Olivers Murnieks – McKeen's Hockey

2026 IIHF U18 MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP A – Canada, Slovakia, Finland, Latvia, Norway – Team Previews – Players to Watch

Brock Otten — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:00:28 +0000

The puck drops for the 2026 IIHF U18’s on Wednesday, May 22. Canada is searching for its third straight gold medal, a feat only the United States has pulled off at this event when they won four in a row from 2009 to 2012. In fact, the top four finishers at the U18’s have been identical the last years, with Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Slovakia occupying the top four spots in some order. Will this year be different? History says yes.

Let’s take a look at Group A and preview some of the players to watch.

Canada's Keaton Verhoeff #20 - Canada vs Norway Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Credit Union of Texas Event Center on April 28, 2025 in Allen, Texas, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Canada

As mentioned Canada is searching for unprecedented success at this event (for the nation) as they try to capture their third straight gold medal. As is always the case, the team will be missing some possible key contributors thanks to the ongoing CHL playoffs, but it is always best to focus on the players who are available, versus those who are not. Additionally, Canada always tends to make a few late additions to their roster after the commencement of the tournament, as solid players become available following elimination from the CHL playoffs. Defensively, the team will be (at least initially) led by Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin, two of the premier defenders eligible for the 2026 draft. As of writing this, Carson Carels and the Prince George Cougars are facing elimination in the WHL playoffs. Should he become available he’d become an immediate impact player for this defensive group. Up front Tynan Lawrence will get an opportunity to prove that he deserves to be considered the top center eligible for the 2026 Draft after a disappointing end to the year following a jump to the NCAA with Boston University. The real question lies in net where the team lacks a standout performer. Gavin Betts probably has the best chance to start because he was the Hlinka/Gretzky starter and he did have a strong end to his OHL season with Kingston.

Players to Watch

Keaton Verhoeff (2026)

Verhoeff’s NCAA year with North Dakota certainly had its ups and downs. The freshman played key minutes for North Dakota, helping them advance to the final four of the Frozen Four. However, consistency was an issue and he had some poor performances under the microscope of the Frozen Four late in the year. He now enters this event looking to dominate now that he’s back playing against his peers. He stood out positively as an underager last year and he’s going to get all the ice time that he can handle; scouts will be watching him closely.

Ryan Lin (2026)

A recent commit to the NCAA champion Denver Pioneers, Lin is a terrific offensive defender who, along with Verhoeff, gives Canada two potentially elite puck movers on the back-end. Lin also likely takes charge of the Canadian powerplay, which should be potent given the talent available. Scouts will be looking to see how Lin handles tough defensive assignments and that could be the difference between a lottery selection and a later first slot for him in June.

Tynan Lawrence (2026)

It was a strange year for Lawrence and it has led to a steady drop in the public rankings for him. His performance at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup to start the year was indifferent and then he got hurt at the start of the USHL season. Following a short return to Muskegon (USHL), Lawrence made the controversial decision to join Boston University half way through the year and his production took a big hit. Needless to say, he has a lot to prove at the U18’s, as he’ll be looking to prove to scouts that he does have the upside to be a front line center in the NHL.

Mathis Preston (2026)

It seems like this Canadian roster is filled with players with something to prove at this event and Preston is no different. He didn’t have the kind of season in the WHL many expected of him and this led to a trade from Spokane to Vancouver. An undersized winger, Preston is lightning quick and has offensive skill in spades, but he’ll need to prove that he can elevate his game when playing against the best. Scouts will be looking for him to be more dialed in physically, looking to assert himself more through the middle of the ice, rather than on the perimeter. He should be a first line winger and top powerplay option for Canada here.

Dima Zhilkin (2027)

Very quietly, Zhilkin may have been one of Canada’s top players at the summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. After a great year in the OHL with Saginaw, expectations will be high for him at the U18’s as he looks to pace Canada offensively. Not NHL draft eligible until 2027, Zhilkin is a tenacious puck hound who never takes a shift off.

Alexis Joseph (2027)

An early favourite to be a top five selection at the 2027 NHL Draft, Alexis Joseph may be an underager at this event, but he could end up being one of Canada’s top offensive contributors. He dominated the U17’s this year en route to a gold medal and he’ll look to assert himself similarly at the U18’s. Casual hockey fans will likely know the name of Alexis Joseph by the end of this tournament.

Adam Valentini (2026)

No question, Valentini has to be one of this draft’s most polarizing players. He started off the year at the University of Michigan on a high note, but faded as the season went on. He’s intelligent. He’s a hard worker. However, there are significant questions about his NHL projection given his lack of standout athletic tools at his size. He’ll be counted on to be a key offensive contributor for Canada and it will be a great measuring stick for scouts to see him back playing against his own age group.

Maddox Dagenais (2026)

A later addition to this Canadian team after the Quebec Remparts were eliminated in round two, Dagenais is one of our largest risers on our recent rankings release. He moved up to 16th. The big forward has a heavy shot and impressive athletic upside. He’ll look to use this event to show that he can be a more consistent off puck player who can use his size effectively. He was really good in the second half of the QMJHL season and if he continues that strong play into the U18’s, he could secure a spot in the lottery.

Ryder Cali (2026)

Another late addition to Team Canada after the North Bay Battalion (OHL) were eliminated by the Brantford Bulldogs. Cali, like Dagenais, moved up significantly in our latest draft rankings and is now ranked as a first round selection by us (at 31). He’s a detail oriented forward who brings versatility, and his play driving ability improved drastically later in the OHL season. We’re big fans and he could have a true coming out party at the U18’s with the right role.

ALLEN, TEXAS - APRIL 26: Slovakia’s Adam Goljer #22 shoots the puck against Norway during Preliminary Round - Group A action at 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Credit Union of Texas Event Center on April 26, 2025 in Allen, Texas, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Slovakia

The Slovaks are hosting this event for the third time and they have yet to medal on home soil, however, they are entering this event with a ton of momentum. They have made the semi finals in three straight U18’s (along with Sweden, Canada, and the United States). Although a pessimist might point out the fact that they’ve lost three straight bronze medal games too. Slovakia will try to get over the hump this year as the hosts. They have a well balanced roster that already had experience playing at both the U18’s and the U20’s. Captain Adam Goljer leads a strong defense that could have several NHL draft picks and with Samuel Hrenka between the pipes, Slovakia shouldn’t have any issue keeping pucks out. A pair of 2027 eligible players from the USHL, Oliver Ozogany and Timothy Kazda will lead the offense.

Adam Goljer (2026)

Ranked 28th by us in our latest rankings, Goljer is an impressive two-way defensive prospect. He played all year against men in the Slovak men’s league and is playing at his second IIHF U18 tournament, part of why he was named captain for this event. Goljer has size, mobility, confidence at both ends, all from the right side. With a strong tournament, he could solidify his spot in the first round come June.

Lucian Bernat (2026)

The 6’4 winger was recently ranked inside the top 40 of European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He has been playing out of the Tappara program in Finland the last few years. Bernat will be a fixture in Slovakia’s top six at this event. He skates well for his size and can surprise with skill and finesse.

Jakub Floris (2026)

A favourite of the McKeen’s scouting team for the 2026 NHL Draft, we have Floris ranked 85th prior to the U18’s. The 6’3 defender oozes upside because he blends both size and athleticism from the right side. Like Bernat, Floris has also been playing out of Finland and this U18’s are going to be a big event for his stock.

Oliver Ozogany (2027)

This past summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup was a coming out party for Ozogany as he scored four goals at the event, pacing the Slovaks as an underager. The sharp shooting winger will be expected to do some heavy lifting at the U18’s too after spending his U17 year with Tri-City of the USHL. He’s a potential first round pick next year.

Timothy Kazda (2027)

Another 2027 eligible player to keep tabs on, Kazda is a late born 2008 who led the Chicago Steel (USHL) in goal scoring this year. He finished the USHL season on a real high note and will be coming into the tournament riding a confidence high. Wearing a letter at the event, Kazda will be heavily leaned on.

Samuel Hrenak (2026)

There’s no guarantee that Hrenak is the starter, despite being higher ranked for this draft than Denis Celko. However, he had a really strong end to his year in the USHL after crossing the pond in the second half. He possesses game stealing ability and his play could be key to pulling off an upset in the medal round.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 26: Finland's Oliver Suvanto #38 celebrates his first period goal against Denmark during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena at Mariucci on December 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Finland

Considering their success at other international levels, it’s pretty crazy to realize that Finland has failed to make the semi finals the last three years at the U18’s. And they haven’t medalled since 2018…although they did win gold then. The pressure is starting to add up for the Finns at this level because they also haven’t medalled at the Hlinka/Gretzky cup the last three years. A scary proposition is that the team could be without its most important player, Oliver Suvanto, to start the tournament as he continues to play in Liiga playoffs with Tappara. Additionally, two of the team’s best players from the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup will not be at this event. Oscar Hemming was not added to the roster due to his dispute with the IIHF and Finnish hockey over his release to North America this year. And Luka Arkko is injured. Regardless of the adversity, this team has enough talent to make it back to the semi finals for the first time since 2022.

Players to Watch

Oliver Suvanto (2026)

A potential lottery selection this year, Suvanto’s availability for the tournament is up in the air as he finishes the season with Tappara in Liiga playoffs. Hopefully for Finland, he’s able to make the start of the tournament. The two-way power center was terrific at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, where he put his name on the scouting map. He’ll be looking to repeat that performance here.

Juho Piiparinen (2026)

The top defender for Finland should also be one of the top defenders at this tournament. He’s a potential top 20 selection in June because of his strong two-way acumen and defensive upside. He was already a key player for the Finns at this event last year, so he should have the confidence to be a difference maker.

Samu Alalauri (2026)

Even though he’s not quite as highly ranked, Alalauri is equally important to this Finnish team as a two-way minute eater on the back-end. At times this year, our scouting team has asked the question, what truly separates Piiparinen from Alalauri? This event should add another piece to the puzzle that helps scouts answer that question. Interestingly, Alalauri recently committed to UMass, which obviously develops defenders well as a program.

Vilho Vanhatalo (2026)

Vanhatalo is a player scouts are going to be watching extremely closely at this event. The big winger has a terrific shot and great upside as a scorer, but he’s been remarkably inconsistent this season. The good news is that he closed the year (in the Finnish U20 league) on a high, helping Tappara U20 make a deep run in the playoffs.

Noel Pakarinen (2026)

Pakarinen is a player that will be key for Finland when it comes to beating other top teams at the U18’s because he plays such a heavy game. A true power forward, Pakarinen has a chance to be a difference maker with his physicality and energy in puck pursuit. A strong performance at the U18’s could make him a top two round pick in June.

Paavo Fugleberg (2028)

A late born 2009 winger, Fugleberg has a fair amount of hype for the 2028 draft, where he is currently considered one of the top players in his age group. He’s been playing for Finland across various U18 events this year (like the Nations tournaments) and he’s been terrific. He has a chance to be a key offensive contributor despite his young age.

Luca Santala (2027)

Speaking of underage players ready to take on large roles, enter Santala. If Suvanto isn’t ready to start the tournament, Santala could actually start the U18’s as Finland’s top line center and most integral playmaker. Like Fugleberg, he’s been great at U18 events this year and is considered a potential lottery selection for next year’s draft.

Olivers Murnieks of Latvia celebrates after scoring 2-3 during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Germany and Latvia on December 30, 2024 in Ottawa.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

Latvia

Latvia has been a fixture at this event since 2019 and they’ve played in the quarterfinals for four straight years. However, they could be in very tough this year due to some injuries and unavailable players. The round robin game against Norway will likely decide who misses out on the quarterfinals. All that said, the Latvians have proved to be extremely pesky; even without their best lineup they could still surprise. One of the team’s top forwards, Roberts Naudins of Shattuck St. Mary’s (and a potential first rounder in 2027), is apparently missing the U18’s because of schooling and graduation. The team’s most important player, Olivers Murnieks, has been banged up most of the year and may not even be healthy enough to play at this event. Maybe there’s a chance that Rudolfs Berzkalns will be made available by Muskegon (USHL) at some point, but Muskegon would need to lose soon in the USHL playoffs for that to happen.

Players to Watch

Olivers Murnieks (2026)

It’s been a trying year for Murnieks in the QMJHL with Saint John. He entered the season garnering first round consideration, but he’s battled injuries all year that have limited his development. He’s not even guaranteed to be healthy enough to suit up for Latvia at this event, but given his importance to the team, it’s likely he tries. How effective he will be remains to be seen.

Patriks Plumins (2026)

The big netminder was a part of Latvia’s U18 team last year, but didn’t really see the ice. This year he returns as the likely starter. Ranked by NHL Central Scouting, Plumins played well in the Latvian pro league this year and the U18 team is going to need him (or someone else) to really shut the door in order for Latvia to make the quarterfinals.

Martins Klaucans (2026)

Like Murnieks, Klaucans made the jump to the QMJHL this year with Sherbrooke, but posted modest numbers. In reality, he’s best designed to play a high energy, checking role like he did for Latvia at the U20 WJC’s this year, but he’s going to be leaned on to provide more offense at the U18 event.

260106 Örebros Niklas Aaram Olsen under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Timrå och Örebro den 6 januari 2026 i Timrå.
Foto: Pär Olert / BILDBYRÅN / COP 108 / PO0180

Norway

The Norwegians have narrowly avoided relegation at the U18’s in three straight years, finishing last in their group and having to play in the relegation round in 2023, 2024, and 2025. While their perseverance is admirable, there is no doubt that Norway would prefer to play a quarterfinal matchup in 2026. As mentioned earlier in the Latvia write up, the April 26th game against Latvia is going to be crucial as the loser of that game, barring a collapse of one of the three higher ranked nations, would likely head to the relegation round. Norway will be led by potential 2026 first round selection Niklas Aaram-Olsen who will be playing in his third straight U18’s after leading Norway in scoring last year as an underager. He brings SHL experience and helped Norway re-qualify for the main group at the U20 level earlier this year. The team will need him to be at his best; Norway likely goes only as far as he can take them.

Players to Watch

Niklas Aaram-Olsen (2026)

Ranked at 41st in our recent rankings release for 2026, Aaram-Olsen will be the straw that stirs the drink for Norway. As mentioned, he will be playing at his third U18’s and led Norway in scoring last year. The smooth skating power winger loves to attack North/South and is a dangerous scorer from anywhere on the ice.

Philip Tollefsen (2028)

One of two 2010 born players on this Norwegian team, Tollefsen is the son of former NHL defender Ole-Kristian Tollefsen. Despite his age, he has been one of Norway’s top defenders at the U18 level internationally all year. He has the all around skill set and the pedigree to be a high selection in 2028.

William Backlund (2028)

The other 2010 born defender on the Norway roster, Backlund also is a key contributor for this U18 team despite his age. He doesn’t have the physical tools that Tollefsen is blessed with at this time, but he’s a dynamic offensive defender who likely quarterbacks the Norwegian powerplay. Like Tollefsen, he’s a big time name to watch for in the future.

Benjamin Ask Haglund (2027)

Another top underager at this event for Norway, Haglund is a 2009 born forward who has actually led the Norwegian U18 team in scoring internationally this year. He’s also been a point per game player in the Swedish U18 league as an underager. Look for him to provide secondary offense behind Aaram-Olsen.

Casper Kjølmoen (2026)

Besides Aaram-Olsen, Kjølmoen is probably Norway’s most important forward and will play key minutes in all situations. He’s a hard working, quick skating winger whose energy and physicality will be needed to topple some of the higher ranked giants. He’s had a good season in the Swedish U20 for Lulea and has experience from last year’s U18’s.

2026 NHL DRAFT – MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 64 with Honourable Mentions – Closing gap between top prospects

Brock Otten — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 18:59:16 +0000

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 4: Sweden's Ivar Stenberg #15 looks on during a stoppage in play against Finland during Semifinal Round action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at Grand Casino Arena on January 4, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

With the World Juniors firmly in the rear-view mirror and many “junior” leagues past the halfway point of their seasons, it is time to update and expand the McKeen’s Hockey 2026 draft rankings. This time around we are bringing you a top 64, in addition to several honourable mentions.

While many in the industry seem to be wavering on the concept of Gavin McKenna being the top player available, he remains at the top of our list. We understand the apprehensiveness, but we also believe that McKenna still possesses the highest upside of any player available this year; plus, his performance in the NCAA has ticked up post WJC’s. However, we also believe that the gap is razor thin at this point between McKenna and several of the players we have ranked behind him. In particular, Ivar Stenberg received a fair amount of support from our team to be ranked ahead of McKenna.

While the race for first overall will be fascinating as June approaches, the debate over the top defenseman available will rage even more intensely. Verhoeff remains ranked first in this grouping, but there are arguments to be made that any of Reid, Smits, or Carels could be or should be the top defenseman selected. One thing is for certain; it is a good year to be drafting in the top five if your organization needs a quality young defender.

Caleb Malhotra, Oscar Hemming, Alexander Command, Wyatt Cullen, and Maddox Dagenais are among our highest climbers compared to the previous ranking. Malhotra suddenly finds himself competing for an OHL scoring title, showing tremendous improvement as an offensive play driver over the course of the last few months. The Oscar Hemming saga finally reached a conclusion after he joined Boston College at the end of December. While the offensive production has been only mediocre, his impact on the ice has been incredibly impressive as a freshman power forward; it’s cliche but he’s passing the eye test on a consistent basis. Command has been terrific for both Sweden internationally and in the J20 league, and he plays a competitive and fast paced game from the center position. Wyatt Cullen hasn’t played a lot this year, but when he has, he’s been outstanding for the NTDP. Lastly, Dagenais is finally putting everything together for the Quebec Remparts, as the former first overall pick in the QMJHL draft is becoming more confident in being able to utilize his physical gifts.

Our largest “fallers” were Xavier Villeneuve, Mathis Preston, Ryan Roobroeck, and Beckham Edwards. While we respect Villeneuve’s offensive upside as one of the draft’s most dynamic playmakers, we also wonder how much his game has truly grown in the last calendar year as one of this draft’s oldest first time eligible players. The offensive production just hasn’t been at an elite level the last few months. Can a trade to Vancouver (WHL) help Mathis Preston find more consistency and urgency in his game? Roobroeck’s offensive production has definitely improved over the last few months, but like Villeneuve, we wonder how much his game has truly improved this year as a third year junior player. Lastly, Beckham Edwards is a power skating forward with a goal scorer’s touch, but, the offensive consistency has been majorly lacking this year and it brings to light concerns over his projection and ceiling.

What about the goalies? Initially, our team wasn’t enamored with the talent level for the position this year, however, some performances over the last few months have helped to change our mind. We have three goaltenders ranked inside of our top 64, with Tobias Trejbal of Youngstown (USHL) sitting at the top of that list. Trejbal has been outstanding in the USHL this year and the UMass commit has the size and athleticism combination to make him a potential NHL starting netminder.

You can expect our next update towards the end of March as we expand to a top 100 ranking.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Gavin McKenna	LW	Penn State (NCAA)	5-11/170	12/20/2007	22	10	19	29	19
2	Ivar Stenberg	LW	Frolunda (SHL)	5-11/185	9/30/2007	29	7	21	28	6
3	Keaton Verhoeff	D	North Dakota (NCAA)	6-4/210	6/19/2008	22	6	11	17	23
4	Chase Reid	D	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-2/185	12/30/2007	39	18	27	45	30
5	Alberts Smits	D	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/205	12/2/2007	34	6	7	13	12
6	Carson Carels	D	Prince George (WHL)	6-2/195	6/23/2008	37	12	28	40	42
7	Tynan Lawrence	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/185	8/3/2008	13	10	7	17	6
8	Viggo Bjorck	C	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-9/175	3/12/2008	29	4	4	8	10
9	Caleb Malhotra	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/170	6/2/2008	45	23	38	61	37
10	Ethan Belchetz	LW	Windsor (OHL)	6-5/225	3/30/2008	43	29	16	45	35
11	Oscar Hemming	LW	Boston College (NCAA)	6-4/195	8/13/2008	6	0	3	3	8
12	Adam Novotny	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/205	11/13/2007	37	22	21	43	8
13	Ryan Lin	D	Vancouver (WHL)	5-11/175	4/18/2008	42	11	39	50	33
14	Daxon Rudolph	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/205	3/6/2008	45	21	33	54	42
15	Oliver Suvanto	C	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/210	9/3/2008	34	2	5	7	14
16	Elton Hermansson	RW	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	6-1/180	2/5/2008	29	9	7	16	14
17	Ilia Morozov	C	Miami (NCAA)	6-3/195	8/3/2008	24	7	7	14	25
18	Xavier Villeneuve	D	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	5-11/160	9/29/2007	35	6	30	36	35
19	Malte Gustafsson	D	HV 71 (SHL)	6-4/200	6/11/2008	16	0	3	3	2
20	Juho Piiparinen	D	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-2/200	8/10/2008	28	0	3	3	8
21	Alexander Command	C	Orebro (Swe U20)	6-1/185	6/16/2008	24	13	22	35	30
22	Wyatt Cullen	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	9/8/2008	17	3	11	14	2
23	JP Hurlbert	LW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-0/185	4/11/2008	45	31	41	72	26
24	Nikita Klepov	RW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/180	6/27/2008	45	28	32	60	27
25	Mathis Preston	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/175	7/21/2008	36	14	18	32	32
26	Jaxon Cover	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/175	2/13/2008	45	14	20	34	40
27	William Hakansson	D	Lulea (SHL)	6-4/205	10/8/2007	22	0	2	2	8
28	Giorgos Pantelas	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/215	4/24/2008	45	2	18	20	30
29	Brooks Rogowski	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-6/225	6/28/2008	31	7	18	25	10
30	Maddox Dagenais	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	3/27/2008	43	20	17	37	23
31	Tomas Chrenko	C	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	5-11/170	11/2/2007	33	6	16	22	6
32	Marcus Nordmark	LW	Djurgardens (Swe U20)	6-1/180	5/4/2008	21	10	20	30	42
33	Egor Shilov	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-1/180	4/30/2008	42	22	37	59	23
34	Ryan Roobroeck	C	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/215	9/25/2007	45	27	26	53	26
35	Jakub Vanecek	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-1/190	2/25/2008	36	10	15	25	16
36	Pierce Mbuyi	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-10/160	4/17/2008	45	23	27	50	65
37	Jack Hextall	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-0/190	3/23/2008	38	12	25	37	22
38	Thomas Vandenberg	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/180	9/8/2008	37	17	17	34	14
39	Vladimir Dravecky	D	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/185	12/19/2007	37	7	16	23	20
40	Alessandro Di Iorio	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-0/190	3/17/2008	28	10	9	19	8
41	Vilho Vanhatalo	RW	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-4/195	1/18/2008	29	10	8	18	14
42	Ryder Cali	C	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/210	9/6/2008	24	11	5	16	4
43	Tommy Bleyl	D	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-0/160	12/1/2007	42	7	44	51	22
44	Tobias Trejbal	G	Youngstown (USHL)	6-4/190	11/9/2007	27	20	5	2.04	0.924
45	Charlie Morrison	D	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	10/12/2007	24	2	4	6	23
46	Oscar Holmertz	C	Linkopings (Swe U20)	6-0/190	3/21/2008	25	7	14	21	2
47	Nikita Scherbakov	D	Salavat Yulayev Ufa (KHL)	6-5/190	10/23/2007	7	0	0	0	4
48	Victor Plante	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-9/165	3/10/2008	34	16	13	29	55
49	Adam Goljer	D	HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia)	6-3/195	6/7/2008	33	4	6	10	26
50	Luke Schairer	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/195	1/30/2008	36	0	9	9	55
51	Niklas Aaram-Olsen	RW	Orebro (Swe U20)	6-0/185	4/19/2008	22	17	15	32	12
52	Gleb Pugachyov	C	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	6-3/200	3/25/2008	27	8	13	21	20
53	Simas Ignatavicius	C	Geneva-Servette (Sui-NL)	6-3/195	10/22/2007	44	5	6	11	41
54	Lars Steiner	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	5-10/175	11/12/2007	24	12	12	24	26
55	Dmitri Borichev	G	Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-3/200	6/19/2008	17	8	6	1.79	0.942
56	Adam Andersson	C	Leksands (Swe U20)	6-3/200	7/2/2008	23	2	13	15	22
57	Alexander Bilecki	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-1/180	5/9/2008	44	7	15	22	24
58	Axel Elofsson	D	Orebro (Swe U20)	5-10/165	6/3/2008	26	7	24	31	18
59	Xavier Wendt	G	Tri-City (WHL)	6-1/165	1/24/2008	28	17	9	2.42	0.929
60	Adam Valentini	LW	Michigan (NCAA)	5-11/185	4/11/2008	24	6	13	19	40
61	Beckham Edwards	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/180	1/6/2008	45	14	17	31	14
62	Samu Alalauri	D	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	6-2/200	5/31/2008	32	6	17	23	4
63	Ben MacBeath	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-2/185	3/4/2008	43	6	27	33	12
64	Liam Ruck	RW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-0/175	2/21/2008	46	27	37	64	26
HM	Simon Katolicky	LW	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-4/195	7/24/2008	24	5	9	14	16
HM	Timofei Runtso	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-2/185	7/6/2007	45	7	26	33	22
HM	Layne Gallacher	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-1/180	2/16/2008	21	5	7	12	2
HM	Landon Amrhein	LW	Calgary (WHL)	6-4/190	4/6/2008	39	7	16	23	6
HM	Filip Ruzicka	G	Brandon (WHL)	6-7/230	3/24/2008	27	19	7	2.97	0.908
HM	Wiggo Sorensson	C	Boro/Vetlanda (Swe Div 2)	5-11/180	4/15/2008	24	13	16	29	2
HM	Viktor Fyodorov	C	Torpedo-Gorky NN (VHL)	5-10/175	2/21/2008	27	2	5	7	6
HM	Landon Nycz	D	Massachusetts (NCAA)	6-2/200	10/4/2007	24	1	1	2	0
HM	Brady Knowling	G	USN U18 (USDP)	6-5/200	3/9/2008	17	6	8	3.60	0.880
HM	Casey Mutryn	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/200	7/5/2008	36	7	18	25	32
HM	Tobias Tvrznik	G	Wenatchee (WHL)	6-4/180	7/29/2007	31	13	15	2.89	0.919
HM	Jonas Lagerberg Hoen	RW	Leksands (Swe U20)	6-2/175	10/24/2007	9	9	7	16	33
HM	Olivers Murnieks	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/190	7/31/2008	29	6	12	18	14
HM	Colin Fitzgerald	C	Pbo-Soo (OHL)	6-2/210	4/1/2008	44	13	12	25	48
HM	Adam Nemec	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	6-1/175	10/18/2007	8	4	6	10	0
HM	Chase Harrington	LW	Spokane (WHL)	6-0/195	10/30/2007	44	17	23	40	73

2026 NHL DRAFT – MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32 – Closing gap between top prospects

Brock Otten — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 18:56:46 +0000

You can expect our next update towards the end of March as we expand to a top 100 ranking.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Gavin McKenna	LW	Penn State (NCAA)	5-11/170	12/20/2007	22	10	19	29	19
2	Ivar Stenberg	LW	Frolunda (SHL)	5-11/185	9/30/2007	29	7	21	28	6
3	Keaton Verhoeff	D	North Dakota (NCAA)	6-4/210	6/19/2008	22	6	11	17	23
4	Chase Reid	D	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-2/185	12/30/2007	39	18	27	45	30
5	Alberts Smits	D	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/205	12/2/2007	34	6	7	13	12
6	Carson Carels	D	Prince George (WHL)	6-2/195	6/23/2008	37	12	28	40	42
7	Tynan Lawrence	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/185	8/3/2008	13	10	7	17	6
8	Viggo Bjorck	C	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-9/175	3/12/2008	29	4	4	8	10
9	Caleb Malhotra	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-0/170	6/2/2008	45	23	38	61	37
10	Ethan Belchetz	LW	Windsor (OHL)	6-5/225	3/30/2008	43	29	16	45	35
11	Oscar Hemming	LW	Boston College (NCAA)	6-4/195	8/13/2008	6	0	3	3	8
12	Adam Novotny	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/205	11/13/2007	37	22	21	43	8
13	Ryan Lin	D	Vancouver (WHL)	5-11/175	4/18/2008	42	11	39	50	33
14	Daxon Rudolph	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/205	3/6/2008	45	21	33	54	42
15	Oliver Suvanto	C	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-3/210	9/3/2008	34	2	5	7	14
16	Elton Hermansson	RW	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	6-1/180	2/5/2008	29	9	7	16	14
17	Ilia Morozov	C	Miami (NCAA)	6-3/195	8/3/2008	24	7	7	14	25
18	Xavier Villeneuve	D	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	5-11/160	9/29/2007	35	6	30	36	35
19	Malte Gustafsson	D	HV 71 (SHL)	6-4/200	6/11/2008	16	0	3	3	2
20	Juho Piiparinen	D	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	6-2/200	8/10/2008	28	0	3	3	8
21	Alexander Command	C	Orebro (Swe U20)	6-1/185	6/16/2008	24	13	22	35	30
22	Wyatt Cullen	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	9/8/2008	17	3	11	14	2
23	JP Hurlbert	LW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-0/185	4/11/2008	45	31	41	72	26
24	Nikita Klepov	RW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/180	6/27/2008	45	28	32	60	27
25	Mathis Preston	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/175	7/21/2008	36	14	18	32	32
26	Jaxon Cover	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/175	2/13/2008	45	14	20	34	40
27	William Hakansson	D	Lulea (SHL)	6-4/205	10/8/2007	22	0	2	2	8
28	Giorgos Pantelas	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/215	4/24/2008	45	2	18	20	30
29	Brooks Rogowski	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-6/225	6/28/2008	31	7	18	25	10
30	Maddox Dagenais	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/195	3/27/2008	43	20	17	37	23
31	Tomas Chrenko	C	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	5-11/170	11/2/2007	33	6	16	22	6
32	Marcus Nordmark	LW	Djurgardens (Swe U20)	6-1/180	5/4/2008	21	10	20	30	42

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- January 2nd, 2026 – Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:32:53 +0000

RELEGATION

Germany and Denmark geared up for the right to stay up in the top division early on Friday morning, with the Germans suiting up for their third straight relegation round. The game commenced with a consistent attack from Germany, who struck early on from a David Lewandowski snipe to go up 1-0. Ferocity didn’t dissipate from there on, as both teams were called for different high-sticking calls. Germany killed their penalty, however, Denmark was unable to, with Maxim Schafer jamming the puck home to take a 2-0 lead. Later on, Denmark went back on the power play, where Mads Klyvo would get open to successfully convert this time for the Danes. The first period ended shortly after with a slight German advantage at 2-1.

At the outset of the second, Germany jumped on the puck early, getting possession and scoring quickly; Manuel Schams fired a shot that hit a Danish defender’s skate to go up 3-1 in the middle period. Less than two minutes later, Germany added to their lead from a beautiful Simon Seidl wrister, putting themselves fully in the driver's seat of this relegation game. However, the Danes didn’t stay down for long. On the power play, Mads Klyvo found a lane yet again to cut the lead to two, and just four minutes later, William Bundgaard maneuvered behind the net, finding Oliver Green to cut the lead to one going into the final period. However, in that fateful third period, the Danes would take consecutive penalties to give the Germans a two-man advantage early in the period, in which they would score from Dustin Wilhoft, who weaved his way to sneak the puck backhand to tuck his second of the tournament.

The third drew down with both teams scoring again, with Manuel Schams scoring for the Germans and Anton Linde for Denmark. Another penalty for Denmark gave Germany an even larger margin of victory on the stick of Lenny Boos. Finally, late Tobias Schwarz would pot an empty netter to ensure an even more dominant German victory. The Danes officially will be relegated next year, with the Norwegians coming back up into the Top division in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Ivar Stenberg of Sweden and Krists Retenais of Latvia during the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship quarterfinal game between Sweden and Latvia on January 2, 2026 in Saint Paul.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN

SWEDEN v LATVIA

The first quarterfinals matchup of the day, it would be the winner of Group A, Sweden, taking on Latvia. Sweden got off to a very quick start, wasting absolutely no time on a bad Latvian turnover on a defensive retrieval. It was Anton Frondell who struck first, about 10 seconds in, after he got a piece of the shot from Leo Sahlin Wallenius from the point. After as bad a start as they could have, the Latvians would find some momentum. Early, they were not exposing a weakness that the Swedes had shown previously; their defensemen struggled with breakouts when under pressure. But Latvia would put the pressure on and start getting some looks. It led to back-to-back power plays, and on the second opportunity, Kristers Ansons would fire a beautiful shot past Love Harenstam to tie the game up at one. But just as quickly as it seemed the Latvians found their stride, they would resort to a chess match with Sweden. While they did a good job forcing dump-ins and preventing the Swedes from consistently getting to the slot, Lucas Pettersson would work his way down low with the puck as Jack Berglund drove the slot, and Pettersson would put the puck exactly where it needed to be, and Berglund put it home.

Again, in the second period, Latvia would resort to a chess match. They weren’t pressuring the Swedish defenders, instead resorting to a sort of neutral zone trap. While it forced the Swedes to dump pucks in instead of enter the offensive zone with possession, and keep them to the perimeter for the most part, they were not skilled enough nor fast enough to hold Sweden’s stars off for long. Sascha Boumedienne would put home a nice set up from Alfons Freij while Berglund blinded Nils Maurins with his screen in front. Ivar Stenberg dominated possession for much of that offensive zone time as well, helping create the opening for the goal. Less than two minutes later, Felix Carrell would score as he stepped down from the point and took a smart feed from Victor Eklund to blast home, quickly turning what was a one-goal lead into a three goal lead.

In the third period, things started very chippy, with Alberts Smits throwing a late hit after the whistle on Linus Eriksson, who retaliated, creating a big scrum. But despite Smits trying to ignite his team, it would not matter, as Frondell would score his second of the game on an excellent shot to put his team up 5-1. Latvia would not go down without a fight, as Karlis Flugins would fire home a brilliant shot to cut the deficit to three, giving them a glimmer of hope. But after some more back and forth, with neither team willing to make a mistake, it would once again be the more skilled team who drew blood. This time, it was Leo Sahlin Wallenius who beat Maurins with a seeing eye shot from the point to re-claim the four-goal lead. However, Alfons Freij took a bad delay of game penalty, and Latvia would take advantage very quickly, as Olivers Murnieks would score just 12 seconds in on the man-advantage, cutting the deficit back down to three. But that would be all she wrote, as Sweden would send Latvia packing, while they punched their ticket to the semi-finals and a guaranteed shot at a medal.

MVPs:

Sweden: Jack Berglund, Anton Frondell, Ivar Stenberg

Latvia: Olivers Murnieks, Nils Maurins, Krisjanis Sarts

CZECHIA v SWITZERLAND

Czechia and Switzerland has been an anticipated one for the quarter finals because both teams have seriously pressured the top dogs in this tournament. The Swiss got to their game early in this one, shutting down the Czech pressure and adding pressure of their own to boot. Shortly after not scoring on their first power play, Leon Muggli launched one that squeaked under Marik to give the Swiss a 1-0 lead. From there the Swiss were still shutting down their opponents and overall giving more effort in the first, though the Czechs started to break through towards the intermission.

Czechia came out hot for the second, Tomas Galvas grabbed their first goal on some incredible edge work and a tricky shot, tying the Swiss a minute in. The game truly stayed close as both were vying for possession aggressively. Radim Mrtka’s stick was too aggressive as he was taken to the box for high-sticking, that penalty resulted in a Jamiro Reber goal from an impressive Jonah Neuenschwander feed to go up by one once again. The Czechs still played it close and Samuel Drancak finally broke through, willing his way past several Swiss defenders to bury his chance under Kirsch to tie it up.

Shortly after the equalizer, an awkward broken play off the faceoff lead to Adam Jiricek finding a loose puck by the boards and firing it into an open net, Kirsch did not see the shot and the Czechs grabbed their first lead of the game 3-2. Czechia seemed to grab control of the game from there, putting way more quality chances on net, scoring another one off the stick of Petr Sikora to put them ahead by two, a lead they would take into the third period at 4-2.

That domination would continue to start the third, controlling possession once again. Jiri Klima put the game officially out of reach at even strength, with the Czechs leading 5-2. As the desperation of the Swiss continued to mount, Ludvig Johnson took a boarding penalty that gave the opportunistic Czechs another great chance to extend their lead, and extend they would with Jakub Fibigr netting his first of the tournament. The period would shortly draw to an end after that, with the Czechs looking more than dominant after a slow start to this game, they move on to the Semis.

MVP’s

Czechia: Tomas Galvas, Petr Sikora, Samuel Drancak

Switzerland: Leon Muggli, Mike Aeschliman, Jamiro Reber.

USA v FINLAND

After a disappointing loss for both teams in their final group stage matchups, both USA and Finland are looking to bounce back. The first period would see both teams playing two totally different styles, with a lot of give and take. The US were flying up ice and moving the puck very quickly around the offensive zone, and it led to some excellent looks, especially on their power play opportunity. But Petteri Rimpinen was up to the task, and Finland’s defensive structure was still sound despite the US getting some good looks. Meanwhile, the Finns were playing composed, patient, and advantageous hockey. The US would turn the puck over multiple times in key spots, leading to several golden opportunities. This time, it was Nick Kempf who stood tall, matching Rimpinen’s start.

In the second period, the US would get off to a much faster start, killing off the rest of their penalty at the end of the first, then immediately finding the back of the net. Cole Hutson would announce his return in style with a great shot after a great rush and set up by LJ Mooney, who is finding a groove over these last few games. But the Finns would get things under control, scoring a goal of their own, with Heikki Ruohonen putting it home. Ruohonen won a battle in the corner off the dump and chase, with Max Westergard working along the wall before spinning back low and putting the puck on a platter for Ruohonen. About five minutes after evening the score, the Finns would make a crucial mistake and take a too many men penalty, giving the US another power play. This time, Cole Eiserman would not be denied, as Hutson yet again makes a great play, setting up a one-timer for Eiserman by threading the needle.

In the third period, it would be more and more of that same game. Just a masterclass of skill and smarts from both teams, waiting for the right opportunity. Finland, late in the game, found the back of the net, with a ridiculous pass from Aron Kiviharju to Leo Tuuva to tie the game. Then five seconds later, yes, literally five seconds later, Finland’s Joona Saarelainen would give them their first lead of the game, off another ridiculous pass from Tuuva this time. The US would pull their goalie, and as soon as the extra attacker hit the ice, Ryker Lee would finish off a brilliant pass from James Hagens in tight to beat Rimpinen in the slot, and the game was tied. It felt like the building was shaking, the energy was fully awakened in this building. And to overtime we went!

The Finns would establish possession and hold onto it for much of the OT period, outside of one good look for Teddy Stiga. That would pay dividends, as Finland’s Matias Vanhanen would play the puck to the bottom of the right circle, where Arttu Valila would beat Kempf on the blocker side, sending the USA’s hopes for a three-peat out the window, while they join their rivals Sweden and Czechia, while they await the outcome of Canada and Slovakia for the final semi-final spot.

MVPs:

USA: Cole Hutson, Ryker Lee, Cole Eiserman

Finland: Daniel Nieminen, Joona Saarelainen, Heikki Ruohonen

CANADA v SLOVAKIA

The final quarter-final matchup seemed to be the most predictable prior to the game but Slovakia came to play in the early part of the first. Both teams had their chances early, with Slovakia matching Canada physically. After several more close chances, Keaton Verhoeff fired a shot on net that was finished by his North Dakota teammate Cole Reschny to give Canada the lead with around six to go in the period. Just a minute later, Tij Iginla came streaking down the perimeter and released a tight shot that bounced right out the back of the net, putting Canada up 2-0.

The Canadians kept the pressure on tight, dominating chances with Michael Misa scoring an incredible goal by himself to further the blowout. After letting in his third goal on 12 shots, Michal Pradel was pulled in favor of Alan Lendak. On the very next shot, Carson Carels launched a blocked shot on net that got cleaned up by Sam O’Reilly to further beat up on the Slovaks. Tomas Pobezal took a costly penalty to put Canada on their dangerous power play, where Gavin McKenna passed a magical feed to Brady Martin to bury it for the 5-0 lead to end the first.

The second continued to be a dominant one for Canada, but the scoring didn’t appear until almost ten minutes in, when Porter Martone netted his fourth of the tournament, and shortly after, Cole Beaudoin got another in his belt when he lifted one past Lendak to put Canada up 7-0 midway through the second. As the period wound down, the Slovaks found themselves in an interesting chance in their offensive zone, and they converted off the stick of Jan Chovan, who found a lane through traffic to give the Slovaks a point just before the second intermission.

MVPsCanada: Michael Misa, Michael Hage, Keaton VerhoeffSlovakia: Tobias Pitka, Alan Lendak, Jan Chovan

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Leon Muggli (SWI) 1G

It seems that Washington has an abundance of riches in their prospect core, just look at the performance of Muggli from today. The entire tournament, he has been Switzerland’s best puck mover and finished tied as the leading scorer. Muggli’s skating and edgework along the blueline have been both excellent and not overly flashy. He is the perfect combination of aggressive and stable when running at the top of the offensive zone, and that was exemplified with his goal to take the early lead in this one. Muggli’s retrievals have also been a strong point as he has been able to get it out for the Swiss at those high-danger moments against both strong and weak opponents. His gap control in this game was very solid despite finishing as a -1 on the day. Muggli’s main strength comes from that composure in the neutral zone, going both ways. It’s just another feather in the cap of the Capitals for grabbing this kid when they did in 2024.

Michael Misa (CAN) 1G 1A

By far, Michael Misa’s best performance of the tournament, as he came out of the gate flying and looking like he was about to score 134 points again. His rushes were elite, and teammates Tij Iginla and Porter Martone were given chance after chance repeatedly in the first. Misa buried his first goal to put Canada up by three while he was doing what he does best, finding open ice without the puck. Misa’s knack for finding chances to score is impeccable, and it’s why he’s been one of the guys Canada leans on in these games. His assist came from the other really strong point of his game, on the rush to Porter Martone. Misa has thrived in making chaos on the neutral ice, making a lot of great pushes through the Slovak line to wear them out early. Lastly, Misa was showing a bit of spite and physicality in his game, something that was new to this quarterfinal matchup. If he continues to get involved physically, being unafraid to run into a defenseman in the middle of the offensive zone, then he will add another level of danger in open ice.

Anton Frondell (SWE) 2G

The Chicago Blackhawks 3rd overall selection last year, Frondell had as good a game as Sweden could have asked from him. He got the game started with a goal 10 seconds in, driving towards the net as the point shot came in, getting the deflection and beating the Latvian netminder. Then, with a strong lead already, Frondell really added salt to the Latvians wounds with a phenomenal shot. When Frondell is on, he is hard to slow down. He can shoot, he can dish out passes, and he’s a big, strong forward who can win battles all over the ice when necessary. If the Swedes want to strike gold at this tournament, he will be one of their biggest keys to success.

Joona Saarelainen (FIN) 1G 1A

The Tampa Bay Lightning 5th round draft choice had his best game of the tournament thus far. Against the US, it was clear early on which team was faster and playing with more pace. The US were generating chances left and right early in this game, using their speed and skill to try and overwhelm the Finns. Saarelainen stood out because of that, as he was one of the faster paced Finns out on the ice against the Americans. He was moving his feet all game long, and was noticeably quick in this contest, giving the Finns a different element when he was on the ice. While it took some time to manifest into points, it was Saarelainen and his linemates who played the heroes. In one shift, just five seconds apart, Saarelainen would get an assist on the game-tying goal and score the go-ahead goal with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation. While the US would force overtime, the Finns would still take it home. But it’s fair to wonder, if not for Saarelainen and his linemates, would the Finns have gone home instead? Going into a matchup with the very fast and skilled Swedes, who out-classed the Americans previously, they’re again going to need Saarelainen to stand out in his depth role to win his matchups and create offense.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

Gavin McKenna (CAN) (1A)

McKenna kept his points streak alive against Slovakia but more than that, his more well-rounded game was on display for all to see early on. His passing prowess was on display for all to see once again on the power play, showing off how elite his skills were on multiple chances, finally converting off a feed to Brady Martin. What was even more exciting was the effort on display in the neutral and defensive zone that many pundits critiqued him for. Behind the net, on loose pucks, along the boards, we have seen a new energy from McKenna in this tournament when approaching his two-way game and scouts are taking notice. He has been key to Canada coming out energetic and keeping the foot on the gas pedal with his play. Lastly his knack for converting plays in the neutral zone has been excellent. Where other big teams have been exposed in the neutral zone on rushes, McKenna has made sure to turn many of Canada’s transitions into offensive zone possessions; he knows how to find those lanes quickly. McKenna’s instincts have been great, and he has made his first overall case stronger than ever through his first five games.

Ivar Stenberg (SWE) 1A

Stenberg, who is trying to add as much as he can to his case for being the first pick off the board in 2026, stood out in a big way against Latvia. This wasn’t the cleanest game for Sweden, nor was it for Stenberg, yet they still outclassed a weaker Latvian team. It comes down to just how much raw skill Stenberg has, which has allowed him to really shine at times here at this tournament and back with his club in the SHL. In fact, Stenberg had his best individual moment of this tournament on the powerplay in the second period. Late in the powerplay, Stenberg showed off how elite his ability is to control and protect the puck when it’s on his stick, holding off defenders and looking to set up his teammates. As the powerplay expired, he would continue playing a bit of keep-away with the Latvian defenders, before setting up what ended up being the crucial third goal of the game for Sweden.

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

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

SWITZERLAND v GERMANY

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

MVPs:

Switzerland: Christian Kirsch, Basile Sansonnens, Kimi Koerbler

Germany: Lennart Neisse, Mathias Pape, Tobias Schwarz

LATVIA v DENMARK

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

MVPs:

Latvia: Krisjanis Sarts, Alberts Smits, Olivers Murnieks

Denmark: Oliver Larsen, William Bundgaard, Mads Klyvø

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Basile Sansonnens (SUI) (1A)

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

Mads Klyvo (DEN)

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

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

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

Oliver Larsen (DEN) (1G 1A)

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

Alberts Smits (LAT) 1G 2A

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

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

Brock Otten — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:29:45 +0000

The 2026 World Junior Championships in Minnesota mark the fifth straight year that Latvia has played out of the main group; it’s becoming abundantly clear that this is a nation on the rise in the hockey landscape. That was especially clear at last year’s tournament, where Latvia upset Canada in the round robin and nearly defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals. This was, in large part, thanks to the remarkable goaltending of Linards Feldbergs and the clutch goal scoring prowess of Washington Capitals draft pick Eriks Mateiko. While this year’s edition does not have Feldbergs or Mateiko, there is a new crop of Latvian players ready to play spoiler in an attempt to push this nation into the semi finals for the first time.

Latvia’s path to that accomplishment will not be easy. They drew Finland, Czechia, Canada, and Denmark in the round robin as part of Group B. Finland, Czechia, and Canada are legitimate gold medal candidates this year, while the Danes are the team promoted from Division I. On paper, the Latvians should be able to defeat Denmark to avoid being placed in the relegation bracket, however, they’re going to need some magic and an upset or two again, if they intend to finally break through into the semi finals.

Two of the main keys to this team are on the backend; Ducks draft pick Darels Uljanskis and top 2026 draft prospect Alberts Smits. Latvia could pair them together and have them play 30 minutes a game, or they could separate them to stabilize the top two pairings. Eyes will be especially on Smits, who has pushed his way into top five consideration after a strong year in Finland.

The Latvian powerplay should also be a strong suit. Smits and Darels Uljanskis should pair together on the top unit with fellow potential 2026 first rounder Olivers Murnieks, Swedish pro forward Bruno Osmanis, and either Swiss pro forward Daniels Serkins or Muskegon’s (USHL) Rudolfs Berzkalns.

The real question mark for this team will be in goal. Last year, as mentioned, Feldbergs was a star and his strong performance really carried Latvia. This year? There isn’t a clear number one and the Latvian coaching staff has to be hoping that someone steps up and grabs the bull by the horns. Nils Roberts Maurins has been adequate for Omaha of the USHL this year. Ivans Kufterins has been in a platoon role with Kamloops of the WHL. Mikus Vecvanags is a draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, but he has been quite poor in the QMJHL the last two years as a backup. Despite having that designation as an NHL selection, he’s unlikely to be the team’s starter and may be the most likely candidate to be the goalie in the press box.

Key Players to Watch

ALLEN, TEXAS - APRIL 23: Latvia's Alberts Smits #6 skates with the puck against Norway during Preliminary Round - Group A action at 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Credit Union of Texas Event Center on April 23, 2025 in Allen, Texas, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

Alberts Smits - Defense (2026)

Smits is currently the 8th rated prospect on our pre WJC draft board at McKeen’s Hockey and he is absolutely a favourite of our staff. He has 12 points in Liiga action this year for Jukurit, the best of any U19 player in the league. Smits is a big defender (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) who also happens to be very mobile. He can have a real positive impact on the game offensively with his ability to transition the puck and quarterback the powerplay. Defensively, he’s a bit raw and that’s the area of his game that will be most under the microscope at this tournament as he takes on the best U20 players in the world while playing key minutes. This could also be a good audition for Smits for the World Championships in May. Back in 2019 Moritz Seider used a strong showing at the Division 1 WJC’s (helping Germany earn promotion) to earn a WC roster spot and Smits could do the same here.

Darels Uljanskis of Latvia during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Latvia and USA on December 28, 2024 in Ottawa.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

Darels Uljanskis - Defense (Anaheim Ducks)

After playing the better part of the last decade in the Swedish junior ranks, Uljanskis made the decision (likely in consultation with Anaheim) to cross the pond to play for the Flint Firebirds of the OHL this year. When healthy (he missed the better part of a month), he’s been excellent for Flint, who have been one of the OHL’s top teams this season. Look for him to quarterback the top powerplay unit, a role that he does very well in Flint thanks to his ability to get pucks through traffic and his strong lateral mobility. Early on, the adjustment to the OHL was proving difficult for him defensively, but he has played better since returning from injury. Latvia is going to need him to be their rock in all situations and he’ll likely see upwards of 30 minutes a game of ice time.

Olivers Murnieks - Center (2026)

Expectations were sky high for Murnieks this year as he made the jump from the USHL to the QMJHL with Saint John. Prior to the start of the season, he was considered a lottery candidate in a draft devoid of true pivots, thanks in part to his strong play with Sioux City last year. However, the adjustment to the “Q” has been bumpy, with injuries and inconsistency plaguing his game. Murnieks is a talented and intelligent playmaker, and he’s strong on the puck and defensively responsible. However, the drop in production, in addition to the lack of development in his explosiveness, has scouts concerned about his upside as a future top six NHL player. He’s going to be this team’s first line center and it will be a great opportunity for him to prove to NHL scouts that his game isn’t regressing. That said, there is some concern that a recent concussion could sideline him from this event and that would be a huge loss for the Latvians.

Bruno Osmanis - Wing (2026, second year of eligibility)

There were some independent scouting organizations who had Osmanis ranked as a potential top three round selection last year after a strong year in the Swedish Allsvenskan. He ultimately went unselected. We, at McKeen’s, had him ranked 227th over concerns about his frame and lack of “B” game, making his projection muddled. He has returned to the Allsvenskan and has had another decent season, in the top ten of U20 scoring in the Swedish pro second league. Osmanis’ standout trait would be his playmaking ability and this Latvian team is going to need his leadership, and for him to be a consistent play creator if they want to play spoiler again.

Nils Roberts Maurins - Goaltender (2026, third year of eligibility)

The running favourite to be Latvia’s starting netminder at this event, Roberts Maurins has performed quite well for Omaha of the USHL in a platoon role, considering the circumstances. The Lancers are last in their Conference and Maurins has been a workhorse. He’s posted considerably better numbers than his platoon mate and is seeing over 30 shots against per game, which means he’ll be used to seeing the amount of rubber that he’ll see when playing against Canada, Finland, or Czechia in the round robin. The 6’4 netminder is big, but lanky (listed at 176lbs on the USHL website). However, he’s also athletic and has an interesting foundation to build upon. Can he be this year’s Feldbergs?

Other Draft Eligible Players to Watch

Rudolfs Berzkalns - Center (2026)

Currently a “C” rated by NHL Central Scouting, Berzkalns is a Boston College commit who is playing his second year for Muskegon of the USHL. The big pivot plays a heavy game and is a highly effective two-way player. Offensively, he’s been pretty inconsistent with the Lumberjacks, but he flashes skill and the size, skill, physicality combination is bound to draw serious NHL interest this June. The Latvians have found a ton of success at the WJC’s in recent years because of their determined and energetic playing style; they are true “puck hounds.” Berzkalns plays right into that as puck pursuit is one of his most admirable and consistent traits. Look for him to make an impact as a secondary piece, perhaps even as the team’s second line center.

2026 NHL Draft: McKeen’s Early Season Favourites – EASTERN CANADA PART TWO – Olivers Murnieks, Rian Chudzinski, Michel Myloserdnyy, Xavier Villeneuve, Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte,

Joey Fortin Boulay, Felix Sicard, Jamison Derksen — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 13:15:07 +0000

Xavier Villeneuve (photo by Laurent Corbeil)

Time for another series at McKeen’s from our scouting staff. The 2026 NHL Draft season is well under way, and our scouts have been busy soaking in the action around the globe. Analyzing early season play can be difficult, perhaps even a bit of a ruse. Hot starts aren’t always sustainable, and cold starts are not always indicative. However, players can still catch our attention in positive ways and that’s what this series intends to highlight.

This is EASTERN CANADA PART ONE

Joey Fortin Boulay

Olivers Murnieks

Center - Saint John Sea Dogs

6-foot-1, 190 pounds

Murnieks has long stood out for Team Latvia, debuting on the U18 national team at 15 and joining the U20 squad a year later, where he quickly became one of its top players. After a full 2024–25 season with the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL, where he recorded 35 points in 52 games as a DY-1 player, he was drafted sixth overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Saint John Sea Dogs and joined them for the 2025–26 season.

An intelligent, composed two-way center, Murnieks influences play through elite anticipation, impressive vision, and positional awareness. His processing speed allows him to see passing lanes before they open, regularly creating high-danger chances with deceptive, creative feeds. He’s not flashy but I find him remarkably efficient, displaying the habits and maturity of a veteran. On the power play or during breakouts, he maintains structure and poise, keeping lanes open and facilitating puck movement. He makes calm, calculated decisions under pressure, favoring smart redirections or recoverable plays over risky passes.

He impressed me by being defensively reliable and disciplined, showcasing excellent spatial awareness and stick positioning. His forechecking intelligence, particularly his sense of timing and pressure angles, makes him incredibly disruptive. He’s effective on the penalty kill, cleverly reading opposing power plays and forcing turnovers.

His work ethic and stamina are also notable strengths, enabling him to log heavy minutes and remain impactful late in shifts. With a strong, compact frame, he excels in board battles and net-front scrums, consistently winning positioning and getting above pucks. His soft hands in tight spaces, proficiency on faceoffs and ability to contribute on both special teams further enhance his value as a complete center.

Skating remains his primary area for improvement though. While strong and balanced, his stride can appear heavy and rigid, limiting his agility and acceleration. He can also struggle with puck control when handling difficult passes and occasionally defaults to safe plays when options close quickly. His shot also seems to lack confidence, often directed into the goaltender’s chest rather than the back of the net.

All in all, his hockey sense, maturity and consistency give him a high floor and make him a strong candidate to transition smoothly to the pro level. His playing style and reliability usually leads to winning hockey. In a draft class short on elite centers, he stands out as one of the most well-rounded pivots for the 2026 NHL Draft.

Bring on the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Murnieks-NZ-interception.mp4

Now that’s turning elite defense into offense. Murnieks (#14) reads the play, intercepts the entry pass, and sets up his breakaway teammate, creating a 2-on-0 that results in a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Murnieks-backhand-drop-pass.mp4

Murnieks shows his playmaking prowess here, receiving the puck while driving through the middle and delivering a neat crisscross drop pass to his teammate for the goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-Murnieks-bumper-nolook-feed.mp4

A great example of Murnieks’ assertiveness at the bumper spot. On the powerplay, his sole presence drags two defenders and as he receives the pass, then he sends a nifty backhand no-look feed to his flank teammate for a beautiful tic-tac-toe score at the backdoor.

Rian Chudzinski

Right Wing - Moncton Wildcats

6-foot-1, 190 pounds

A standout for Dexter Southfield School last season, where he posted 27 goals and 52 points in 28 games, Chudzinski is one of the few Americans who signed with the Moncton Wildcats for 2025–26, thanks to the new NCAA eligibility rule change. He’s also committed to play college hockey at Boston University, though he will join after completing his junior career.

He’s been a pleasant surprise so far this season, emerging as one of Moncton’s best scorers. His strengths lie in his remarkable hockey sense, scoring ability and hard-nosed style. He consistently reads and anticipates plays well, finding soft areas to free himself from coverage and supporting teammates effectively. He maintains composure when facing heavy forecheck and plays with high intensity, consistently playing within his strengths and his role.

Chudzinski demonstrates a powerful snapshot from the slot and uses deception to create scoring chances. His puck protection is nearly impenetrable, as he uses his body, shoulders, and back to shield the puck—absorbing contact, maintaining inside positioning, sustaining possession in high-traffic areas and even delivering the occasional reverse hit. He’s contributing as a net-front presence on the power play, proving to be a handful for opposing defensemen.

I was pleasantly surprised by his vision in transition, as he quickly identifies and attacks openings on counterattacks, delivering precise feeds on the rush. He possesses a powerful, balanced skating stride that allows him to generate momentum through turns and maintain control. He’s at his best in the middle of the ice, generating one-timers off the rush and finding weak-side trailers on odd-man opportunities. Defensively, he’s positionally sound, covers open men effectively and disrupts plays with active stickwork. His forechecking is relentless and his situational awareness allows him to recover quickly and sustain pressure.

However, he lacks some pace with the puck, which can cause plays to stagnate a bit. While he executes dump-in entries effectively, developing a more explosive stride could enhance his ability to beat second waves. Additionally, his physical but occasionally undisciplined playing style leads to a relatively high penalty rate, which needs better calibration to avoid hurting his team. I’m eager to see how he develops this season under the guidance of Gardiner MacDougall and as part of a talented Moncton team.

Bring on the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-rian_chudzinski_-_1st_overtime_1_43_-_1_56.mp4

Here, Chudzinski (#22) gives a glimpse of his scoring ability off the rush, freezing the goaltender in overtime with a beautiful top-shelf finish.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-chudzinski_-_3rd_period_9_39_-_9_57.mp4

Watch Chudzinski lead the forecheck here. He’s in first, pinning the 6-foot-4” Will Murphy behind the net. As the scrum builds and the opposing team swarms, Chudzinski stays strong on the puck and supports his teammate, helping them win the battle and come out with possession.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-rian_chudzinski_-_1st_period_14_12_-_14_25.mp4

A great example of Chudzinski’s underrated vision in transition here. After the recovery, his team breaks out, and Chudzinski (#36) jumps in as the trailer. He takes the drop pass, surveys the ice, and threads a gorgeous backdoor feed to his teammate cutting in on the weak side.

Michel Myloserdnyy

Defense - Gatineau Olympiques

6-foot-6, 214 pounds

Myloserdnyy joins the list of prospects whose raw skill set, and towering frame make him an intriguing player for scouts. He began his junior career last season with the Gatineau Olympiques after joining midseason from Stanstead College, appearing in 29 regular-season games and 5 playoff contests. Though his statistics were modest, he demonstrated a strong defensive game and physical presence as a 17-year-old adjusting to major junior hockey.

He stands out as a lofty, physically dominant defenseman who combines reach and aggression to impose himself defensively. At 6-foot-6, he’s exceptionally difficult to beat one-on-one, using his length to steer puck carriers wide and deny zone entries. His defensive-zone coverage is both smart and assertive, marked by active stick positioning and well-timed engagements. He consistently boxes out net-front threats and clears rebounds decisively.

Myloserdnyy plays with a mean, intimidating edge that sets the tone for his team. He’s fearless and relentless, engaging with authority in board battles and making opponents pay the price. His style projects well for playoff hockey, where his blend of reach, bite and suffocating defense becomes even more valuable. He usually remains poised under pressure, executing clean, well-timed breakouts through short, accurate passes or controlled use of the boards. His pre-retrieval scanning shows pro-level awareness, identifying outlets before gaining possession.

While defensively sound, his offensive involvement remains limited. He tends to play conservatively at the blue line, keeping pucks deep and rarely attacking the middle. When given space, however, he’ll attempt subtle fakes or lateral movements to open shooting lanes or advance play toward the slot. Despite his large frame, he’s a reasonably fluid skater, even when backpedaling, though his first-step acceleration and pivots from a standstill still need improvement. Those deficiencies can occasionally affect his recovery when he’s caught flat-footed.

Discipline is another area for refinement. While his physical edge generally benefits his team, he can sometimes cross the line and take unnecessary penalties when emotions run high. I’ll be keeping a close eye on his development this season, as his combination of size, reach and punishing defensive play could intrigue NHL teams, particularly those seeking a physically dominant, playoff-style defender.

Bring on the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-myloserdnyy_-_2nd_period_4_20_-_4_36.mp4

In this sequence, Myloserdnyy (#5) showcased his strong rush defense, reach and physicality, denying zone entries, helping his team regain possession and successfully exit their zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-michel_myloserdnyy_-_3rd_period_0_51_-_1_4.mp4

Here’s another example of Myloserdnyy’s rush defense and disruptive physicality. He steers the play to the perimeter with his reach, deceives the opponent into thinking he’s playing the puck, then engages the body and delivers a blistering open-ice hit.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-myloserdnyy_-_1st_period_4_4_-_4_15.mp4

As the opponent dumps the puck into Gatineau’s zone, Myloserdnyy shows great hand-eye coordination by knocking the puck out of the air, recovering it and finding his breakaway teammate with a crisp stretch pass.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/4-myloserdnyy_-_3rd_period_29_55_-_30_25.mp4

Here’s a bonus clip: Myloserdnyy is always ready to stand up for his teammates — cross the line with them, and you’ll have to answer to him.

Jamison Derksen - North American Video Scout

Xavier Villeneuve

Defense - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

5-foot-11, 162 pounds

Xavier Villeneuve looks like an early candidate to get selected in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft despite the fact that he checks in at 5-foot-11 and not a single sub-six-foot defenceman was drafted last year. The diminutive blueliner is an offensive force in the QMJHL, as he was over a point per game last year in the QMJHL and is already at 20 points this season, good for second in league scoring. He also leads the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in ice time as he plays in all situations for the club.

Villeneuve is a handful to contain in the offensive zone, his elite skating and top notch puckhandling are reminiscent of other young, smaller offensive dynamos such as Lane Hutson and Zayne Parekh. He moves effortlessly and seems to create offense every time he touches the puck. When defending, he relies on excellent skating and nifty stickwork to force turnovers. His shot could be harder, and he definitely needs to get stronger, but his elite attributes should carry him to the next level even as a small defenceman.

Bring on the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1-Villeneuve-goal.mp4

It’s a beautiful goal, but the puckhandling and skating on full display are pretty routine for Villeneuve, this is how he piles up points the way he does.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2-Villeneuve-Assist.mp4

Picks up puck, dekes past opponent, immediately becomes a scoring threat, feeds his teammate for an open shot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-Villeneuve-Defending.mp4

There will never be a debate that Villeneuve’s size is not a factor that he needs to overcome in order to defend effectively, but his skating is so elite and his stickwork is strong enough that he is able to steal pucks and kill plays on the rush.

Felix Sicard - North American Video Scout

Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte

Defense - Val D’Or Foreurs

6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Cossette-Ayotte has all the tools to be a long-time pro. As a 6-foot-1 right-shot defenseman, he checks boxes that teams covet. However, it’s his skating that really draws the intrigue. His four-way mobility has stood out this season, where you’ll often see him seamlessly transitioning from a forward stride to a backward stride, or a change of direction.

The Foreurs defenseman uses that mobility effectively. He hounds opposing puck carriers, both in open ice and along the boards, then deploying his longer reach to disrupt stickhandling sequences.

Once he has the puck, he flashes some advanced breakout sequences, looking off forecheckers before slipping a puck over to a teammate. Of course, that creativity can cut both ways at times, as he’s still finding the balance between making the simple play, and the advanced one. However, the fact that he’s already manipulating opponents on the breakout is promising.

Cossette-Ayotte is also a willing offensive player, looking for seams at the offensive blueline, jumping up into the play, and firing off calculated point shots. There’s still a lot of work to be done both physically and in his risk-reward calculation, but he possesses what it takes to potentially be an impact player at the next level.

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Here, Cossette-Ayotte takes a good angle to the oncoming forward, then closing off time and space by laying the body. He then seamlessly gathers the puck and makes a bump pass along the end boards. This shows both his play killing ability, as well as his breakout fundamentals.

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Here, Cossette-Ayotte smartly tracks the backdoor option, before sprawling out to block a chance on net. This shows how he’s able to use his length and defensive smarts to negate opposing chances.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/3-Benjamin-Cossette-Ayotte-bca_-_fs_-_1st_period_16_48_-_16_58.mp4

Here, Cossette-Ayotte quickly gathers a puck in the defensive-zone, before lobbing it all the way down the ice to spring a breakaway. This shows that he’s able to quickly read the ice and make a creative play, knowing what to do before he even has the puck.

2025 IIHF U18 World Championships – Division A – Players to Watch

Brock Otten — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 11:53:19 +0000

The 2025 IIHF U18’s commence on April 23rd, with Canada looking to repeat as Champions for the first time ever at this event. The odds don’t look terrible for Canada either, as they find themselves in the easier Division A. As is the case in any year, Canada is only as strong as the players they have available to them; those not still involved in the CHL playoffs. So, someone like Caleb Desnoyers will not be playing as he continues to push towards a QMJHL title with Moncton. Finland only has a single bronze at this event in the last five years and this year doesn’t look much more hopeful, considering that this group finished almost dead last at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. Simply put, the 2007 birth year is not a strong one for Finland. Slovakia has finished fourth in back-to-back years and will be pushing to finally reach the podium. They serve as Canada’s most likely top opponent in the group. Latvia and Norway are improving hockey nations, but they are more likely to be battling to avoid relegation than for a medal. Although, Norway did beat the United States in pre-tournament action. This article serves as a preview of Division A, with team expectations and players to watch.

Canada

KANATA, ONTARIO - DECEMBER 27: Canada's Jack Ivankovic #1 looks on during Preliminary Round - Group A action against Latvia at 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on December 27, 2024 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andr Ringuette/IIHF)

It’s always difficult to craft a preview for Canada at this event because they often receive reinforcements after the tournament begins (and this report is published). This year is no different. As of writing this, the following is up in the air: A) The participation of the currently banged up Michael Misa, who has been with the team but not playing or practicing. B) The participation of the rehabbing Matthew Schaefer, who is likely shut down for the season. C) The participation of other recently or not yet eliminated CHL standouts: Jake O Brien, Cole Reschny, Ben Kindel, Cam Reid, Jack Nesbitt, Luca Romano, Landon DuPont, Keaton Verhoeff, and others. Some of those players may not be available, but a few will be.

One of the strengths of this team will be between the pipes. A case could be made that any of Jack Ivankovic, Lucas Beckman, or Burke Hood would be the starting netminders on any team in the tournament and are the three best players at their position in Texas. It’s a great problem to have even though all three can’t play. The fact that the goaltending should be great is important because the defense is going to be the weak spot. Currently, half of Canada’s defense could be made up of underagers. And other than the aforementioned Cam Reid, the other two possible big additions (DuPont and Verhoeff) are also underagers. As the 8-3 pre-tournament drubbing from Sweden could indicate, the defense might be a bit shaky.

Players to Watch:

As mentioned, there are likely to be other key members added, but this list is based off of official additions thus far.

Jackson Smith - Defense

Team Canada is going to need a lot from this smooth skating, two-way blueliner. With a strong performance at this event, he has a chance to solidify his position as the second best blueliner available this year. Scouts will be closely monitoring his decision making, but his upside is sky high.

Jack Ivankovic - Goaltender

While any of Beckman, Hood, or Ivankovic could be Canada’s starter, the Brampton Steelheads netminder seems like the odds-on favourite to log the most minutes based off of his Hlinka/Gretzky performance. He’s not huge, but he’s lightning quick. He’s had some trouble with consistency and allowing some weaker goals this season, so that will be something to monitor.

Braeden Cootes - Center

Slated to be Canada’s top line center at the event, Cootes plays such an admirable high energy game. Yes, he's a skilled playmaker and finisher, but he also loves to push the pace and attack through the middle of the ice. The likely first round selection in 2025 is a candidate to lead Canada in scoring.

Brady Martin - Center/Wing

A natural center, it looks as though Canada will employ Martin on the wing for the U18’s. Much like Cootes, Martin is a player with limitless energy who plays that rugged three zone game. He’s going to bring physicality to every shift, but he’s also going to be counted on to create offensively and be a go-to scorer.

Ryan Roobroeck - Wing

A name that Canadians may not be completely familiar with yet because of his late birthday and the fact that he’s not eligible for the NHL draft until next year. However, Roobroeck is the real deal as a goal scorer. He can score from anywhere and he can play a power game that will be needed for this tournament.

Cameron Schmidt - Wing

At this point, Schmidt seems like one of the 2025 Draft’s biggest wildcards. He can score with the best of them. He’s also a terrific skater and a tenacious player. However, he’s also undersized and consistency from shift to shift has been an issue. He has a lot to prove in this tournament.

Alex Huang - Defense

A late addition to this team, Huang is someone who can hopefully help to stabilize the back end. He paired with Matthew Schaefer on the top pairing at the Hlinka/Gretzky and was solid. Now he’ll need to provide more offensively and play a bit of a different role.

Finland

As stated, this group of 2007 born players has yet to truly inspire confidence in their ability to perform well internationally based on their previous performances. This group finished seventh out of eighth at the past summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. Previously, they finished dead last at the 2023 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. Consistency was an issue at both Nations tournaments. Simply put, expectations are low at this year’s Under 18’s. Are they at risk of losing to the upstart nations of Norway and Latvia? This same group lost to Germany at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and Norway might just have a better team than Germany did at that event.

Players to Watch:

Lasse Boelius - Defense

Finland’s top blueliner at this event, Boelius is going to receive all the ice time that he can handle, in pretty much every situation. He’s a mobile two-way defender who has shown a great ability to use his quick feet to create chances inside the offensive blueline. Scouts will be keeping an eye on his physical engagement level and decision making at the event, but he’s a candidate to be the first Finnish player off the board in Los Angeles.

Jesper Kotajarvi - Defense

Kotajarvi came into the season as the top rated Finnish player in this class, but a disappointing draft season in the Tappara program has seen him tumble into the mid round range. Kotajarvi has offensive upside as a puck mover, and to his credit, he finished the season on a high note. Can a strong performance at the U18’s help him regain some of his previous clout?

Atte Joki - Center

Two-way power center who will be one of Finland’s most critical players at the event. He was one of the team’s best and most productive forwards at the Hlinka/Gretzky, and even though he hasn’t had a terrific year in the Finnish U20 league, he remains a candidate for the top 100 in 2025 thanks to his upside as a middle six pro.

Max Westergard - Wing

Few forwards in this entire tournament enter with more draft momentum and confidence than Westergard, who was sensational for Frolunda in the SHL playoffs in a depth role. The late season call-up really showcased improvement in Westergard’s off puck play. However, he’s also going to need to be excellent on the puck if Finland has a chance of making the semi finals at the U18’s.

Patrik Kerkola - Goaltender

There’s no guarantee that Kerkola starts. It’s likely that he and Jooa Sammalniemi split starts in the round robin games. However, we’d argue that Kerkola is the more talented goaltender and has a better chance of stealing games for Finland. He hasn’t had the kind of draft year expected of him, but he’s still a potential selected in 2025.

Vertti Svensk - Defense

Svensk was a standout for Finland at the most recent Nations event, emerging as one of the team’s most effective defenders. His four way mobility is excellent and he really walks the blueline well. He also plays with some jam in the defensive end and shows upside as a two-way defender. A late born 2007, Svensk isn’t eligible until the 2026 NHL Draft.

Slovakia

Luka Radivojevič

Slovakia has finished fourth in back-to-back tournaments, and while you’d love to have seen them medal, making back-to-back semifinal appearances is still an impressive feat in this tournament. Can they make it three straight semifinal appearances this year? The division is wide open and it’s not inconceivable to suggest that the Slovaks are the favourites to finish in the top two of their group. This is a very experienced Slovak team, with eight members of the team returning from last year’s tournament, including five of their top seven scorers. That is valuable in a high-pressure event like the U18’s.

Players to Watch:

Luka Radivojevic - Defense

The skilled, but undersized defender surprisingly led Slovakia in scoring at last year’s tournament as an underager. He returns this year after a season in the USHL with Muskegon, where he was a strong offensive contributor. His ranking for the draft is a hotly debated topic, with a very wide range of outcomes and is true among the members of our staff as well. His performance at the U18’s is going to be closely scrutinized.

Jan Chovan - Center

At this point, Chovan’s performance for Slovakia internationally is keeping him afloat as a potential top three round candidate because his season in the Finnish U20 league has been underwhelming. Something about playing for his country brings out the best in him and we’d expect nothing less here. The power pivot loves to get to the net and he’s a consistent two-way presence. The Slovaks will need him to be an offensive leader.

Alex Misiak - Wing

The brother of Chicago Blackhawks prospect Martin Misiak, Alex finished this past season in the USHL with Waterloo after starting the year in the Slovak pro league. Misiak is a strong skating winger with a nose for the net and the ability to be a solid support player. He’s slated to be a mid-round selection currently but could do wonders for his stock with a strong performance here.

Michal Svrcek - Wing

Svrcek is a high energy, complementary winger who is dangerous because of his elite speed. He is aggressive in his pursuit of the puck, and he may just be the best goal scoring option on this Slovak team. After a strong year in Sweden, he hopes to use this tournament to improve his stock further.

Michal Pradel - Goaltender

According to NHL Central Scouting, no goaltender did more for their draft stock in the second half of the season after he moved to the USHL with Tri-City. The massive netminder is a near lock to be the team’s starter and he’ll look to carry that momentum and strong play into this tournament.

Adam Nemec - Wing

One of a few strong 2026 NHL Draft eligible players on this Slovak roster, Nemec may just be the best of the bunch. The younger brother of New Jersey Devils defender Simon Nemec, Adam was terrific for a U18 player in the Slovak pro leagues this year. He’s aggressive, physical, and a skilled finisher.

Norway

The Norwegians make their third straight appearance in the main group of the U18’s, only this year they hope to avoid playing in the relegation round. They’ve managed to avoid relegation the last two years and they may not be so lucky the third time around if they find themselves there again. But this is a strong Norwegian team on paper. Their pre-tournament victory over the U.S. was no fluke. Norway could have as many as three or four 2025 NHL selections on this roster and a few solid candidates for 2026 too. They’ll likely have a solid powerplay and top line. It will come down to the kind of goaltending they get.

Players to Watch:

Mikkel Eriksen - Center

Likely the straw that stirs the drink for Norway at this tournament, Eriksen is an intelligent, playmaking pivot who had a great season in the Swedish J20 league this year. The nephew of Norwegian legend Espen Knutsen, Eriksen is a likely selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. He had four goals at last year’s tournament as an underager, so look for him to have a solid tournament this time around too.

Tinus Luc Koblar - Center

A favourite of our Swedish scouts, especially Felix Robbins, Luc Koblar is a strong skating, high energy forward who has been a huge draft riser through the second half of this season thanks to strong play down the stretch for Leksands J20. The big forward oozes upside thanks to great physical tools. The rest of our scouting team is very intrigued by him heading into this tournament and he’ll be watched closely.

Niklas Aaram-Olsen - Wing

A top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft and one of the top 2008 born players slated to play in this tournament, Aaram-Olsen is a winger who combines size and skill to be an effective scorer. Only potential top three pick Viggo Bjorck had more points as a U17 player in the Swedish J20 league this past season. Already named as a top three player for the Norwegians at last year’s tournament, it’ll be interesting to see how much better he is this year.

Latvia

The Latvians are working on a three year streak of making the quarterfinals at this event and they have a great chance of making it four years straight, even if they’ll be relying on underagers to be their best players. If we’ve learned anything about Latvia from recent international tournaments, it’s that they can’t be counted out. They are scrappy and they find ways to win.

Players to Watch:

Olivers Murnieks - Center

Unquestionably Latvia’s top player, even as an underager. You could make the argument that Murnieks was Latvia’s top skater at the World Juniors this year. The well-proportioned pivot was one of the highest scoring 2008 born players in the USHL this past year. While Murnieks isn’t a dynamic skater, he is equally skilled as a playmaker and finisher and has the upside to be a first round NHL selection in 2026.

Rudolfs Berzkalns - Wing

A Boston College commit, Berzkalns has played in the U.S. the last few seasons, first with the BK Selects program and in the USHL with Muskegon this past season. He played for Latvia at the WJC’s but saw very little ice time. A strong skater with good offensive instincts and advanced puck protection habits, look for him to play alongside Murnieks. This is a name to watch for the 2026 NHL Draft, as like Murnieks, Berzkalns is an underager at this event.

Karlis Flugins - Wing

Flugins came to Flint of the OHL this year with a fair amount of hype, but he really struggled with the Firebirds. It’s clear that he is a smart player, but his skating and strength need improvement if he wants to be a high-end OHL player. A late born 2007, Flugins isn’t eligible for the NHL draft until 2026. It will be interesting to see how he performs at this event, where he’ll receive way more ice time than he received in the OHL this season.

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: 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?