, one-dimensional players can still carve out jobs in the NHL, so long as they are standout talents within their roles. In order for Fryer to get to that level he'll need to improve his intensity, focus and physical play, which he should get extra opportunities to do this spring on a newly loaded up Royals team that is built to make some noise in the playoffs. (Derek Neumeier)

Alex Worthington - Goaltender - Edmonton Oil Kings

Worthington has walked an unusual development path over the past few seasons to get to where he is now. After two previous disastrous seasons in Edmonton that resulted in minimal starts and a barrage of goals against, he took his game to Briercrest College in the little-known Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference last year, becoming one of only two teenagers in the entire league. It turned out to be a brilliant decision for him: his performance rebounded impressively on the successful club, and he used that momentum to rejoin the Oil Kings and unexpectedly win the starter's job on the team right as the season began. In terms of playing profile there's a lot to like, as a netminder with ideal size who also possesses quick limbs, sharp reflexes and fluid mobility in and around his crease. There's still a lot of work that he'll need to do, primarily involving some suboptimal play-tracking, imprecise positioning, and his form being a little porous at times. However, those concerns can largely be traced back to inexperience, even though he's a 2005 birthday. Worthington has already shown the ability to take big steps forward in his development, so if the right NHL organization drafts him and patiently works with him then there's a chance that they'll be handsomely rewarded somewhere down the road. (Derek Neumeier)

Ethan MacKenzie - Defense - Edmonton Oil Kings

It would have been easy for scouts to glaze over or outright miss MacKenzie last year. He only had one measly point in his first 19 games on a basement-dwelling Oil Kings squad, and then he was sidelined due to injury for nearly four months. Luckily for him he was able to return for seven games before season's end, picking up five more points, and a little bit of confidence too. That helped propel him through the summer and training camp into a successful start to his 2024-25 campaign, emerging as one of his team's most trusted defensemen. There was a lot of competition to fend off, too, as Edmonton has dressed a total of 11 different blueliners up to this point. Now he's averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game, which includes top powerplay duties and regular shifts on the penalty kill. His primary value, though, comes from what he does at even strength: using his quick feet and high pace to drive possession offensively, while assertively taking space away from opponents defensively. His play style is common to see in the NHL, and if he keeps improving at his current rate he'll get noticed more and more. (Derek Neumeier)

QMJHL

Julius Sumpf – Center/Left Winger – Moncton Wildcats

If he was not known before his performance at the World Junior Championship, he made sure to change that after being one of the most important players for team Germany. Even if it was not an easy tournament for them, Sumpf still managed to collect a grand total of seven points in five games on the 12 goals scored by Germany. Currently playing his second season in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats, Julius Sumpf is on the first line, playing a ton of minutes with Desnoyers and Pekarcik. He brings to the line speed, intelligence and hard-work, always first on the forecheck and not afraid to play physically thanks to his 6-foot-2 frame. His great skating ability allows him to create offensively on the rush or by rotating in the offensive zone, looking for an opportunity to pass the puck or crash towards the net to get a scoring chance. Although his offensive output is not neglectable, Sumpf's best attributes are displayed on the defensive side of the game. Playing a big number of Moncton’s penalty kill minutes, he puts tireless pressure on the puck carrier and fights hard for the puck. Sumpf is looking like a Jack of all trades, but with everything at a high enough level to be translatable in the NHL. He can be projected as a middle six forward that can help in difficult situations and help the offensive production at times. (Jérémy Tremblay)

Vincent Desjardins – Center/Right Winger – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

When looking at a prospect profile, one important piece of information is always the date of birth of the player. When a player is still seventeen on draft day, it often means that his development curve is behind the vast majority of players. It was the case for Vincent Desjardins, who was a single week from being eligible for the 2025 NHL draft instead of last year. This year was really important for the development of his game, and many things have already changed. Desjardins is, above all, a speedy and skilled forward that works hard to get pucks in the corner and on the forecheck. Last year, his decision-making was a big question mark, where most of his decisions were doubtful and not quick enough. This year, he is way quicker with the puck, his passing is accurate, and he generates a ton of offence from it. Although he has a great level of skills, he has simplified his game and has learned to make better use of his speed to move with the puck in the offensive zone. He is often the first player to forecheck and he does it hard. Rarely do you see him lose a battle along the board, using quick hands and bursts of speed to exit with the puck. If we think of Desjardins as a first year eligible and ask ourselvesl; has he made enough improvement to be drafted? I think that the answer is yes. (Jérémy Tremblay)

Jordan Tourigny – Defender – Shawinigan Cataractes

Now with his third and final chance to get drafted, Jordan Tourigny was a player that I thought would get drafted in his first year of eligibility. I do think Tourigny deserves more recognition for his game. As the captain of the Shawinigan Cataractes, he plays a big role on and off the ice for the team, showing confidence and maturity. He was always an offensive defenseman that loved to jump into the attack and try to create chaos in the opposite zone by moving one way or another with the puck. Although his stats have not improved much since his draft year, Tourigny’s game has been refined in every detail. Now heavier, he is more aggressive on the puck carrier, he plays hard in the corners to win puck battles and delivers checks all over the ice whenever he has the chance. This has not had a negative effect on how he plays in transition, always skating hard and fast end to end. He did improve his decision making when he has the puck; his passes are more accurate and the timing even better. That was a big concern in his own zone in the past two seasons, where he was losing possession of the puck with bad passes or by getting rid of the puck when he was under pressure. Now calmer with the puck, and with his offensive potential, he could be a third pair defender that moves the puck well on the ice. Will any NHL team take a chance on him this year? (Jérémy Tremblay)

Linards Feldbergs – Goaltender – Sherbrooke Phoenix

I bet that very few people even knew about Feldbergs’ existence in his draft year, last year. Feldbergs was a goalie playing in the Latvian pro league with decent stats, and who played one game in the 2024 World Juniors with Latvia, but had a .774 save percentage. There was realistically no chance for him to be drafted because of how unknown and unproven he was. This year, he came over to the QMJHL with Sherbrooke and has been decent. Again though, I would not be surprised if most people still didn’t know about him before this December. What really made people turn their heads was his performance in this year’s World Juniors, especially against Canada. Thanks to him and Eriks Mateiko (another QMJHL prospect), Latvia was able to defeat Canada 3-2 and shock the entire world. In that game, Feldbergs stopped 55 of 57 shots directed to him, as well as all eight shootout attempts to get the win. In that entire tournament, he finished with a .929 save percentage. He was simply as exceptional as a goaltender can be for a team like Latvia. He is not particularly big at 6-foot-2, but his calmness and poise were flowing through the entire team in that tournament, in every game, making Latvia a much better and tougher team to play against. I can’t stress enough how incredible he was in that tournament, not just against team Canada. Even with Latvia’s early exit in the quarter finals, some fans were cheering for Feldbergs to be the MVP of the tournament. It will be interesting to see if he gets drafted, knowing how many eyes are drawn on the world juniors every year. Feldbergs was able to shine bright on the biggest stage, which is the best way to prove to scouts that you deserve a chance to be drafted. Feldbergs was recently ranked 20th amongst NA goalies, and if he can pull off some great performances with Sherbrooke when the playoffs roll around, his stock could rise even more. Saves in motion, and through traffic, is how he is often beat, so this is also something to take note of. (Jeremi Plourde)

Emmanuel Vermette – LW – Chicoutimi Saguenéens

Vermette might not be a dominant player from a statistical standpoint, only producing at a point per game pace in his draft year+2 season. However, with Vermette, you really need to watch him to get why he could be picked this summer; not only does he play a very NHL-like game, but he can also be an exciting player. He has a heavy net front approach, some quick thinking and execution with optimal timing and a well-rounded, physical game. He doesn’t fear being pushed around or having to push others around and tends to finish his checks along the board. There’s a lot of translatable habits and ways of playing the game that could make him an interesting option as a late round overager pick. As well, as I mentioned, he can show some interesting flashes of skill. Vermette can demonstrate some great hands dangling through opposition and attacking the middle, he works well in transition with his linemates, and he gets a bunch of good scoring chances around the net every game. He can be quick and dangerous on a fast break, beating a defenceman with speed and strength to get a scoring chance. As a skater, he has above average speed and technique, but it isn’t a particular strength that would take him to the next level. I would like to see better puck control when he skates near his top speed, he tends to lose control in those scenarios. Playing more rambunctiously, more aggressive in front of the net can help his odds of making it to the NHL, to really separate himself from other players who play a similar role. Again, like Feldbergs, I feel like if he has a good playoff run, he’s the type of late round flyer some teams might like to bet on. (Jeremi Plourde)

Thomas Desruisseaux – Wing – Chicoutimi Saguenéens

Another Saguenéen who could be a potential overager pick this upcoming draft, but a year younger than Vermette. I was personally pretty surprised to not hear Desruisseaux’s name last June at the draft; I really thought he was at least a decent bet in the later rounds, and I still feel the same way. Unfortunately, he has not had a sizable improvement in his production, which makes it harder for him to be drafted. I still believe that there’s a chance it happens, because of some tools he possesses. First of all, Desruisseaux plays at a great pace. He’s able to outskate and outpace the opposition’s defence by attacking the outside and contributes to creating chaos offensively. It’s hard to cover him on fast breaks because of his explosiveness. He’s annoying to deal with for the opposing defenseman with the puck, because it takes him very little time until he’s in front of you ready to scoop the puck. Desruisseaux’s skills are also good enough for him to execute at speed, which he likes to do a lot. He’s able to shoot the puck between his legs to change the angle of his shot in full motion and he can move laterally when entering the zone to keep control of the puck. He’s been driving the play way more this year; he’s been way more effective and involved in the play in general. Desruisseaux is a really eye-popping player when he’s on his A game, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he caught the attention of an NHL team enough to be drafted this summer. Getting a stronger, more powerful shot could help him produce now and at the next level, as well as having a more physical approach to the game. (Jeremi Plourde)

OJHL

Alexander Levshyn - Goaltender - Toronto Patriots

A really nice story. A Ukranian netminder who left the Dynamo Moscow program in order to play in Toronto (first with the Toronto Red Wings U18 program, now with the Patriots of the OJHL). However, he’s a legitimate prospect who is dazzling in Ontario Tier 2 this season. He’s a good athlete who has lightning quick pads. He is a fierce competitor who never seems to quit on a play; scrambling to find ways to make saves ala Jonathan Quick or Dominik Hasek. He does all that in a 6-foot-3 frame. There’s no doubt that Levshyn would have caught some eyes at last year’s Division 1 U18’s, where he nearly led Ukraine to promotion to the main group. This year at the Division 1B U20’s, he led Ukraine to promotion and was the top goaltender at the event. Now that he’s performing well in a quality league and has a commitment to a solid program (Clarkson), the interest could be even greater. However, he is very raw. The rebound control needs massive improvement. Technically, he’s underdeveloped, with a tendency to flop out of position or miss his angles. But you can’t teach his size, athleticism, and play tracking ability. Look for him to be a pick this year, especially if he can finish the year strong and get the Patriots past the first round or two in the playoffs. (Brock Otten)

BCHL

Jaden Cholette - Goaltender - Cranbrook Bucks

A goaltender who has certainly bounced around in hopes of advancing his skill and earning looks. Originally a sixth round selection of the London Knights (OHL), Cholette has played in the CCHL, at a prep school south of the border (Mount St. Charles), and now finds himself in the BCHL. Currently without an NCAA commitment, Cholette has put himself on the scouting radar by being one of the BCHL’s top netminders this year. A right-gloved netminder, Cholette shows well as a play tracker. He’s got good size and he’s aggressive in challenging shooters or battling for sight lines. He’s not the most athletic or the quickest post to post, but he competes to make second/third chance saves. Technically, Cholette seems to be prone to giving up goals on the short side and his overall positioning could use some work from a consistency standpoint. But scouts could be intrigued by his year over year improvements in combination with his size in the crease. One of those guys you draft in the late round and stash, hoping that an NCAA program can help him improve further. (Brock Otten)

Rasmus Svartström - Wing - Cranbrook Bucks

Another member of Cranbrook, Svartström came to the BCHL from Finland to try to acclimate to the North American game before heading to St. Lawrence University. It’s not too often that a BCHL player in their final year of draft eligibility is on the draft radar, but it’s also not common for a 6-foot-5 import winger to be leading the BCHL in goal scoring (as of writing this). A massive human, I actually expected Svartström to be a different kind of player. I mean, I expected the physical element to be prominent and it is; he’s a very aggressive physical player. He runs over opponents in pursuit of the puck. However, I figured that he’d be purely capitalizing near the net front and just dominating in the bumper spot on the powerplay. Instead, Svartström is actually creating his own scoring chances as much as he’s finishing off those created for him. He’s not nearly as bad of a skater as I was anticipating. He actually can build decent linear speed, which helps him drive the net and put defenders on his back. There’s a ton of room for him to become more explosive and more agile but given that his game is mostly North/South, it doesn’t hinder him. He also shows well off the puck in the offensive end, working to make himself a passing option; timing cuts well to get scoring looks. Lastly, his shot is a major weapon. He’s scoring in a lot of different ways in the BCHL. With a big one timer on the flank. With a heavy wrister in transition. On the backhand as he drives the net. As he moves up to higher levels, he’ll likely be pushed to more of the Tomas Holmstrom role, but this is someone NHL teams will be taking a long look at. (Brock Otten)

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Czechia slowly shaking their “underdog” label as they compete for third-straight medal

Kyle Watson — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:44:42 +0000

Czechia scores on Canada in the 2025 World Junior Tournament. Photo by André Ringuette/IIHF.

OTTAWA — The Canadian Tire Centre crowd reached the loudest volume it had been in the tournament when Canada's Bradley Nadeau tied the game with 4:18 remaining against Czechia.

After Porter Martone sent them into the final intermission behind just a goal, Team Canada came out of the gates flying in the third period. It left everyone in the arena thinking, "Where's this been all week?"

All of a sudden, entries became smoother, passes were hitting tape consistently, shots were getting through traffic, and white jerseys were getting to every puck battle first. There was a glimmer of hope.

That glimmer was extinguished within two minutes when Andrew Gibson took Canada's second kneeing penalty of the evening. Adam Jecho's powerplay marker with 40 seconds remaining meant in back-to-back tournaments, Team Czechia would knock out Canada in the final minute of the quarterfinals.

CZECHIA LEADS WITH UNDER A MINUTE TO GO

Adam Jecho strikes on the power-play!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/leL90nGeAx

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2025

After losing to the Canadians in the semi-finals in 2022 and in the finals in 2023, Jecho is acutely aware of how important his goal was for his nation — beyond the game's scope.

"It's always special against Canada. They are a super tough opponent to play against, [especially] with the home crowd and getting that special energy," said the Edmonton Oil Kings forward. "It's definitely a big win.

The Czechs will fight for a medal for the fourth consecutive tournament. In May, the men's team won its first gold medal at the World Championships since 2005. Jecho indicates the nation is flourishing at the junior level.

"I think it's in a great spot. The last couple of years were awesome for Czech junior hockey."

Czechia is forcing its reputation to change from a team that can cause an upset to a legitimate consistent medal contender. They pride themselves on their ability to function as a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

"We're a great group. We are together on and off the ice," explained captain Eduard Šalé, playing in his third World Juniors. "That's our mentality and I think we showed it tonight."

Every single Czechia player went up to wish goaltender Michael Hrabal good luck before the game.

Every single one.

Talk about unity! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/5YydVO7eWD

— Kyle Watson (@kyle_nw) January 3, 2025

"When you have this jersey on you have one mindset: to play as long as you can," said Jecho. "We are super fortunate to play for this team."

In his first appearance at the tournament, Jecho says it's easy to find success with a leader like Šalé, who sets an example for the younger players.

"He's obviously an unbelievable player on the ice, but he's probably an even better person off the ice," said the 18-year-old. "He shows us the way and plays super hard every game."

Šalé's drive is evident when talking to him. When asked how it feels to be chasing the nation's all-time scoring record, he deferred focus to Saturday's semi-final matchup against the USA.

"We are focusing on the tournament," said the Seattle Kraken prospect. "I am the leader and have to do the right things to push this team in every game and try to win."

A brief history lesson

For the first time since 1980, Canada have been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Juniors in consecutive years.

A seventh-place finish in 1981 sparked the formation of the Program of Excellence, a milestone moment in Canadian hockey history.

In the tournament's infancy, Canada iced league all-star teams (OHL, WHL, or QMJHL) and defending Memorial Cup champions at the U20 level. It wasn't until the creation of the P.O.E. and the U17 and U18 programs that the nation sent its "best" junior-age players.

44 years later, there are more calls for drastic change in Hockey Canada's selection process. For starters, actually bringing the best players available to them.

Yes, there have been many years in which Canada has had major snubs and gone on to win gold. A few of those teams walked through the tournament. Competition has greatly increased over the years, though — can they afford to keep leaving this much talent at home?

You give yourself the best chance of winning, year in, year out, by taking the best players.

You have to trust that when these players put on the Maple Leaf, you’ll get an increase in physicality. You’ll get the PK’ers you need.

— Brock Otten (@BrockOtten) January 3, 2025

It's difficult to pose solutions when star players are nervous. This was a Team Canada full of U17, U18, and Hlinka-Gretzky Cup gold medal winners, OHL champions, and a WHL champion in captain Brayden Yager. It took them until that third period to look like it, though.

One possible solution would be pairing players who have pre-existing chemistry. Porter Martone and Carson Rehkopf have formed one of the deadliest duos in junior hockey this season but were not tried in the same lineup, let alone line or powerplay unit. Martone was also excellent alongside McKenna as he captained Canada to Hlinka gold this summer — they did not share the ice once in Ottawa.

Perhaps the pressure starts in the selection process when players are lambasted online for their inclusion over player x, y, or z. It can't be easy to play under those conditions — where each mistake feeds the narratives of faceless accounts on social media.

Hagens, BC Line shine against Switzerland

James Hagens scored twice as the USA sailed comfortably to a 7-2 win over Switzerland.

The top 2025 NHL Draft prospect is tied for second in the tournament scoring lead with eight points in five contests. He sits within touching distance of the 11 points Auston Matthews, Phil Kessel, and Matthew Tkachuk managed in their draft-eligible seasons at the World Juniors.

Having broken tournament scoring records at the U17 and U18 levels, Hagens is used to playing in the spotlight — and under the microscope.

"My dad will tell me pressure is a privilege," said the Hauppauge, NY native. "You can't let any of that stuff affect you - it's all outside noise. I'm grateful to be in that spot where there's pressure on you and your team, but when you're on the ice you have to let all that stuff go."

The confidence in Hagens' game is on full display in Ottawa and shone through today, with his line with Gabriel Perreault and Ryan Leonard combing for five of the Americans' seven goals. Against possibly the weakest competition they've faced in Team Switzerland, the 18-year-old phenom was running wild.

What a move!

James Hagens extends Team USA's lead to 2-0. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ip5pFcbLP9

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2025

Team USA's top line does it again!

James Hagens scores his second of the game to make it 6-1. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/X5WEhNbT3l

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2025

Hagens says it's easy to play with a guy like Leonard:

"He works so hard. That's a guy that everyone thrives off of, he leads us on and off the ice and steps up in big moments," said Hagens. "Guys watch him play and it sets up their next shift."

Leonard emerged from the game with a few battle scars, including a busted nose, after being hit with a few high sticks and a puck to the face.

"I don't know if he'll be doing any modelling," said Hagens.

Victor Eklund turning heads with Team Sweden

With an assist on Sweden's game-winning goal, draft-eligible winger Victor Eklund took his tournament totals to two goals and four helpers through five games. The Djurgården forward trails only Hagens in scoring among first-time draft-eligibles.

“I have been incredibly impressed by Eklund’s ability to drive play below the goal line and extend possession along the wall," said Director of Scouting, Brock Otten. "Opposing defenders have had a real hard time separating him from the puck and containing him along the wall. It’s had a real positive effect on Sweden’s offence and their ability to sustain pressure.”

"With another exceptional performance in the quarterfinals against Latvia, he is showcasing his all-around game at another level," said scout Viktor Åhlund. "Eklund brings a high pace every shift, delivering hits in the neutral zone, driving hard at the net, and battling for loose pucks and rebounds. He's constantly a strong force offensively, producing top-level plays and high-IQ solutions when under pressure.

"There are more games to be played, but for now, he is the number one Swedish prospect in this draft."

Parting Notes

New York Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi scored his first two goals of the tournament as Team Finland narrowly defeated Slovakia, 5-3. He plays with teammate Kasper Halttunen in London (OHL).
Finnish goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (DY+1) was excellent once again, he leads the tournament with a .941 SV% on 169 shots.
Washington Capitals prospect Eriks Mateiko scored twice as Team Latvia fell to Sweden, 3-2. He finishes the tournament tied for the goal-scoring lead with five goals — the record for a Latvian player is six.
Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs (DY+2) stopped 210 shots across five starts — an average of 42 a game.
Team Czechia features four St. Louis Blues prospects
- 2024 NHL Draft
  - 16th overall - D Adam Jiricek
  - 81st overall - F Ondrej Kos
  - 95th overall - F Adam Jecho
- 2023 NHL Draft
  - 106th overall, Jakub Stancl
St. Louis Blues first-rounder Dalibor Dvorský graduates from WJC eligibility with 10 goals and 20 points across 19 career games. That's the third-most by a Slovakian player in tournament history.

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Team Latvia remains the feel-good story of the tournament

Kyle Watson — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 15:24:28 +0000

OTTAWA - It wasn't a day fans had marked on their calendar.

The prospect of watching the Germans and Latvians duke it out for a spot in the quarterfinal and Team Slovakia face lowly Kazakhstan did not entice many — neither match was well attended.

World Juniors enthusiasts who showed up or tuned in on TV were rewarded with arguably the most exciting day of action thus far.

Captain Dalibor Dvorsky scored twice and set up two more goals to give the Slovaks a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame of Monday's opening contest. In the game's dying minutes, Team Kazakhstan managed to score twice while killing a major penalty to force overtime.

Buffalo Sabres prospect Maxim Strbak played the saviour in overtime, slipping the puck through Vladimir Nikitin's five-hole on the breakaway and helping his team avoid total collapse:

SLOVAKIA HANGS ON!

Maxim Strbak scores in overtime to win 5-4 over Kazakhstan. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/e9zO6ftAJd

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2024

The win clinched third spot in Group B for Team Slovakia, earning them a place in the quarterfinals for the third-straight tournament.

Latvia-Germany was even more hectic.

The Germans needed a win in regulation to have a chance of playing in the quarterfinals. With the game tied 2-2 with 2:51 remaining, their head coach Tobias Abstreiter decided to pull the goalie on an offensive zone draw to give his team a 6to 4 man advantage.

The move immediately backfired:

GERMANY PULLS THEIR GOALIE TO GO FOR THE WIN AND IT INSTANTLY BACKFIRES

3-2 LATIVA! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/JoDUhhKK34

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2024

Just 20 seconds later, with Germany's net still vacant, 2025 NHL Draft prospect David Lewandowski's one-timer sailed over the shoulder of Linards Feldbergs to serve up the day's second helping of 3-on-3 sudden death.

Mateiko continues to lead the way for Latvia

Washington Capitals prospect Eriks Mateiko, who played shootout hero against Canada, showed off his lightning-quick release in overtime to give Team Latvia their third quarterfinals berth in four years:

LATVIA WINS IT IN OVERTIME

Who else but Eriks Mateiko, the OT hero! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/UnukGxpWaz

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2024

The 6-foot-4, 201-pound forward has spearheaded the Latvian attack at the World Juniors: he possesses an impressive blend of skill and snarl that's emblematic of his team's approach.

There won't be enough ice in all of Ottawa to meet the needs of this Latvian team by the time the World Juniors are over, because of all the bruises caused by all these blocked shots

Those kids are hurting, but they wouldn't have it any other way: they're on to the quarterfinals

— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) December 30, 2024

When the Germans took a 2-0 lead midway through the second period, Mateiko rallied his team together by scoring under a minute later.

All goaltender Linus Viellard could do was pray it hit him:

LATVIA RESPONDS!

Eriks Mateiko responds 32 seconds after Germany's second goal to make it 2-1. WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/RiQ2EVzceQ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2024

"We found a way," said Mateiko, after the game. "That probably wasn't our best game; Germany played well."

"But it's really fun to win in this tournament, I can tell you that!" he added with a smile.

It was a milestone victory for the nation: the only time they've ever won two games in the round-robin.

"It's really big for Latvia," said Linards Feldbergs.

"We are a small country, but we can do big things like we did today and [the] game against Canada."

Dvorsky, Pecarcik star as Slovakia survives late scare

On day two, we discussed how Slovakia needed more from Dalibor Dvosrky in his fourth World Juniors appearance. Yesterday's contest was the first time in the tournament he displayed the talent that convinced the St. Louis Blues to select him 10th overall in 2023.

Dvorsky is a terrific finisher, particularly in the thick of traffic in front of the net. He scored twice down low before dropping jaws with his setup for linemate Juraj Pekarcik:

Just before time expires in the 1st period, Slovakia makes it 3-0! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/GejwISETT6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2024

Providing another helper for Pekarcik to make it 4-1 before the Kazakhstani comeback, Dvorsky finished with two goals and two assists.

Pekarcik, who plays for Moncton in the QMJHL, was also drafted by the Blues in 2023: 76th overall. The 19-year-old was named player of the game with an identical stat line of two goals and two assists.

This is the second tournament in which the St. Louis prospects have been deployed on a line together: their chemistry could prove pivotal for the team's success. Slovakia will take on the winner of today's matchup between Switzerland and Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals, with the loser facing Germany in the relegation round.

Parting notes

Truly one of the craziest finishes to a group in recent history:

So, for WJ's tomorrow:

-winner of wins Group A

-if that game goes to OT, will finish no lower than 2nd

-if goes to OT, will finish no lower than 2nd

-but if loses in regulation, and or wins in regulation, will finish 3rd and play the loser of …

— James Duthie (@tsnjamesduthie) December 31, 2024

16-year-old forward Olivers Murnieks (Sioux City, USHL) had his best game of the tournament. The 2026 NHL Draft prospect set up the Latvians' first two goals before scoring an empty netter. He was a plus-three with three shots on goal.
Julius Sumpf (Moncton, QMJHL) continues to set the pace for Team Germany: the 19-year-old had two assists yesterday, taking his tournament totals to one goal and four points
There is currently a four-way tie for the top scorer in the event: Hradec Vojtech (Mladá Boleslav, Czech Extraliga), Axel Sandin-Pelikka (Skellefteå, SHL), Jakub Stancl (Kelowna, WHL), and Dalibor Dvorsky (Springfield, AHL) each have seven points
Only two goaltenders have played 100% of their team's minutes in the tournament so far: Latvia's Linards Felbergs (Sherbrooke, QMJHL) and Finland's Petteri "Showtime" Rimpinen (Kiekko-Espoo, Liiga).

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: How Does Canada Win Without Schaefer?

Kyle Watson — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 17:39:09 +0000

_{Credit: Andre Ringuette / Freestyle Photography}

OTTAWA - Team Canada will have to endure the rest of the World Juniors without its most talented defenceman, Matthew Schaefer.

The Erie Otters star — ranked at No. 1 in our latest 2025 NHL Draft rankings — has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after colliding with the net in Canada's 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia. The 17-year-old sustained a left shoulder injury and could be sidelined for up to three months.

The IIHF permitted teams to register 25 players for the first time in event history this year, instead of the usual 23. F Carson Rehkopf and D Sawyer Mynio, who have been healthy scratches thus far, have been registered and are expected to play against Germany today.

It's worth noting Canada had the choice to bring in a player not currently with the team and elected not to.

How will Team Canada fare without Matthew Schaefer?

It was not in the cards this time last year, but before the injury, the Otters defenceman was expected to play a major role for this Canadian group. He has been that good this season.

Schaefer has seven goals and 22 points in 17 games with the Otters since a bout of mononucleosis delayed his season debut until October 25th. He was easily the best player in the CHL Top Prospects-USNTDP showcase games in November. Helping lead Canada to gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in the summer did wonders for his confidence and his offensive flair has been on full display in his draft-eligible campaign:

MATTHEW SCHAEFER WITH THE HIGHLIGHT REEL ASSIST

Top ranked #NHLDraft prospect Matthew Schaefer makes an unreal move to get by the defender before passing it off to fellow draft prospect Malcolm Spence who taps it in to give the @ErieOtters a 4-1 lead!#OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/WixcFTNjMU

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 8, 2024

The Hamilton, Ont. native was one of the team's better players in Canada's opener over Finland, setting up Gavin McKenna's opener and adding an empty-net goal to seal the 4-0 win. Only fellow d-men Andrew Gibson and Oliver Bonk were utilized more than the 17-year-old, who saw 20:26 of ice time.

"Even as the youngest defender on the team, he clearly did not lack the confidence required to take chances with the puck in the name of creating offence," said McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten.

"I'm legitimately worried about how Canada's defence looks without him," added Otten. "The team opted to leave some of the more dynamic defenders in the age group at home and with Schaefer out versus Latvia, the team struggled to create significant scoring chances from the blueline out."

It was a talking point in Brock and I's examination of Canada's lineup on the McKeen's Hockey Show before the tournament: even if you were banking on Schaefer bearing the burden of offence on the blueline, why not bring one of Zayne Parekh or Carter Yakemchuk? Why not take full advantage of the talent available by giving yourself a variety of options?

Instead of bringing in Parekh — who is the second defenceman in OHL history to score 30 goals in his draft year — or Yakemchuk, — who holds the Calgary Hitmen franchise record for goals scored by a defenceman — Hockey Canada has elected to stick with the group they brought.

With Canada cancelling practice yesterday, head coach Dave Cameron and his staff will have a fresh approach for tonight's match.

There are two main areas in need of addressing on the backend: their ability to create offence in transition and the lack of a true powerplay quarterback.

Bonk took over for Schaefer against Latvia on Canada's top unit, despite the fact he has operated almost exclusively in the bumper role for London in the OHL. His teammate, Sam Dickinson, runs the PP1 for the Knights: the 2024 first-round pick leads CHL defenders with 36 points in 26 games.

"Dickinson has the potential to step into that role for Canada, but he seems to have reverted into a shell in this tournament, afraid of making a mistake," explained Otten.

"Outside of Tanner Molendyk, the rest of the defenders have had trouble making clean and controlled exits," he added.

"I worry about how the heavy forecheck of the United States, for example, will be handled. Lastly, Schaefer was one of the few bright spots on a struggling Canadian power play. Now its reconfiguration will need to be completed without him. Will that be successful?"

Hagens leading the way for USA

Seeing Schaefer and Porter Martone face off against James Hagens on New Year's Eve would have been a spectacle for NHL scouts to behold. It's an unfortunate outcome in a tournament where you always want best-on-best action.

After a slow start in the NCAA (relative to his standards), Hagens has looked excellent back amongst junior players. The 18-year-old centreman was just too much to handle for Latvia yesterday in the USA's 5-1 undoing of the underdogs.

Watching him move the puck around with Gabe Perrault and Ryan Leonard is utterly mesmerizing: both of his assists came from him drawing opponents in before picking a seam to the back door:

Ryan Leonard strikes on the power-play to make it 2-0 USA!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/A9h9Y2klJb

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2024

Zeev Buium finishes off the James Hagens pass to make it 3-0 USA!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/LfsiIclCJB

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2024

Hagens would have had a goal of his own were it not for the efforts of Linards Feldbergs, hot off the performance of a lifetime against Canada less than 24 hours earlier:

WHAT A SAVE

Linards Feldbergs makes an incredible stop on James Hagens.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/2mt2mK68WB

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2024

He was complimentary of Team Latvia's effort post-game:

"We were ready right from the drop of the puck," said the Hauppauge, New York native. "They're a great hockey team. Anyone can win on any given day. We came in here ready to give it our all. We saw the game against Canada. They never stopped coming. But we all stuck together."

The Boston College centerman sits second in the tournament scoring with two goals and six points (five of which are primary). He fills up the net every time he dons the stars and stripes.

Secondary scoring shines for the Americans, D needs work

In our discussion before the tournament, it was suggested by Asst. Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, that the Americans had two question marks heading into the tournament: whether or not the team would be too reliant on its top unit and if the defence corps was up to snuff.

Danny Nelson was excellent behind Hagens yesterday, the big two-way pivot scored twice and was named player of the game. Centring the second line with Trevor Connelly and Cole Eiserman on his wings, the New York Islanders prospect is blossoming in a more prominent role for the Americans — he was mostly deployed on the penalty kill last tournament.

Thus far, the second line has combined for five of USA's 15 goals, in contrast to the first line's six.

The question marks still lie around the defence, though. Expect head coach David Carle to tinker with the bottom pairings against Finland.

Parting Notes

Three Czech players (Vojtech Hradec, Jakub Stancl, and Matej Mastalirsky) scored a hat trick as the defending bronze medalists defeated Kazakhstan 14-2
Scoring 14 goals on 36 shots, the Czechs had a 39% shooting percentage in the victory.
It was the most goals Czechia has ever scored against Kazakhstan, eclipsing a 10-2 showing at the 2009 edition of the tournament in Ottawa.
Seattle Kraken pick Jakub Fibigr recorded four assists
Fellow Kraken prospect Eduard Sale picked up two assists, taking him past David Pastrnak and Jiri Hudler on the all-time WJC scoring list for Czechia with 16 points in 16 career games.
Hagens is currently on pace for 21 points should he play all seven potential games of the tournament. The record for American draft-eligible players is 13 points in six contests: a record that's stood for almost 50 years.
Feldbergs (Sherbrooke, QMJHL) has made 91 saves in his first two games: the Latvian netminder caught the attention of former Montreal Canadiens star Carey Price with his impressive display against Canada.

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: 8 Early Standout Draft-Eligibles

Jeremy Rivet — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:40:56 +0000

_{James Hagens}

We have already reached the halfway mark of the preliminary round of the 2025 World Juniors Championship in Ottawa, and the competition remains wide open in the two groups. The tournament has already witnessed one of the biggest surprises in its history, with Latvia's shocking win over Canada, and I am confident that it will not be the only one. In a tournament where the outcome is decided in a single game, anything can happen.

My primary focus has been on the players eligible for the upcoming NHL draft, and I wanted to observe how they would perform against the best players of their age group, as well as how some who were overlooked in last year's draft have progressed. Here are the eight main prospects that have stood out for me so far.

Matthew Schaefer, Erie, OHL - D (Canada)

Schaefer was Canada's best defenseman during the pre-tournament and in the first game of the preliminary round before sustaining a tournament-ending left shoulder injury against Latvia. This will be a significant loss for Canada for the remainder of the World Juniors. At only 17 years old, Schaefer was deployed in all situations, showcasing his elite mobility and the physical aspect of his game, which makes him a well-rounded defenseman capable of logging heavy minutes. Hopefully, his injury will not keep him off the ice for an extended period, as the race for the first-overall pick heats up.

James Hagens, Boston College, NCAA - C/LW (United States)

The other leading candidate for the first overall selection in the upcoming NHL Draft had a strong performance against Germany, recording four points (two goals and two assists). The chemistry between Hagens and his Boston College linemates, Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard, was evident, and Hagens was a key contributor to that line's success. His elite puck-handling and playmaking skills are what set him apart. It will be intriguing to see how he performs against tougher opponents and as the stakes increase.

Victor Eklund, Djurgarden, Swe.2 - F (Sweden)

A potential top-5 selection in the upcoming draft, Eklund made a significant impact in Sweden's first game against Slovakia. His high compete level and willingness to battle in the tough areas of the ice are two aspects of his game that I found impressive. He competes for pucks along the boards and in front of the net, and his playmaking ability is at a high level, as evidenced by his no-look passes that are challenging for goalies and opponents to read. Eklund was named the player of the game in Sweden's matchup against Kazakhstan, registering two points.

Benjamin Rautiainen, Tappara, Fin. - F (Finland)

Rautiainen is a re-entry prospect and is making his first appearance at the World Juniors. He has been having a strong season in the Liiga, and that form has carried over to the tournament. Although he hasn't recorded a point yet, I found him to be one of Finland's most dangerous forwards in their first two preliminary-round games. He plays with a high tempo, creating scoring chances for his teammates through his vision and by attacking the interior of the offensive zone. Rautiainen also demonstrated a good stick and a high compete level, causing turnovers on the forecheck.

Jan Chovan, Tappara Jr., Fin. - F (Slovakia)

As a first-year draft-eligible player, Chovan has primarily been used as the 13th forward for Slovakia in their first two games against Sweden and Switzerland. Despite the limited ice time, he was able to make an impact, scoring the game-winning goal against Switzerland, a crucial game that likely determined the third-place finisher in Group B. Chovan was also deployed in the final seconds to protect the lead, showcasing his size, mobility, and hockey IQ to play multiple roles. It will be interesting to see if he receives an increased role as the tournament progresses.

David Lewandowski, Saskatoon, WHL - F (Germany)

Lewandowski has been one of the most utilized forwards for Germany after the first two games. The combination of size, speed, and skill makes him resemble a power forward. He scored a goal against the United States with a great shot off the rush from the top of the circle. What stood out the most in his game was his puck protection ability and his skill in creating space for his teammates. Lewandowski likes to be around the net and is not afraid of the physical aspect of the game.

Julius Sumpf, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL (undrafted) - C (Germany)

The Moncton Wildcats center is another prospect who was overlooked in last year's draft. He is probably Germany's best player in the tournament, as he is utilized in all situations and is the most-used forward on the German side. At 6-foot-2, he possesses an intriguing size, and although he is not a physical player, his hockey IQ and intelligence with the puck to create plays are his primary strengths. His speed is also not to be underestimated. Sumpf has recorded two points so far in two games and will be a crucial part of Germany's success, especially in the games that will likely determine the fourth-place finisher in Group A against Latvia.

Linards Feldbergs, Sherbrooke, QMJHL (undrafted) - G (Latvia)

Feldbergs was phenomenal in Latvia's historic win against Canada in their opening game. The undrafted goaltender from last year will certainly attract the attention of NHL teams after this performance. He demonstrated the ability to handle the pressure of playing in front of a hostile 18,000-strong crowd against a top-3 hockey nation. Despite being outshot 57-27, Feldbergs was able to shut down most of Canada's attack, making 55 saves and stopping all 8 shootout attempts to secure the victory. This will undoubtedly raise his profile ahead of the upcoming NHL draft.

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Mateiko, Feldbergs shine as Latvia shock Canada on Day Two

Kyle Watson — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:17:27 +0000

OTTAWA - The Canadian Tire Centre fell silent as it happened.

Not even a pin drop could be heard as Eriks Mateiko's shot sailed over Jack Ivankovic's shoulder to etch his team's name into tournament folklore and give Team Latvia their third-ever win in the preliminary round of the World Juniors.

After scoring twice in regulation and going toe-to-toe with the Canadians in overtime, an upset was very much in the cards for Team Latvia heading into the skills competition. Nonetheless, the arena was left in a collective state of belief when it happened — including the Latvians themselves.

Perhaps no one in the building was more overtly shocked than Linards Feldbergs - who made 55 saves and was named Latvia's player of the game. The netminder had about five seconds to soak it all in before being mobbed by his teammates:

The reaction of goalie Linards Feldbergs was PRICELESS. pic.twitter.com/lQmlv3bQyk

— Nathan "Grav" Murdock (@NathanGraviteh) December 28, 2024

"I'm still in shock," the 19-year-old said after the game.

"It was crazy. I [still can't believe] what we did, I think I need an hour to process this."

Feldbergs' performance will be talked about for years to come. Excluding a less-than-stellar read on Jett Luchanko's opening tally 3:28 into the second period, the Sherbrooke Pheonix goaltender defended the offensive onslaught from the Canadians with formidable poise.

Turning aside an incredible 20 shots in the second period, Feldbergs' exceptional play gave Latvia a fighting chance heading into the final frame — an accomplishment on its own.

Mateiko, the Saint John Sea Dogs captain, tied the game for Latvia with 6:42 remaining in the game after an untimely elbowing penalty from Team Canada defenceman, Andrew Gibson.

Just over a minute later, Cal Ritchie put the Canadians back in front on the man advantage. His effort was nullified by another powerplay marker: Team Latvia captain Peteris Bulanis beat Ivankovic cleanly as his defence failed to clear the traffic in front of the net.

Following seven scoreless rounds of the shootout, Mateiko had clear instructions with the game on his stick:

"The coaches said 'shoot it,' so I just went for it," said the Washington Capitals prospect.

While Feldbergs was swarmed at one end, the rest of Team Latvia rushed to join Mateiko in celebration:

LATVIA BEATS CANADA IN THE SHOOTOUT

Eriks Mateiko scores the game winner!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/oIVP2ddA89

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2024

When asked about his feelings after the goal, Mateiko was still piecing his recollection together.

"I don’t know, to be honest. I blacked out a little bit," he said with a laugh.

"[It took me] like 10 minutes to remember where I shot it," he added. "I didn't even know where the puck went in at first.

Stories of upsets in tournaments' past are often filled with hyperbole. It's difficult to capture the magnitude of this victory and what it means to a nation of less than two million people.

The Latvian forward was at a loss for words to express his emotions after the game.

"It's amazing. I can't even describe the feeling," he said. "I still can't believe it happened."

"Someone has to pinch me now because it feels unreal," added his teammate, Bulanis.

Team Canada Head Coach Dave Cameron said post-game it was "a game you win nine out of 10 times."

More accurately (according to oddsmakers), it was a game you win 4999 times out of 5000.

What's next for Team Canada?

Canadian fans were just as speechless as the Latvian players after the game. The usual discussions about usage and players left at home ensued online. Is there merit to their protests?

A struggling powerplay without a true sharpshooter could benefit from the addition of Carson Rehkopf, who led the OHL in goals on the man advantage last season. He's been a healthy scratch thus far.

Porter Martone saw the least ice time of any Canadian skater (7:13), despite currently trailing only Andrew Cristall for the CHL lead in points per game. Does he have more to offer?

With Saturday off, Coach Cameron and his staff will have time to mull over their approach before facing Germany on Sunday.

Big names quiet on Day Two

In a game where over half of his team picked up at least a point, Team Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pelikka was somehow held off the scoresheet against Kazakhstan. The Detroit Red Wings prospect is likely content considering his team's 8-1 win to put them atop Group B, but it's worth noting.

In his tournament-leading 16 games played, ASP has five goals and 11 points. He trails Peter Andersson (1982-85) for the all-time lead for WJC points by a Swedish defenceman by seven.

It's an attainable objective for the 19-year-old, but the tournament record set by Ryan Ellis (25 points in 19 games) may now be out of reach.

Tied with Sandin-Pelikka in appearances is Dalibor Dvorsky, who was lacklustre in Team Slovakia's 2-1 win over Switzerland. Much was expected of the St. Louis Blues 2023 first-round pick in his fourth World Juniors appearance, and the Slovaks will need more than just a secondary assist and two shots on goal in 23:18 of ice time if they are to meet their dark horse expectations.

Slovakia needs much more from Dalibor Dvorsky. He should be the best player on the ice at times. Instead, he’s been invisible. Not playing with pace. Often the last man back to the defensive zone. At even strength their top line is consistently getting outplayed. #WorldJuniors

— Brock Otten (@BrockOtten) December 27, 2024

The Springfield Thunderbirds centreman is enjoying an impressive rookie season in the AHL, leading the team with 10 goals and 21 points in 27 matches. He may not have the same level of talent surrounding him in this tournament, but it's weaker competition.

Parting Notes

Heading into the game, Canada had a 4-0 record all-time against Latvia, with an aggregate score of 41-4
Felbergs and 2008-born teammate Oliver Murnieks (Sioux City, USHL) won the Latvian first-division championship with HK Mogo last season. Felbergs was named Finals MVP.
Jett Luchanko is the first player born in London, Ont, to score at the tournament in nine years. The last? Fellow Philadelphia Flyer, Travis Konecny.
Jack Ivankovic (Brampton, OHL) is the fourth 17-year-old to backstop Team Canada, joining Brian Finley (1999), Jimmy Waite (1987), and Terry Wright (1980) as the only netminders to manage the feat.
Sweden scored tallied even-strength goals in the opening frame against Kazakhstan.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Anton Wahlberg led the day in scoring with four points (2G, 2A).
2025 NHL Draft-eligible forward Victor Eklund (Djurgårdens, HockeyAllsvenskan) was named Player of the Game for Sweden with a goal and an assist.
Kazakhstan scored their first goal since Denis Chapolov's empty-net marker in a 4-1 win over Germany in the 2020 relegation round.
Finland gets revenge after their 4-3 loss to the Germans last year — their first loss to Germany in their previous 26 matchups
Slovakia's goalscorers, Jan Chovan (Tappara, Fin-U20) and Luka Radivojevic (Muskegon, USHL), are both NHL Draft eligible. They are ranked 64th and 47th, respectively

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Team Preview – Team Latvia

Brock Otten — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 19:00:06 +0000

_{Eriks Mateiko}

For the fourth straight year, the Latvians will be playing out of the main group at the World Junior Championships, a landmark achievement for a hockey nation on the rise. And while the team has only two wins (three if you count their relegation win in 2023) across the last three tournaments, they have managed to remain competitive, challenging the best nations in the world. This has led to the drafting of several Latvian players over the last few years.

Can the Latvians continue to find that success this year? As has been the case the last few years, the key for Latvia will be defeating the other perceived “weaker” team in their division in order to earn a quarterfinal spot, while avoiding the relegation round. This year, that team would be Germany, as Latvia finds itself in a pool with Canada, the United States, and Finland, all perceived gold medal contenders. That game is scheduled for December 30th, towards the end of the round-robin and it should be a great one for viewers.

One of the big challenges for Latvia this year will be replacing Dans Locmelis (BOS) and Sandis Vilmanis (FLA), two quality NHL prospects who have since aged out. Both were a fixture for Latvia at the previous few events. The torch now passes to Eriks Mateiko (WSH), Darels Uljanskis (ANA), potential 2025 pick Bruno Osmanis, and top 2026 NHL draft prospect Olivers Murnieks. Osmanis has had some great success playing against men in the Swedish Allsvenskan this year with Björklöven. While Murnieks has had a very strong U17 year in the USHL with Sioux City.

Another big challenge will be health. Kristers Ansons, the younger brother of Pittsburgh Penguins prospect and former QMJHL standout (and Memorial Cup standout) Raivis Ansons, looked like a solid bet to play a key role on this roster, however, he will miss the tournament due to injury. Additionally, likely team captain and top player Eriks Mateiko has been injured in the QMJHL, having not played for a few weeks heading into this tournament. How truly healthy will he be?

To their benefit, the Latvians also return five of seven defenders from last year’s team and two netminders. That kind of experience on the “back end” should help them defend competitively, giving them a chance to keep games close. As mentioned, they face an uphill battle in a very difficult division, but they’ve proven that they should not be counted out for a potential upset.

Key Players

Eriks Mateiko - Wing

The captain of the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs and a third-round selection of the Washington Capitals, Mateiko feels like a lock to captain this Latvian group too. The big power winger was a complementary piece on last year’s WJC team, but he’ll need to be a primary play driver this year should Latvia want to avoid the relegation round. He can play a really effective North/South game with his speed and frame. The workmanlike mentality fits in well with the rest of this group.

Darels Uljanskis - Defense

Another NHL draft pick on this roster, Uljanskis was a seventh-rounder of Anaheim last year. The intelligent two-way defender is going to be given all the ice time that he can handle at this tournament as a 19-year-old. He’s going to quarterback the top powerplay unit, which has the potential to be decent, and he could push toward 27-28 minutes in most games. He has had a solid year in the Swedish J20 league with AIK, is currently a top-five defenseman scoring in the league and will be entering the tournament with a ton of confidence.

Bruno Osmanis - Wing

While not currently on the radar as a potential top two-round selection for 2025, Osmanis could certainly improve his stock with a strong tournament as a potential go-to offensive player. He’s had some great success playing a third-line role in the Swedish Allsvenskan and has some speed to burn from the outside. He had previously shown great chemistry with Olivers Murnieks, so one has to wonder if they reunite the two.

Olivers Murnieks - Center

Can Murnieks challenge Zemgus Girgensons as the highest-drafted NHL Latvian player in history (14th overall) next year (2026)? It’s too early to say, but the pivot is a very talented player having a solid rookie season in the USHL with Sioux City. Among U17 players in the USHL, he currently sits in the top five but has been as high as number one at different points of the season. He’s a highly intelligent playmaker, but the question is…can he be a difference-maker as a triple underager?

Peteris Bulans - Defense

One of the key defenders and returnees on this roster, Bulans is now in his third season in the QMJHL with Chicoutimi. A competent puck mover, Bulans likely sees a ton of ice time similar to Uljanskis, although it remains to be seen whether the coaching staff puts them together on the same pairing. The best guess would have them playing separately to anchor both the first two pairings.

Linards Feldbergs - Goaltender

Feldbergs played sparingly at last year’s tournament but returns this year with a chance to be the team’s starting netminder. He’s been starting and playing well for Sherbrooke of the QMJHL this year and will not only be accustomed to the playing surface in Ottawa, but also he’ll be familiar with some of the players with Canada. Look for him to get the start against Canada, at the very least.

Karlis Flugins - Wing

While Flugins has been a bit underwhelming for Flint in the OHL this year, he has a chance to play a critical offensive support role for Team Latvia. The energetic, but skilled winger, hasn’t received a lot of ice time in Flint, so it will be interesting to see what he can do with more responsibility on a grander stage. Not eligible until the 2025 NHL Draft due to a late birthday, this could be a chance for Flugins to make a name for himself, especially if things don’t work out in Flint long term.

Viktors Kurbaka - Defense

Another returnee from last year’s defensive group, Kurbaka is someone who has a chance to wear a letter for Latvia at this event considering that he’s worn an “A” at events like the U18’s and World Junior A Challenge. The smooth skating defender has been playing out of Czechia the last two seasons and likely pairs with one of Uljanskis or Bulans in the top four.

Aksels Ozols - Goaltender

The other returning goaltender on this roster, Ozols will compete for the starter’s job. While his stint with Charlottetown of the QMJHL didn’t work out well last year, he has played well since returning home to the Latvian pro league this season. He has previously been the starter for this age group at the U18s and the WJACs, but given Feldbergs’ strong play this year in a North American league, one would guess that they start the tournament in a platoon.

Rudolfs Berzkalns - Center/Wing

Murnieks isn’t the only hyped 2008-born forward in the USHL this year. Berzkalns, a former BK Selects player (meaning he has been in North America for a few years now), has been a standout as a role player for Muskegon after tendering with them. He’s also a Boston College commit. The highly skilled forward has positional versatility and could be someone to watch if he’s given the ice time to shine.

Sleeper Player

Roberts Naudiņš - Wing

Yet another high-end 2008-born player who could play some kind of role for this team, however, Naudins is unquestionably the most raw. The big (6’6) forward has been playing with the Shattuck St. Mary’s program, in addition to being a Harvard commit. But, how much of a role can we truly expect Naudins to play given the huge jump from prep hockey to the World Juniors?