Patrik Kerkola – McKeen's Hockey

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 NHL DRAFT: Summer of 25′ – Introducing Finland

Brock Otten, Steven Graves, Josh Bell, Jeremy Rivet — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 15:31:56 +0000

Rasmus Kämäräinen, Lasse Boelius, Atte Joki
Photo: Michael Campanella / BILDBYRÅN

It has only been a month or so since the 2024 NHL Draft in Vegas. However, that hasn’t stopped us from thinking about the 2025 Draft.

Welcome to a series at McKeen’s Hockey that aims to introduce you to some of the top prospects from each region for 2025. The disclaimer is that…it’s early. The names on these lists are not likely to be the exact same as the ones you see next June. However, we thought it was important for you to know some of the top players heading into the season.

Next up is the region of Finland. For this, we have included some non Finnish players who played out of Finland last season (including two Czechs and a Slovak). Overall, this is looking like a major down year for the region. This ‘07 group of Finns finished last at last year’s World Under 17 Hockey Challenge and then second last at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky. If not for the included imports, this list would appear even weaker. But, as mentioned, it is still extremely early.

#1 - Jesper Kotajarvi - Defenseman - Tappara - Liiga (profile by Steven Graves)

Jesper Kotajarvi is as of now, the best prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft out of Finland. Kotajarvi, a left-shot defenseman, played with Tappara's U20 team last season and has several promising facets to his game that could get NHL teams excited come draft day. Kotajarvi has consistently played up age groups - at 15 he played in the Finnish second tier men’s league where he got in 5 games. Although not the biggest in stature, he makes up for it with his offensive game.

Kotajarvi's offensive skills are what really impresses in his game. He demonstrates a modern approach to defense, employing pace, tempo, and deception effectively in the offensive zone. Kotajarvi loves to activate from the blue line - it reflects a proactive mindset rather than a passive one at the blue line. This approach can sometimes result in mistakes, but Kotajarvi’s resilience and ability to quickly recover from errors are of note.

Kotajarvi's skating and puck-handling skills are the two attributes I think best highlight his potential. As of late, we are seeing more defenders focus on these attributes with their games growing up and Kotajarvi is no exception. He effectively leads breakouts, drives the puck up the ice, and uses his edgework to maneuver through opponents. His agility and footwork allow him to maintain speed and handle the puck smoothly under pressure. Kotajarvi’s puck skills at the blue line are modern and fluid. He uses head fakes, deception, and lateral movements to create opportunities, showing a high level of creativity and awareness. His stats reflect consistent production at various levels, which is a good indicator of future success. Although he might not be an immediate top producer in Liiga, his offensive and defensive skills offer a solid foundation

While Kotajarvi’s defensive game still has areas for growth, particularly in box-outs and stickwork, his lateral agility and ability to close gaps using his feet are promising. His ability to sidestep and catch up to opponents with his skating is a significant asset in the defensive zone. As Kotajarvi matures, there is hope for not only physical growth, but the continued improvement of his defensive game.

Overall, Kotajarvi has the potential to become a top-four NHL defender. Although it looks to be a weaker crop from Finland, and their performance at the Hlinka is a testament to that - Kotajarvi is one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723907161.mp4

This shows Kotajarvi’s abilities in transition and how he can single handedly get zone entries even when he is pressured. He makes a few stick moves as he is skating up ice and the US defender bites and it allows him to attack open ice for the clean zone entry.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723934243.mp4

Here is Kotajarvi making a smart play in the offensive zone. The puck pops out to him at the point after a scramble in front of the net - everyone on the ice including the goalie is expecting a shot because of how the goalie is out of posituion, but Kotajarvi defies expectations and moves the puck over to his winger on the left sidewall for an easy goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723932867.mp4

Here is Kotajarvi doing something he doesn’t do very often - He lays his body on a forward not expecting it and gets the best of him. If he can continue his physical growth and we see more of this in the future, I like Kotajarvi’s potential!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723934696.mp4

Here shows Kotajarvi’s understanding in the offensive zone, he sees a lane for a shot, and gets a good chance as his teammate is screening the goalie, barely missing wide. He then repositions himself and sees a turnover is taking place - he pivots and lurks his way behind the defence for a quick release after a nice cross ice pass from his teammate.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/5-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723934186.mp4

This play really shows off Kotajarvi’s speed, and transitional ability. The goalie does a terrible job in tracking this puck, but Kotajarvi was smart with how he shoves the puck in the feet of the defender so the goalie would have difficulty tracking it.

#2 - Lasse Boelius - Defenseman - Ässät U20 (profile by Jeremy Rivet)

Lasse Boelius is a 6-foot, two-way puck moving defenseman that has played in the Ässät program since he was 14 years old. He graduated from Ässät’s U18 team to their U20 team last year and he might be able to play some games in Liiga for them this year. His progression through Ässät’s different junior teams has been consistent as he has pushed through the different levels. As of now, his production level has always risen from about 0.5 points per game in the first year to about a point per game season in the second season, which shows that he is able to adapt quickly to the higher level. Recently, he was playing top three defenseman minutes for Finland in the recent Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, and he was probably their most effective defenseman.

Boelius is the type of player that is not exceptional at anything but quite good in a lot of areas. His biggest strengths are his mobility and his ability to escape the pressure from the back of his net to start the breakout or the transition. His first passes are generally good and his vision as a powerplay general could be something to watch this year as the year goes on and his confidence increases. When he has a chance, he likes to support the attack in transition or by pinching at the right time in the offensive zone to keep the attack alive. Lasse Boelius is not the most physical guy, if not physical at all, but he is intelligent with his stick to take pucks away or to cut passing lanes. Even though he is not a punishing defenseman, he is not afraid to use his body to win battles along the boards or to close the blue line.

The main thing that he needs to improve is his positioning in the defensive zone. We can see that he thinks a lot more about offense and sometimes he gets caught out of position or puck watching which causes him to lose his check. He will also need to clean up the precision of his passes and to be less risky in his play. Sometimes he makes sloppy passes or imprecise passes that lead to interceptions and counter attacks from the opponent. So, he will have to be careful with his puck management and be more conscious of the context of the game. Another area of his game that he should improve is his gap control. I mainly think that this is a part of his game that will get better by getting more used to the pace of the game at a higher level.

This season, Lasse’s goal will be to show that he can continue his offensive progression by raising his production, while also improving the different areas of his defensive game. Additionally, it would be great for him to play some games in Liiga to gain valuable experience at pro level.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Lasse-Boelius-Mobility-and-Transition.mp4

Here we can see a good example of Boelius’ mobility and capacity to break the pressure to start the transition. He used his speed and his hands to beat three Czech players followed by a pass that led to an odd man rush. Yes, dangling the puck in front of the net against three opponents is not the best thing to do usually, but in that case it worked.

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Being the general on the powerplay might be what he likes the most. We can see in this sequence the confidence he has distributing the puck and directing pucks to the net from the point. A great no look pass also which is something he does often.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-Lasse-Boelius-Defensive-Play.mp4

A couple defensive miscues are highlighted here. First of all, he decided to pinch for no reason, which almost led to a 2 on 1 on the other side. Additionally, in the defensive zone, he looks soft in the battles along the boards, and he is caught watching the puck instead of quickly identifying the player he needs to mark.

#3 - Eetu Orpana - Centre - Tappara U20 (Profile by Josh Bell)

Eetu Orpana is a centreman who has drawn attention with his well-rounded game and impressive hockey IQ. Standing at 6-foot, 194 pounds, Orpana has a solid frame that he uses effectively in all three zones. His skating is fluid and powerful, allowing him to keep up with the pace of the game and make quick transitions from defence to offense.

Offensively, Orpana is a playmaker first and foremost. He has excellent vision and the ability to find open teammates in tight spaces. His passing is crisp and accurate, often threading the needle through defenders to set up high-danger scoring chances. While not primarily a goal-scorer, Orpana is quick on rebounds and does well at getting to the net front to jump on pucks. How this will transition to higher levels may be a question mark though. His ability to read the play and anticipate the movement of both his teammates and opponents makes him a constant threat in the offensive zone.

Defensively, Orpana is reliable and responsible. He understands the importance of positioning and is often seen supporting his defencemen down low. His active stick and ability to disrupt passing lanes make him effective on the penalty kill, and he’s not afraid to engage physically when necessary. Orpana’s two-way game is complemented by his work ethic; he’s a player who consistently puts in the effort on both ends of the ice.

One area for improvement is Orpana’s consistency in using his physicality. While he has the size to be more dominant in puck battles, he sometimes relies too much on his stick rather than using his body to separate opponents from the puck. Developing a more aggressive edge could make him an even more dominant player.

Overall, Orpana is a smart, versatile forward with the potential to develop into a reliable middle-six forward at the professional level. His combination of playmaking, hockey sense, and defensive responsibility makes him a valuable asset in any lineup. Unfortunately, rather mysteriously, he never played at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky, despite making Finland’s roster with the expectation that he would be a go-to player for them. Thus, we haven’t gotten a glimpse of his progression this season like we have others on this list.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Eetu-Orpana-Assist.mp4

Here, you can see Orpana’s playmaking ability as he works below the red line on the Finnish power play. Despite his teammate being between three defenders, he one-touches the pass perfectly to set up the one-time, go-ahead goal.

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This clip gives a good example of both Orpana’s strengths and weaknesses in puck protection. Passing the first defender, he cuts in front to take away their access to the puck, using his stick to create separation. After circling the net though, you can see he’s too reliant on his stick and doesn’t position his body between the defender and puck. On this play, it works out though as he dishes the puck to a teammate and then hunts down the rebound for the goal.

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Orpana shows off his commitment to defence here, racing back to disrupt the transition, and rubbing the opponent off the puck. Seeing him do this more would go a long way in improving his draft stock. This clip also shows his skating stride, which isn’t perfect as he doesn’t get full extensions.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-Eetu-Orpana-Goal.mp4

The Finn’s goals seem to come in very similar ways: rebounds or from standing in front of the net. While the quick adjustment here to find open net is good, it does beg the question of whether he’ll be able to do this at the next level against tougher competition. This season will be very telling.

#4 - Tomas Poletin - Left Winger - Pelicans U20 (profile by Jeremy Rivet)

Tomas Poletin is a 6-foot-1 power forward type of player that plays on the wing, but he was also taking some faceoffs, mainly on the penalty kill and on the power play, during the most recent Hlinka-Gretzky tournament for Czechia. Poletin was the captain of the team during the tournament and was one of the best players of the Czech side that went all the way to the final before losing the gold medal game against Canada. He spent the last season in Finland in the Pelicans’ program, sharing his time between the U18 and the U20 teams. Before going to Finland, the Czech was playing in Czechia for HC Slavia Praha U17 where he dominated the league by averaging more than a point per game (53 pts in 36 games).

The parts of Poletin’s game that really stand out are his ability to protect the puck using his strength and his penchant for finding his way to the net. He really has a presence around the crease and that’s where he has scored most of his goals. He is tenacious in front of the net, and he is always fighting for rebounds. His strength makes him hard to contain for the opponent. Another area of his game that Poletin was able to show during the tournament was his decent playmaking ability. Even if he looked more like a complement on a line than the one driving it, he was good at creating space for his teammates and distributing the puck in the offensive zone. Even then, after dishing off, he finds a way to take the middle lane to the net; he has a clear understanding of his strengths. On the physical side, he competes at a high level along the boards, he is tenacious on the forecheck, and he completes most of his checks. I said “most” because it’s true that he could be more consistent physically given his size.

Something to not underestimate about Tomas Poletin is that he can be versatile and be used in all situations. That is what he showed at the Hlinka-Gretzky by being the man his coach trusted for defensive missions like on the penalty kill and when protecting a lead at the end of a game.

With all the positive stuff being said, there are some areas in Poletin’s game that will need to improve for him to take another step next season. One of them is his agility and explosivity. He possesses quite good speed once he gets going but his first few steps will need to be better for him to be able to translate his game at the pro level. He will also need to improve his capacity to execute plays at a higher pace. It is not bad, but I think all of that is linked with his ability to get quicker and being used to higher game pace at the upper levels.

From what I have seen from him, I do think that Tomas Poletin has all the tools (the size, the skating, the hands and the versatility) to be a good player in the NHL and especially the type of player that will help a team to win in the playoffs. Whether or not he will reach his potential will be decided by how he can translate his offensive game at the pro level this year with hopefully some games in the Liiga.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Tomas-Poletin-Net-Presence.mp4

This sequence highlights the presence he has in front of the net and his intensity to retrieve rebounds.

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Excellent forecheck here from Poletin. He makes his run to cut the D-to-D pass behind the net, completes his check to create a turnover, then drives the net to receive the pass and scores in an open net.

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We can see here that he has decent playmaking ability, and he is able to read the play and locate his teammates. He receives the puck from the blue line, attacks the net and makes a great backhand pass to his teammates in front of the net for a great scoring chance.

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As mentioned, even if he has good straight-line speed, his agility and explosivity need to improve. Here we see Poletin on the forecheck getting beat twice by a quick change of direction that put Poletin completely out of play.

#5 - Dominik Pavlik - Center - Kärpät U20 (profile by Brock Otten)

One of Czechia’s top players at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky Cup (where the Czechs captured silver), Pavlik is composed, two-way power center. While he was technically the team’s third line center, he anchored both special teams’ units and was one of the team’s most utilized forwards overall. Last season, Pavlik made the move to Finland in the Karpat program, playing out most of the year as part of their U18 team, finishing as their leading scorer by a significant margin. This year, Pavlik was drafted by Moose Jaw (of the WHL) in the CHL Import draft, but he is apparently going to return to Finland instead and try to earn a significant role with the Karpat U20 team, or even the main club.

The major allure here is Pavlik’s mature, complete game. He’s a player without any real deficiencies in his game. He plays that power center game to a tee. Pavlik competes hard at both ends and shows an advanced understanding of off puck positioning, which is why he’s so versatile. He is most successful offensively deep in the offensive zone, winning battles below the goal line to earn/maintain possession or getting to the net front to screen or earn second chance opportunities. With possession of the puck, he drives the center lane and looks to get to the net. Pavlik also flashes a high end shot and scoring potential. He has quick hands and is able to finish on a large portion of the chances that his hard work and determination earn him.

As he begins his draft year, the focus for scouts will be on determining his offensive upside as a pro. A good skater who shows power on net drives, Pavlik protects the puck well and is strong along the wall, but in open ice, he can lack the creativity or agility to consistently evade pressure. Additionally, I have questions about his overall playmaking ability as a pivot, as he can skate himself into trouble. That can definitely be improved, but he currently looks more like a quality third line option ala Lars Eller, Brandon Sutter, or Radek Faksa, than a future scoring line player.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Pavlik this season. Can he earn time with Karpat in Liiga or will he play out most of the year in the U20 league? Will he decide to come over to play in the WHL with Moose Jaw? His game would translate really well to the WHL and he would likely get top six ice time with some talented players (even if Moose Jaw doesn’t project to be quite as good as they were last season).

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A beautiful goal scored by Pavlik against Germany at the Hlinka/Gretzky. Great power and finish here as he cuts to the net and buries it.

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As mentioned, Pavlik is so effective driving the net and for that reason, he has been able to draw a ton of penalties during his international appearances for Czechia over the last year or so.

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One of those situations where Pavlik skates himself into trouble, he commits a terrible turnover at the opposing blueline. But the hustle on the backcheck to neutralize the scoring chance was impressive. Pavlik was extremely effective in his own end at the Hlinka/Gretzky.

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Another tough offensive zone turnover high in the zone. These seem to be too commonplace in his game currently.

#6 - Patrik Kerkola - Goaltender - KalPa (Profile by Josh Bell)

Patrik Kerkola is a young goaltender who has shown significant promise with his athleticism and composure in the crease, earning one call up to the Liiga already and two games in the Mestis playoffs. Standing at 6-foot-1, 194 pounds, Kerkola has a prototypical goalie frame that allows him to cover a lot of the net, but it’s his quick reflexes and lateral movement that truly set him apart.

Kerkola’s athleticism is one of his standout qualities. He has excellent footwork, which enables him to move quickly across the crease and make difficult saves look routine. His ability to track the puck is impressive, and he rarely seems out of position, even during chaotic sequences in front of the net. Kerkola’s glove hand is particularly strong, often snatching pucks out of the air with ease, and he’s adept at controlling rebounds, directing them to safe areas or covering them up to prevent second-chance opportunities.

In terms of technique, Kerkola plays a hybrid style, effectively combining the butterfly and stand-up approaches depending on the situation. He is calm under pressure and rarely overcommits, which helps him maintain his positioning and make smart decisions, even when facing high-danger scoring chances. His ability to stay square to the shooter and his patience in not biting on dekes or fakes make him tough to beat one-on-one.

However, like many young goaltenders, Kerkola has areas that could benefit from further development. One aspect is his puck-handling skills. While not a significant weakness, becoming more confident and effective with the puck would enhance his overall game and help his team transition quickly from defence to offense. Additionally, knowing when to stand tall and protect the top of the net would be beneficial, as would extra work on the blocker side, just above the pad. These areas are where he seems to let more pucks in so far in his career.

Overall, Patrik Kerkola has the tools to develop into a reliable starting goaltender at the professional level. His combination of size, athleticism, and composure in the net makes him a player with significant upside, and with continued development, he could become a key piece for any team looking for stability between the pipes. It would appear that Kerkola will be joining the Barrie Colts of the OHL this season, where he will have a chance to backstop a potentially solid junior team.

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After his defender turns it over at his own blue line, Kerkola does an excellent job of challenging the shooter, cutting down the angle, while sticking with the shooter as he cuts across, making an excellent pad stop.

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Here, Kerkola makes this save look easy. But, he needs to find the puck through traffic and then react to the deflection in front of the net. You can notice his quick adjustment to ensure he not only stops the puck but swallows up the rebound.

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Kerkola tracks this puck very well, especially considering his team left the attacker wide-open in front of the net. The netminder needs to push to the left and then quickly to the right to stick with the puck carrier and then needs to reach out with that quick glove to bail his defence out. This shows off some precision in his footwork, his positioning, and his glove.

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This is an example of a high goal that Kerkola likely should have had. He crouches down too far, not preparing himself for a potentially high backhand shot.

#7 - Jasu Mensonen - Center - Lukko U20 (profile by Jeremy Rivet)

Jasu Mensonen is an average size two-way player that played on the wing last season (at times) in Finland but played center in the last Hlinka-Gretzky tournament. Even though he ended the tournament with only one point in the four games Finland played, he was one of the most heavily utilized forwards. Mensonen is the property of the Lukko team in Finland and he spent the last three seasons in their junior program. He graduated from the U16 to the U18 after he registered an over point per game season in the U16, and at his first season at the U18 level, he was able to once again produce at a point per game pace at 16 years old. Last year, he split his time between the U18 and U20 levels and continued to produce at a high rate.

Mensonen is a player that has a very complete game already at a young age. He competes hard despite his smaller size; he likes to go into traffic, he possesses a good vision to make plays that often leads to scoring chances, and he is very responsible with his play without the puck. One of the things we can notice in Mensonen’s play is that he is always in movement to be an option to his teammates, and he is well aware of his surroundings. His capacity to process what is happening on the ice is excellent and he often knows what play he is going to do before getting the puck. Also, a skill that is important in today’s hockey is skating and Jasu Mensonen possesses that skill. He is fast and he has excellent edge work which helps him to beat opponents when he carries the puck or plays down low in the offensive zone.

The defensive part of the game of Jasu Mensonen was impressive for a 17-year-old during the Hlinka-Gretzky. He was very responsible in all three zones, and he had great positioning all over the ice. He used his speed to backcheck and take away the puck from the opponent a couple of times. He had an active stick to cut passing lanes and intercept the puck in the defensive zone. On the forecheck, he is tenacious and intense, and he is not afraid to finish checks, although he is not a physical guy. During the tournament, he did not play a lot of penalty kill minutes but given the quality of his play without the puck, I could see him as a good penalty killer in the future.

There are not a lot of holes in Mensonen’s game, but it will be interesting to see if he will be able to translate the offensive production he had in the last few years to the U20 level and eventually at the pro level. He looks to still have room to grow to become stronger and even taller by a couple of inches maybe. If all those things go well, I think he can be a useful player that can play up and down the lineup and that can be trusted by his coach on the defensive side.

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On this shift, we can see the speed and the agility of Mensonen. He retrieves the puck in the neutral zone, quickly dangles to beat the opponent and attacks the offensive zone. A bit later, he fights for the puck behind the net and protects the puck well as he keeps moving.

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This sequence shows his good playmaking ability. He seems to be everywhere on that shift because he keeps his feet moving, controls the puck, and uses his vision to find his teammates in open spaces for scoring chances.

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In this video, we see Mensonen completing his check on the forecheck, then backcheck, block the shot, before starting to transition the other way. Later, he makes a good backcheck to deny a potential 2-on-1 situation by using his speed and by properly identifying the player to mark and cutting the passing lane. Those are all small details that make a difference in a game.

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One thing that he needs to be careful of is not trying to do too much and having better puck management. Here, he turns the puck over twice because he tries to dangle an opponent in the defensive zone and because he tries to precipitate a pass when he has two players on him.

#8 - Jan Chovan - Center - Tappara U20 (profile by Brock Otten)

Unlike Czechia center Dominik Pavlik, who only came to Finland a year ago as an import, Slovak center Jan Chovan has been playing out of Finland for several years now as part of the Tappara program. The son of former national team netminder Jan Chovan (of the same name), junior has been a fixture of the Slovak U17 and U18 teams the last few seasons, leading Slovakia in scoring at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. Interestingly enough, Jan was drafted by Sudbury (OHL) in this year’s Import Draft, but it remains to be seen whether he will be staying in Finland, rather than playing in the Ontario Hockey League as his father did back in the day (with Belleville and London).

Chovan commands attention in the offensive zone. He’s difficult to separate from the puck and he has the skill to evade pressure and keep plays alive down low. His line with Andreas Straka and Michal Svrcek dominated the Hlinka/Gretzky at times and were easily Slovakia’s most consistent unit at the event. He shows strong vision and anticipation in the offensive zone; his patience and poise with the puck makes him an effective playmaker. However, he also shows strong instincts away from the puck, using his size to play near the net and impact the game as a forechecker/backchecker. There’s definitely a strong two-way upside here.

For Chovan, it’s all about consistency. Consistency in his two-way play. Consistency in his physical assertiveness and engagement. Being more driven to earn puck touches, rather than float as a passing option. If that improves, he could be a dominant two-way center and someone who could find himself a top two round pick in June. Additionally, there’s room for him to improve his explosiveness and overall skating profile to help him create time and space for himself more consistently.

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Tremendous pass by Chovan as he sets up Slovakia’s second goal in the 5th place game at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky.

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There are times where Chovan seems to struggle playing with pace. He’s at his best working as a complement, but when tasked with gaining the zone or leading the charge, he can struggle to maintain possession at full speed.

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This is a poor defensive play by Chovan as he fails to tie up his man as he cuts to the net front, allowing him to score.

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Conversely, here’s a great defensive play by Chovan that leads to a turnover and the eventual game winner in overtime against Switzerland. This is the physical intensity he needs to bring to every shift/game.

#9 - Atte Joki - Center - Lukko U20 (Profile by Steven Graves)

Joki - like the rest of his Finnish teammates was having himself a forgettable tournament at the Hlinka, that was until the game against Switzerland for 7th place where Joki exploded for four points in the game. Joki, a center out of Lukko’s development system is a guy that may lack high end upside, but is someone who can be valuable as a role player for the teams he plays on. He isn’t the most fleet of foot and has trouble creating offense for himself but he loves going to battle for pucks in corners and in front of the net. Players like this, NHL teams love, so although he has some warts to his game, NHL scouts will be paying attention to Joki this year.

Joki’s skating lacks the explosiveness and agility that NHL teams drool over nowadays. His strides are somewhat labored, and his top-end speed is not particularly impressive. This limitation affects his ability to create by himself in transition and he can struggle with zone entries because of it. Joki’s skating issues can be especially apparent when he's pressured by quicker opponents or when he needs to chase down pucks in the defensive zone. His mobility, while it gets the job done, doesn’t allow him to consistently create separation or cover ground as effectively as other players.

Joki loves to use his physical presence to his advantage, particularly in front of the net. Joki’s ability to establish and maintain position in the crease is a key element of his game and one that will bring him the most attention from scouts. His strength and body positioning make him a challenging opponent for defenders and goalies alike. Joki is not shy about using his size to his advantage, and his willingness to battle for space in the high-traffic areas of the ice often results in scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Joki has a keen sense for where pucks are likely to land after a save - his ability to position himself effectively allows him to capitalize on these second-chance opportunities. Joki’s size and strength play a role here, as he can use his frame to shield the puck and fend off defenders while maintaining control while fighting for pucks.

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In this clip, Joki quickly picks the puck up with momentum on an odd man rush, and before the defender has a chance to close off his shooting lane, Joki gets off a quick, well placed snap shot for the goal.

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This clip showcases two things - it shows how poor of a skater Joki is and it shows his tenacity and determination. He has all the open ice in the world and has a massive head start on the breakaway after stripping the puck, but the defender on the opposite side of the ice is able to close the gap quick after being multiple strides behind Joki, and catches up to him by the time they’re at the faceoff dots. Joki falls and scores a real nice goal while sliding along the ice, showcasing how he doesn’t give up on plays and how he has a knack of sneaking pucks past the goalie in front of the net.

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Here is a nice assist from Joki from the Hlinka - he attacks 4 defenders head on, and is able to leverage his size and balance to get through contact. He makes his way past the defense and makes a nice pass over to his teammate for a nice cross ice pass that leads to a goal. I love his physicality here and his ability to use it to his advantage.

#10 - Jooa Sammalniemi - Goaltender - Lukko U20

Finland’s back-up internationally at the U18 level right now (behind Kerkola), Sammalniemi looks like a decent prospect in his own right. Over the last decade or so, Finland has been averaging 2-3 netminders selected in the NHL draft per class, so it’s likely he ends up receiving draft attention with a strong year in the U20 league (and internationally).

As you might expect given his lack of ideal size (listed at 6’0 currently), Jooa Sammalniemi is a traditional butterfly netminder who relies on quickness and reaction time to make saves. He shows well covering his posts and can be aggressive in challenging shooters to make up for his lack of stature. While he wasn’t really able to show a lot at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky Cup (due to Kerkola starting most games), Sammalniemi has shown a great compete level at previous international tournaments, like the U17’s, battling to make second and third chance saves. In 2023, he was named the best goaltender in the FInnish U16 league and that accolade has been bestowed upon some pretty good goalies in the past, such as Juuse Saros Kaapo Kahkonen.

However, Sammalniemi has a lot to work on. He can struggle to save shots to the upper part of the net, given his lack of size. His glove hand needs to improve, and he needs to get even quicker to get to the top of the blue paint to challenge shooters so that he doesn’t get caught too deep. Additionally, he needs to do a better job of fighting through screens/traffic to find sight lines, again, pointing to a need to be more aggressive in his movement. Sammalniemi can also struggle positionally. He drops down to the butterfly too early and does not always have his angles covered, again giving up too much of the upper portion of the net. At times, it seems like his play tracking ability is a tad slow, leaving him late to react.

How he performs full time at the U20 level in Finland will dictate whether he ends up being a serious draft prospect this season. With Kerkola in Barrie this year (unconfirmed, but…a done deal), Sammalniemi should also get the bulk of playing time at tournaments like the Four and Five Nations, ahead of another likely role at the IIHF U18’s to end the year. Interestingly enough, he was a draft pick of the Fargo Force of the USHL, which leads me to believe that Sammalniemi is leaning towards taking the NCAA route, something several Finnish netminders have been doing recently with success.

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We see Sammalniemi’s athleticism on display here in his only Hlinka/Gretzky start. Gets out quick to challenge the Czech shooter and makes a great save.

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Great push and body control from Sammalniemi here as he gets across to make the save at last year’s World Under 17’s.

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Look at how deep Sammalniemi gets trapped in his net here, when he should be out at the top of the blue paint to get a better sight line and to cut down the angle. Instead, it’s in the back of the net.

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A goal against in that Hlinka start. Lots of similar goals against across his highlight package, calling attention to the need for Sammalniemi to improve his glove hand.

2024 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP: Three standout performances by country

Adam Tate — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 20:14:30 +0000

The unofficial start of the scouting season, the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup is a summer tournament that gives scouts and teams their first looks at the players to see how they’ve improved with a summer of training. This year’s tournament took place from August 5th to 10th in Edmonton, Alberta, and McKeen’s Hockey was there to take in the action and get some early impressions of the players.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is an international tournament for U-18 players looking to jump start their seasons, represent their countries, and show off their current level of play. Though not sanctioned by the IIHF, it’s still a prominent event for NHL clubs, and is well attended by scouts and team management. The participating players are generally in their draft eligible seasons. Some teams may bring 16-year-olds to the tournament if there is room on the roster and their play warrants inclusion.

This year’s tournament was won by Canada, with Czechia taking the silver medal. They were the two best teams of the tournament, with both squads going undefeated in the group stage. Sweden won the bronze medal game over the USA. Slovakia had a good tournament only losing to Canada and Sweden (in overtime). Finland posted a disappointing result, only winning their last game of the tournament. Germany only won one game as well, but it was against Finland, and the Germans seemed like they were on the cusp of better things. Finally, Switzerland struggled at the tournament and didn’t have the talent level to match the other teams, only scoring five goals in four games.

Here are our three Standouts from each team. Included with each is a video highlight from their play at the tournament.

Canada

This year’s squad from Canada was loaded with talent, as is usually the case. Led by Captain Matthew Schaefer, the team rarely struggled and deserved the Gold Medal. The team was loaded with upwards of six possible first round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft (not to mention Gavin McKenna, who’s only eligible to be drafted in 2026), was well balanced, and most players saw their fair share of ice in front of the scouts. It’s almost unfair to only pick three standouts.

Matthew Schaefer - Defense

Schaefer turned this tournament into his coming out party to the world. The smooth skating, two-way defender was everything for Canada. He played in all situations, frequently double shifted, and was one point off the team scoring lead. He was dynamic on the ice, using his skating to play in all parts of the offensive zone. He was a force defensively, showing some physicality to go along with excellent positioning and stick disruption. He may have played his way into a top three pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

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This clip shows a little of everything that makes Schaefer (#5 in red) so great. From helping win the faceoff in his own zone, to taking advantage of a mistake by his opponent to create a zone exit and leading the rush for Canada, to the nice drop pass in the offensive zone, to getting back into position to have an effective pinch to keep the puck in the offensive zone for longer. All while killing 20 seconds of a Czechia power play.

Gavin McKenna - Forward

By the already lofty standards that he’s set, McKenna had a good, but not great, tournament. He was tied for Canada’s goal scoring lead, and shared second place in the team’s points race with Schaefer. He was dynamic with the puck, often playing a game of keep away with his opponents. He used his skating and puck handling skills to circle the offensive zone, looking for weaknesses. His shot was hard and accurate, often picking top corners of the net. He flashed his next level talent, but didn’t dominate as perhaps expected, even as a 16-year-old.

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This is an otherworldly shot from McKenna on the power play for Canada. Picking the top short side top corner on a shot from that distance is not a skill that every player possesses.

Caleb Desnoyers - Forward

While not the most offensively talented forward on Team Canada, Desnoyers was relied upon in all situations, and was often used as its top Center. He was a jack of all trades for Canada, and it suited his skill set. That being said, he was still dangerous on the ice and produced at a point per game pace, with a goal and four assists. He was strong on the puck and hard to play against in all three zones. Desnoyers should hear his name called in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft and will likely be the first player from the QMJHL taken.

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This clip shows Desnoyers operating on the power play, taking the puck down below the goal line and then taking advantage of the defender’s opened up triangle.

Czechia

Team Czechia’s goal this year was to win the tournament, after coming in second place to Canada last summer. The players made it a point to let people know that they wanted “revenge” on Canada for last year’s loss. They brought a top-heavy roster loaded with offensive talent with the likes of Adam Benak, Vit Zahejsky, Adam Novotny (2026 draft eligible), and Tomas Poletin. Unfortunately, they were unable to win the big prize and settled for Silver for the second year in a row.

Adam Benak - Forward

Easily one of the most gifted offensive players in this year’s tournament, Benak led the Czechs in scoring and was second in overall tournament scoring. Benak’s footspeed and shot were outstanding in this tournament, and he was difficult to contain at all times. You could see the determination in his play every game, and he led the Czechs by example. Despite being a smaller player, it wouldn't surprise to see him selected in the first round of the 2025 Draft due to his offensive talent. He’s going to play in the USHL with Youngstown this year, and a good season will help his draft stock.

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Another player with a next level shot, this top corner short side goal by Benak is almost impossible to stop.

Radim Mrtka - Defense

The large (6’6” / 198 lbs) right-handed defenseman got better with every game and was a solid two-way defender. While he didn’t score much, his zone transition work with his skating and passing was really good. He was strong in his own end, using his positioning, size, and length to disrupt passing lanes. In the offensive zone, he activated from the blue line often and created chaos for opposing defenses. Already in consideration for a mid-round pick in the 2025 Draft, Mrtka may move into the first round if he continues to play this well in the regular season. Mrkta may also jump over to the WHL and join the Seattle Thunderbirds this season if he’s not playing in the men’s league in Czechia.

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This clip is from the first minute of the Gold Medal game against Canada. Mrtka (#5 in white) helps lead the rush, something he got more and more comfortable doing as the tournament went along, and then sets the tone by absolutely crushing a Canadian player in their own zone.

Vit Zahejsky - Forward

Another Czech player that improved during the tournament, Zahejsky was promoted to the top line after the group stage and posted 7 points (3g - 4a) in 5 games. A slick offensive player that was used on the power play and 4 on 4 situations, Zahejsky showed good offensive awareness with both his passing and his shooting. Another potential mid-round pick who could move up if this level of play continues, Zahejsky will play for Kamloops in the WHL this season. He should see plenty of ice time and opportunity there.

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Czechia’s power play was lethal in this tournament, and it’s goals like this one from Zahejsky that made it so.

Sweden

While it would be hard to call Sweden’s Bronze medal a disappointment, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the team felt that way. It’s still a step in the right direction for a program that didn’t medal in last year’s tournament, but with talent up front and in goal, more could’ve been possible. Anton Frondell, Sweden’s best prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, was unable to take part due to injury, and top prospects Sascha Boumedienne and Jakob Ihs-Wozniak had disappointing tournaments compared to what was expected of them. Despite all of that, Sweden only lost to Canada in the group stage and Czechia in the semi-final.

Viktor Klingsell - Forward

With Frondell unable to play, Klingsell took it upon himself to help lead the team, and was the top scoring forward in the tournament. His 12 points (4g - 8a) were one point better than Czechia’s Adam Benak. Klingsell was a constant at both even strength and on the power play, and had points in all but one of Sweden’s games. His game shined in the offensive zone where he was able to use his hockey sense to create for his teammates.

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Klingsell’s (#25 in yellow) vision and offensive awareness are the highlights in this clip as he makes a nice pass over to Ivar Stenberg for an easy goal.

Ivar Stenberg - Forward

Another consistently good offensive player for Sweden, Stenberg was tied for third in scoring for the tournament with Milton Gastrin. A late 2007 birthday, Stenberg isn’t eligible for the NHL Draft until 2026, but his age didn’t stop him from standing out on a line with Klingsell and Gastrin. Stenberg will likely start his regular season in Sweden’s J20 league and is expected to be a high level prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft.

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This is a really nice goal from Stenberg (#15 in yellow). He identifies time and space for himself in the offensive zone, and then loads up a hard and accurate wrist shot that goes into the top corner.

Milton Gastrin - Forward

The center of the line with Klingsell and Stenberg, Gastrin was still a factor despite being a bit less heralded than his linemates. He, perhaps more so than his linemates, took advantage of their big game versus Switzerland to add to his point total. That being said, he was still one of the team’s better playmakers in this tournament.

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This is a great pass from Gastrin (#22 in yellow) to a streaking Klingsell for a goal.

USA

Ending the tournament just outside of the medals, it’s hard to consider the result a failure by Team USA as they generally don’t bring their best prospects to this event. The USNTDP players don’t play here, so it can be hard for them to compete against nations that bring their best of the best, like Canada and Czechia. Despite that, they were still in a tier above nations like Slovakia and Finland.

Matthew Lansing - Forward

Lansing was USA’s top center and one of, if not their best, forwards. He was used in all situations by the coaching staff and was usually one of the first players over the boards for power plays and penalty kills. As good a playmaker as a goal scorer, he used his skating to slash into the offensive zone with the puck and get defenses to commit to him to open up passing lanes. He was equally as creative taking the puck to the net for his own scoring chances where he had a bit more success. Not considered a top draft prospect currently, this tournament along with a strong season in the USHL might make teams take more notice.

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Lansing’s (#22 in blue) display of deft pucking handling along with some good skating allow him to keep this puck all the way to Sweden’s goal where he takes advantage of their goaltender committing first.

Blake Fiddler - Defense

The Captain of this US team, Fiddler was asked to play a defensive defenseman role by the coaching staff, and he played the role very well. The right handed defender snuffed out plays with good gap control, stick work, and physicality throughout the tournament. He showed he’s capable of defending at a higher level than seen in his first season in the WHL, and it bodes well for his draft stock. He even found opportunities to rush the puck from his own end and scored a nice goal. There were rumblings from the media that this tournament may have raised his stock to the first round of the NHL Draft.

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The aforementioned nice goal. Fiddler (#3 in white) creates a zone exit and a zone entry with the puck on his stick, dangles a German defender, and then makes a power forward type move to the net to score.

Ben Kevan - Forward

This spot could’ve easily belonged to Sam Spehar or Alexander Donovan, but Ben Kevan’s consistently high compete level makes the selection easier. Kevan was used in all situations by the US coaching staff, and was noticeable every game they played. He played with pace and was always looking to be on the right side of the puck. His skating ability was one of his better traits. He had a couple of multi point games as well. Kevan is expected to be a mid-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but a season where he plays like he did in this tournament might see his stock rise.

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This clip is a little longer but is a good example of Kevan’s (#7 in white) overall game. He was always looking to disrupt opposition puck carriers while getting himself into advantageous positions in the offensive zone.

Slovakia

Winners of the fifth place game in this year’s tournament, Slovakia didn’t have as many players with 2025 NHL Draft pedigree as the nations that finished ahead of it. That being said, they do have some standout players such as Jan Chovan, as well as some that could rise in the draft rankings over the course of the season such as Andreas Straka and Tobias Tomik. They have some dark horse players eligible for the draft as well that stood out in this tournament.

Jan Chovan - Forward

Easily Slovakia’s best forward in the tournament, and likely its best player, Chovan was their top line center and played in all situations. He had points in all of Slovakia’s games and used good footspeed to get up and down the ice. He possesses good size and skating ability. He showed good playmaking skills in the offensive zone, and some defensive play in the neutral and defensive zones where he got himself into passing lanes regularly. He plays in Finland during the regular season, and will either start his season with Tappara’s U20 team or join the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. If he has a good season, it’s possible to see him picked in the second or third round of the 2025 Draft.

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This is a really nice pass from Chovan (#26 in blue) on Slovakia’s power play. It displays really nice vision and awareness on Chovan’s part. The goal scorer may never score an easier goal in his life.

Michal Svrcek - Forward

Playing on Jan Chovan’s wing, Svrcek was the recipient of much of Chovan’s playmaking, and scored goals in three of Slovakia’s four games. He scored the overtime game winner in the fifth place game. He has really nice puck skills and can get creative in the offensive zone. He’s played his regular season games in Sweden the last two years, moving up Brynas’s system, and he’ll likely start with their J20 team this year.

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This clip is a good example of Svrcek’s (#10 in blue) ability to score goals. Leading the rush and starting the give and go on a two on one is a good way to get the lone defender moving and the goaltender scrambling.

Michal Pradel - Goaltender

It might seem a bit unusual to list a fifth place team goaltender as a standout, but Pradel was really good for a Slovakian squad that was underwhelming defensively. He was very good in two of the three games he played in, but was pulled in the game against Canada. He battles hard, covers the bottom of the net well, and has good lateral movement. He has great size for a goaltender at 6’4” / 194 lbs. It will be interesting to see how he develops over the year in Europe and see if he can play his way into a mid to late round 2025 NHL Draft selection.

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This video of Pradel making some saves using good positioning only tells half the story here. With Sweden already up by a goal mid-way through the first period, Pradel needs to shut the door to keep Slovakia from falling too far behind in the game, and in this series of chances, he’s able to do that.

Germany

Starting the tournament with an overtime win over Finland, Germany must’ve been thrilled with the win knowing that they had to face Czechia and the USA in the group stage. The win got them into the fifth place game where they were downed by Slovakia, but it proved to be a worthwhile tournament for the Germans overall. Some of their more hyped prospects like David Lewandowski and Max Bleicher had decent tournaments, but the best Germans were some of their lesser regarded players. If they can continue to improve, this year’s class of German players could see a few more players picked in the NHL Draft.

Carlos Handel - Defense

Handel was Germany’s best two-way defender and his transition play from zone to zone either by carrying or passing the puck was a highlight for this year’s team. A good skater with and without the puck, he was able to activate offensively by using his speed. His puck skills are a plus as well. His defensive play will need to be an area of focus moving forward. Handel was drafted by Moncton of the QMJHL in this summer’s Import Draft, and it’s expected he will play there. A good season in the Q will help his draft stock.

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Perhaps the best play of Handel’s (#7 in black) tournament, his ability to transition the puck while leading the rush, is something scouts saw often from him. The goal at the end is really nice as well as he loads up a wrist shot to pick a top corner.

Dustin Willhoft - Forward

Willhoft was one of the smaller players at the tournament this year, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in skill and desire. He skates very well and uses his foot speed and pace to slash into the offensive zone with the puck where he looks to make plays or take the puck to the net. He’s not a perimeter player and will go to the slot with and without the puck. His play in his own zone isn’t as polished as his offensive play and he struggles a bit with a lack of length due to his height. He’s a notable prospect for the Germans, but it would likely take a massive breakout season to put him on the NHL’s radar for the Draft.

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This is one of Willhoft’s nicer goals and he’s able to elevate the puck even with the Czech defender harassing him.

Gustavs & Rihards Griva - Forwards

Is it a cheat to include the twins together as one standout player? Yes, probably, but these two were attached at the hip and were tied for the scoring lead for Germany in the tournament. They finished with four points each (both had 2g - 2a) and they bookended Germany’s goal scoring with the first and last goals of the tournament. They also combined for the game winning goal against Finland, and in this case, that’s enough to be a combined standout for this squad. They will likely continue to play together in Germany this upcoming season as they try to raise their draft profiles.

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This play has Gustavs (#28 in white) using his hockey sense to steal the pass from the goaltender and get the puck to Rihards (#27) in the slot. Rihard’s shot is good and finds the top corner of the net. Any goal a twin scored, the other had an assist.

Finland

A bit of a disappointing tournament for Finland this year, only managing a seventh place finish. There was a lack of high end offense and star power on this year’s team and they averaged only a goal per game in the group stage of the tournament. They broke the seventh place game open, scoring five goals against Switzerland, but by then the tournament had gotten away from them. Jesper Kotajarvi, their best prospect heading into the tournament, struggled and wasn’t the effective mobile, puck moving defenseman that was expected for the most part.

Patrik Kerkola - Goaltender

Just on statistics alone, Kerkola was one of the better goaltenders of the tournament, despite his team’s record and overall play. He had the third best save % (.913) and third best goals against (2.31) of the goaltenders who started most of their team’s games. More so, behind a less than stellar Finnish defense, Kerkola’s steady play stood out and he gave his team a chance to win all of the games he started. The netminder has strong fundamentals and could start his season with Barrie in the OHL, who took him 75th in this summer’s CHL Import Draft.

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This is a good breakaway save by Kerkola, especially given that the puck was turned over in his zone, not giving him much time to prepare.

Max Westergard - Forward

One of the best Finnish skaters at this year’s tournament, Westergard led the team in goal scoring with three, scoring in all of their games but one. A strong skater with good pace, Westergard is able to get up and down the ice quickly with or without the puck. He’s skilled with the puck and can flash in the offensive zone when he has some room to make a play. He played in Sweden last year and was very good in their J18 league. With a birthday close to the cutoff for the 2025 NHL Draft, it’ll be interesting to see how he fairs if he continues to play with Frolunda’s J20 team.

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This is the easiest, but also nicest, goal Westergard scored in the tournament this year.

Lasse Boelius - Defense

The best overall defender for Finland in the tournament, Boelius was able to use his skating to be an effective transitional defenseman. He was noticeable for all the right reasons when bringing the puck out of his own end, either with his skating or passing. He was used on the power play and showed good passing touch. His play in his own zone needs improvement as he struggled with puck battles along the boards and wasn’t very physical anywhere in the zone.

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This is a good zone exit clip from Boelius (#9 in white). His patience, vision, and skating allow him to find space to skate the puck out of the defensive zone with ease.

Switzerland

The last place team in the tournament, Switzerland lacked the overall talent that the other teams had, and it showed. They gave Slovakia a scare before losing in overtime, this after losing to Canada and Sweden by 10+ goals in their games. Switzerland was another team that lacked 2025 NHL Draft pedigree, but a few of their players may have made an early impression on NHL scouts.

Mike Aeschlimann - Forward

Their leading scorer and goal scorer, Aeschlimann scored two of Switzerland’s five goals in the tournament. He scored both of his goals in the seventh place game against Finland and one was a very nice backhand shot that found the back of the net. A decent skater who flashed some offensive skill, Aeschlimann will return to Langnau’s U20 team this upcoming season.

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This is a great goal from Aeschlimann (#11 in white), from the steal at the defensive blue line to create his own breakaway to the backhand shot that finds the top of the net, it’s a high quality play at each step.

Florian Schenk - Forward

Their top center, Schenk was used in all situations by the Swiss coaching staff. He added a goal and an assist to Switzerland’s scoring totals in the tournament, but his real value was in being as good defensively as he was offensively. He had a good hit on Gavin McKenna early in the game against Canada, and he was committed to good two way play. Schenk will have an opportunity to improve this season as he has committed to the St. John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, who selected him seventh overall in this summer’s CHL Import Draft.

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For a team that didn’t score very many goals, this is a pretty good one from Schenk (#21 in white). Good positioning in the middle of the neutral zone helps to force the Slovakian puck carrier to make a poor passing decision. From there Schenk goes to the net and scores off the rebound. Solid play in both zones from Schenk.

Lars Steiner - Forward

Steiner played with Schenk on Switzerland’s top line and contributed with a goal and an assist during the tournament, with both of his points coming in the game against Slovakia. His goal was a nice shot from the right wing that found the top corner of the net. Another Swiss player drafted to the QMJHL in the CHL Import Draft, Steiner will play for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies this upcoming season. A late 2007 birthday, Steiner is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.

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The aforementioned goal from Steiner (#15 in white). He starts the play by looking for an outlet to pass to but he decides to keep the puck and place a hard wrist shot into the back of the net.

2024 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP PREVIEW: Team overview and players to watch

Brock Otten — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 18:49:54 +0000

The Hlinka/Gretzky Cup returns to Edmonton next week, after the 2023 version was played in Czechia and Slovakia. Canada will aim to secure its third straight gold medal at the event. For those unfamiliar, the Hlinka/Gretzky is an annual summer U18 event that serves as the unofficial kickoff to the scouting season for the year’s NHL draft, in this case 2025.

Let’s preview each team and give you some of the players to watch!

Group A

Canada

As mentioned, Canada will be attempting to complete the three-peat after winning last year and in 2022. They enter the tournament as the odds-on favourite, even without the services of two of their top players in Michael Misa and Ryan Roobroeck. Misa was a key piece of last year’s gold medal winning team and is taking the time to heal and train following last year’s deep Memorial Cup run with Saginaw. Roobroeck is missing the event due to an injury. Regardless, Canada will have the tournament’s top player in top 2026 draft eligible Gavin McKenna, who is coming off a dominant performance at the recent U18’s as an underager. Safe to say, Canada will go as far as McKenna can carry them.

Five Players to Watch:

Gavin McKenna

The odds-on favourite to be the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna is also the top player at this tournament. He’s dynamic in every sense of the word and if his performance at the recent U18’s (as an underager) is any indication, he’s going to be dominant in this event.

Cameron Schmidt

Schmidt really opened some eyes at last year’s U17’s, helping Canada White capture gold. He may be small, but the speedy winger is effective because he plays such an aggressive, up-tempo game.

Caleb Desnoyers

Due to Canada’s lack of center depth at the recent U18’s, Desnoyers was thrust into a fairly large role as an underager and he handled it pretty well. The competitive two-way center is going to be a go-to offensive player for Canada and this could serve as a coming out party for him.

Matthew Schaefer

Not only does Schaefer enter this tournament as Canada’s top defender, but he should be one of the best defensemen at the event. He will unquestionably be a big part of Canada’s leadership group and his heady two-way play will be integral.

Jack Ivankovic

Ivankovic is such a calm, cool, and collected young netminder. His play tracking and technical abilities are so advanced for his age. While NHL scouts are bound to criticize his lack of size (under 6’), there’s no doubting his talent level.

Sweden

The 2023 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup was a bit of a nightmare for the Swedes as they failed to make the semifinals for the first time in eight years. They’ll be looking to bounce back in a big way, hoping to capture their first gold since 2007. The only issue is that the team will be missing its best player in potential 2025 top five pick Anton Frondell, as he recovers from an injury that occurred late last season. Additionally, Karl Annborn is mysteriously absent from the final roster, after it was believed that he would be a top defender for the team thanks to his experience internationally. One of the keys for Sweden will be the play of goaltender Love Harenstam, who has a ton of experience for Sweden already, as the team’s starter as an underager at the recent U18’s.

Five Players to Watch:

Jakob Ihs-Wozniak

With Frondell out, eyes will be on Ihs-Wozniak to really step up and drive play. He already has experience at the U18 level and the big winger is considered a potential lottery selection in 2025.

Sascha Boumedienne

Yes, that is former NHL defender Josef Boumedienne’s son. The Boston University commit already plays in North America with Youngstown of the USHL; he was a member of the USHL All-Rookie team last year. He’s a heady, two-way puck mover who should be one of the tournament’s top defenders.

Filip Ekberg

One of the key performers for Sweden at last year’s U17’s, Ekberg is a creative and skilled playmaker. He’s not the biggest or the quickest, but he’s highly effective because of his cerebral advantage. There are heavy rumours that he will be playing for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL this coming season.

Viggo Bjorck

Thought to be one of the top 2008 born players on the planet, it will be interesting to see how Bjorck performs in his first U18 test internationally. The dynamic forward has a chance to be a special player.

Love Harenstam

As mentioned, Harenstam may just be the key for Sweden should they want to medal at the Hlinka/Gretzky. He should be one of the top netminders at the event after already performing well at the recent U18’s, backstopping Sweden to bronze.

Slovakia

The Slovaks will look to get back to the semifinals for the first time since 2021, when Dalibor Dvorsky and Juraj Slafkovsky led them to a silver medal. Unfortunately, the team’s chances took a big hit when it was announced that two of their top defenders would be skipping the event for different reasons. Potential lottery pick Luka Radivojevic is choosing to prepare for his upcoming SHL season instead, after playing in last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky (much like Canada’s Michael Misa). Whereas Vladimir Dravecky has decided to switch allegiances and play for Czechia. The Slovaks should still be able to score; they have some solid talent up front. But preventing goals could be an issue. Either way, they shouldn’t finish last again like they did last year.

Five Players to Watch:

Tomas Chrenko

Not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2026 due to a later birthday, Chrenko was already one of Slovakia’s top performers at the recent U18’s as an underager. He’s lightning quick and is a highly creative playmaker.

Adam Nemec

The younger brother of New Jersey Devils defender Simon Nemec, Adam is a winger, and is another of the late birthdays not eligible until 2026. He’s a skilled goal scorer who should be a large part of Slovakia’s powerplay at the event.

Tobias Tomik

You guessed it, another high end late 2007 born player who is not eligible until 2026. Like Chrenko, Tomik was already one of Slovakia’s best players at the recent U18’s despite his age. He scored a couple of goals at last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky as an underager too.

Jan Chovan

What? A high-end Slovak forward without a later birthday? Chovan is eligible for this year’s NHL draft and should be one of the team’s top centers. He’s a versatile player because of his power game and two-way ability.

Andreas Straka

Another forward with significant experience at the U18 level internationally already. Straka, like the other four mentioned above, will be a critical component of the team’s top two scoring lines. The competitive two-way forward is slated to play with Quebec of the QMJHL this season.

Switzerland

The Swiss have never medaled at this event and haven’t made the semifinals in over two decades. Are they overdue? You could probably make that argument, but realistically Switzerland doesn’t have the depth to compete with the other teams in their division. They do have some talented and interesting prospects eligible for this year’s NHL draft, but they might be more likely to finish last than medal. Somewhat surprisingly, the team did not opt to take any of their talented 2008’s to play as underagers, just like how few of these players have U18 experience either. It’s a recent shift in philosophy for the Swiss, who used to bring many underagers to help with elevating the depth of their rosters.

Three Players to Watch:

Florian Schenk

At this point, Schenk should be considered Switzerland’s top prospect for the 2025 NHL draft. The big forward may not be the fleetest of foot, but he’s strong and skilled, capable of playing the heavier game needed to outperform the other top nations in this division.

Jeremiah Mundy

Another big forward, Mundy is a power winger who played well for Switzerland at the U17 level internationally last season. He has a strong scorer’s touch in tight and probably enters this event as Switzerland’s second best draft prospect this year.

Lars Steiner

Not eligible for the NHL draft until 2026 due to a late birthday, Steiner may just be the most talented player on this Swiss roster. He has already played a game for HC Davos of the NL and should be the team’s top play driver.

Group B

Finland

Despite some decent recent success at the event, the Finns haven’t won a semifinal matchup at the Hlinka/Gretzky in over a decade. They’ve also never won a gold medal, a somewhat shocking revelation considering their success at the year-end IIHF U18’s. Maybe this is the year that they break through and get through to play for a gold medal. That said, this group is coming off of a last place finish at last year’s World Under 17 Hockey Challenge and it’s largely considered a down birth year for Finland. With a strong Czech team, an underrated German team, and a US team that’s always a wild card in this division, could Finland be headed for another poor performance?

Five Players to Watch:

Jasu Mensonen

One of the top centers on this Finnish team, Mensonen is a high end, cerebral playmaker who makes those around him better. He missed last year’s World Under 17 Hockey Challenge and will look to be a difference maker now.

Jesper Kotajarvi

Possibly the top Finnish player eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, Kotajarvi is a mobile, two-way defender who was one of the few standouts for Finland at last year’s U17’s. Look for him to anchor the top powerplay unit and to log a ton of minutes.

Eetu Orpana

Along with Mensonen, Orpana should be the Finns other top six center, giving them a solid one/two punch down the middle. Orpana is sort of the classic center mold out of Finland, in that he’s got good size, competes at both ends, and makes smart plays with the puck.

Max Westergard

He’s got a Swedish name, and he plays out of Sweden (in the Frolunda program), but Westergard is very Finnish. He’s a solid complementary winger who can put the puck in the net and play a heavy game.

Patrik Kerkola

The likely starting netminder for this Finnish team, Kerkola is one of the early favourites to be one of the top goaltenders chosen in the 2025 NHL Draft. Look for him to join the Barrie Colts of the OHL for the upcoming season.

Czechia

At this point, the Czechs would probably be considered the favourites to win this group. They suffered a devastating OT loss in the gold medal game at last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky and will be hungry to avenge that. Additionally, this talented group of 2007’s lost a heartbreaking semi-final in OT to the United States at last year’s World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. Make no mistake, this group of Czechs could yield double digit NHL draft picks and will be a formidable opponent. Their group of forwards is very deep, and they’ll be a difficult team to outscore, led by the ultra-talented Adam Benak.

Five Players to Watch:

Adam Benak

The diminutive playmaking center was a star at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup as an underager and he returns this year in hopes of avenging that tough OT loss. He’s so slippery in the offensive zone and despite his lack of size, has a chance to be a high pick in 2025. He’ll play this season with Youngstown of the USHL.

Matej Pekar

Not to be confused with the former Buffalo Sabres prospect of the same name, Pekar actually led this Czech group in scoring at last year’s U17’s, not Benak. He plays in Switzerland and is a very talented offensive player. He could be a potential breakout star at this event.

Tomas Poletin

Another Czech player who has left Czechia to play, Poletin is a skilled, scoring winger who made the move to Finland. He played at the most recent U18’s, and already has significant experience playing internationally at the U18 level. He will be a go to player.

Adam Novotny

Not NHL eligible until 2026 due to a late birthday, Novotny is another talented forward on this team. He made waves recently as the youngest player to score in the Czech men’s league. He is a dynamic skater and attacker.

Vladimir Dravecky

As mentioned earlier, Dravecky, a mobile puck moving defender, switched allegiances from Slovakia to Czechia for this event. A late birthday, he’s considered one of the better defenders available for the 2026 NHL draft and he should be a minute eater for the Czechs.

United States

You truly never know what you’re going to get from a U.S. team at this event because it’s largely a collection of less hyped prospects outside of the NTDP. Last year they earned their first medal since 2016, a bronze, on the back of strong play from Trevor Connelly. But in 2022 and 2021, they failed to make the medal round. On paper, this year’s roster should be able to score thanks to some talented offensive players, but do they have the depth to compete for a medal for the second straight year?

Five Players to Watch:

Ben Kevan

Coming off a fantastic rookie season in the USHL where Kevan was a near point per game player for Des Moines, all eyes will be on him to be an offensive leader for the U.S. squad. He’s the complete package offensively and this event could be an opportunity for him to prove that he’s a potential first round selection in 2025.

Cooper Simpson

Along with Kevan, Simpson should be the straw that stirs the drink for the U.S.’ offensive attack. He’s a dynamic offensive player who oozes creativity and confidence with the puck. The North Dakota commit will look to have the same kind of impact Trevor Connelly did at last year’s tournament.

Travis Hayes

The only OHL player on this roster, Hayes is the younger brother of Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes. He’s a tenacious winger who was a member of the OHL’s all-rookie team last year after a strong season with the Soo Greyhounds.

Blake Fiddler

One of a few players on the roster with former NHL bloodlines, Blake is the son of Vern Fiddler. Like Hayes, he plays in the CHL, but in the WHL with Edmonton. The big defender is a solid two-way player, and he should be a minute eater at the event. Interestingly enough, he played for Canada at the World Under 17’s last year but has switched to the U.S. for this event.

Jacob Rombach

Another top defender for the United States, Rombach is a massive, but athletic rearguard. He plays for Lincoln of the USHL and is a University of Minnesota commit. His combination of mobility, reach, and physicality is going to intrigue NHL scouts the same way that Adam Kleber did on last year’s team.

Germany

The Germans have never made the semi finals at this event since the commencement of their participation, but that has the potential to change. It’s not a stretch to say that this could be the best team that Germany has ever sent to the Hlinka/Gretzky, with as many as a half dozen potential 2025 NHL Draft selections. They’ve had some strong individual performances, but not the kind of depth that this roster has. I know longtime McKeen’s scout Chapin Landvogt is extremely excited about covering his region this season! Many of these players, as underagers, helped Germany qualify for the main group in the U18’s in 2025, by capturing gold at the Division A tournament this past year. That kind of experience can only help.

Five Players to Watch:

Carlos Handel

While Handel may not be the same quality of defensive prospect as Moritz Seider, he’s still a highly touted player after a few solid seasons in Sweden and some strong International performances. He’s strong at both ends and is going to play a ton for Germany. Interestingly enough, it sounds like Handel will be coming over to play with Halifax in the QMJHL this year.

Max Bleicher

The other minute eater on the German blueline, Bleicher is equally strong at both ends and plays a bit of a meaner game than Handel. He’s also not the same quality of skater, something he’ll need to work on. He’s definitely on the NHL draft radar.

David Lewandowski

Along with Handel, Lewandowski is Germany’s best chance at having a first rounder in 2025. His game improved dramatically last year and he’s the kind of power center that NHL teams are drawn to. Look for him to be a difference maker at the tournament.

Dustin Willhoft

A much different player than Lewandowski, but one that is equally important to the offense of this team. Willhoft is definitely on the small side, but he’s extremely skilled and creative. He’s consistently been the leading scorer of this age group internationally.

Mateu Spath

Spath has been receiving hype from Germany ever since he broke the U17 league scoring record as an underager a few years ago. The talented offensive winger brings speed and finishing ability to the German lineup and could be part of the top powerplay unit along with Lewandowski and Willhoft.