Roope Vesterinen – McKeen's Hockey

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- December 31st, 2025- Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 14:27:56 +0000

SLOVAKIA v SWITZERLAND

To open up this game, Switzerland was all over Slovakia. They kept them on their heels, giving them a lot of issues on the forecheck. Michal Pradel played well early, taking on the early pressure from the Swiss. At least, until Tobias Tomik took a very bad penalty, a double minor, that proved to be incredibly costly. Loris Wey opened the scoring on the power play, with Jamiro Reber and Ludvig Johnson getting the helpers. Then a little over a minute later, Mike Aeschlimann scored the second Swiss power play goal, with Daniil Ustinkov and Leon Muggli getting the assists.

The second period was more of a chess match than the first, trading some chances but mostly waiting for someone to make a mistake. It wasn’t until late that the Swiss struck the back of the net again. Kevin Haas was the goal scorer, with Koerbler getting his second point of the game on the assist, while Gian Meier grabbed the other assist.

The Slovaks would push back in the third, as they became more desperate to put one home in a crucial game. Adam Nemec would deflect a brilliant Tomas Chrenko shot-pass past Elijah Neuenschwander to cut the deficit to two. They pulled Pradel with about four minutes remaining, but the Swiss kept throwing themselves in front of shots and holding the Slovaks to the perimeter. With 10 seconds remaining, Luka Radivojevic fired a beautiful shot home off an offensive zone draw, set up by Nemec and Chrenko, but it was too little, too late for Slovakia.

MVPs

Slovakia: Jan Chovan, Adam Nemec, Tomas Chrenko

Switzerland: Leon Muggli, Loris Wey, Lars Steiner

CZECHIA v LATVIA

This crucial Group B matchup started quite even at the outset, seeing both the Czechs and Latvians play their own aggressive styles in the first five minutes. Adam Novotny’s high-sticking early gave Latvia the first advantage, and they made the most of it off a Bruno Osmanis feed to Kristers Ansons' power play goal to go up 1-0 on the Czechs. However, the trailing team gained its confidence shortly after. Tomas Poletin tied it up four minutes later through broken play started by Tomas Galvas, and then just a minute later, a penalty led the Czechs to swing momentum completely in their favor off the stick of, who else? Adam Jiricek. The Czechs would continue to offensively dominate, keeping the puck in their zone going into the second.

That possession battle was still going fully the way of Czechia for the beginning of the second, however, the Latvian’s kept getting in lanes and causing general disruption. Max Psenicka would find a way, though, bouncing one past Maurins off the skate of Harjis Cjunskis to put the Czechs up 3-1 all the way into the end of the second. The third started with the Latvians finding their groove defensively, halting a lot of the Czechs' momentum in the neutral zone. Their luck would continue as the Latvians converted on yet another power play, once again Osmanis with the feeder, this time to Markuss Sieradzkis, who beat Marik short side, cutting the score to 3-2. However, the chances and time all seemed to run out for Latvia as the Czechs walled their last power play and Vaclav Nestrasil shut the door with an empty netter. The Czechs have put themselves in a position to win Group B if Canada loses, a most desirable outcome for them.

Viggo Björck of Sweden and Chase Reid of USA during the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship game between USA and Sweden on December 31, 2025 in Saint Paul.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN

USA v SWEDEN

The most anticipated group stage game got underway in Grand Casino with aggressiveness from the United States, with Lee and Stiga creating some solid chances early. The chances went back and forth until Casper Justovaara opened up the scoring by banking a puck off of Logan Hensler’s skate to give the Swedes the lead. The game stayed relatively even for the entire rest of the first with the Swedes gaining momentum off repeated chances to end the period. The second period is where it all went downhill for the hosts. Ryker Lee tripped Harenstam in the crease, and shortly after, Eddie Genborg ripped a shot so hard that he didn’t see it go in initially. Adding to that lead just three minutes later was Lucas Pettersson off his own ripper, putting the Swedes up 3-0 early in the second and silencing the home crowd with the Cole Hutson “I can’t hear you” celly.

Looking for answers, the U.S. was granted a power play from an Eric Nilson tripping call that led to a Chase Reid get-back goal to finally get the Americans some life. The luck seemed to be going in the American direction after Harenstam was called for embellishment, giving the Americans another power play shortly after the Reid goal. However, Lucas Pettersson would score what ended up being the game-winner on another incredible shot off the rush while the Swedes were short-handed. Just minutes later, Eddie Genborg made it even worse, 5-1, as the Swedes, from the passing prowess of Viggo Bjorck, fired a pass to the aforementioned Genborg. Though they were down by four with the second winding down, Hagens, Ziemer, and then Will Zellers combined to create a seemingly hopeful goal for the Americans with Zellers potting his fifth of the tournament on the play to end the second.

The third period saw a change in net for the U.S., with Nick Kempf getting the remaining 20 minutes between the pipes. The chippiness and struggle continued to be as physical as it was petty, leading to a U.S. power play and goal from Teddy Stiga, who was fed by L.J. Mooney, who had by far his best game today. Just as the Americans seemed to have hope after that goal, they would be punished for their lack of discipline against the Swedes, who goaded them at every step, eventually giving their rivals a 5-on-3 advantage on the power play. Though Kempf initially made incredible save after incredible save to stave off most of the two-man advantage, Ivar Stenberg, who whiffed on three backdoor shots, did not miss his fourth shot to put Sweden back again by three, and they never relinquished that advantage. The clock ticked down as the Americans seemingly turned more desperate, but everyone in Grand Casino knew there was no coming back. In a complete reverse of the 2024 World Juniors Gold Medal game, Sweden took this matchup handily, winning 6-3 on their rivals' home ice.

CANADA v FINLAND

In a game of immense importance, with the winner taking on Slovakia and the loser having to face the USA in the Quarter finals, it got off to the most electric start of the tournament. Within the first six minutes of this game, the two teams combined for four goals. It started with Canada getting on the board first, with a goal from Zayne Parekh, who continued his hot tournament with a brilliant shot that beat Rimpinen. Less than three minutes later, Julius Miettinen would tie the game at one, as Matias Vanhanen springs him behind Parekh and Miettinen beats Carter George on the blocker side. About 30 seconds later, Canada would re-claim their lead, with Brady Martin finding the back of the net. It all started with Martin making a great flip pass up ice that Michael Hage skated into, followed up by Hage showing incredible poise with the puck to pull back, force the Finnish defender to skate past him, then setting Martin up on a tee to finish the play he started. Then, just over a minute later, Finland would once again tie the game up, with 2026 draft eligible Oliver Suvanto putting one home, finishing off Roope Vesterinen’s rebound on the back door.

The game would slow down a bit for some time, until a bad penalty was taken by Onni Kalto, with an ugly looking boarding call. The Canadian power play unit went to work very quickly, with Brady Martin putting home his second of the game. It was made possible because of solid initial movement at the point from Parekh and a very savvy play from Hage to throw the puck at Rimpinen for Martin to swat into the net off a rebound. But yet again, the Finns responded quickly, as Canada’s Ethan MacKenzie would take a penalty of his own for hooking two minutes after Canada took the lead. On the ensuing power play, Lasse Boelius would fire home a very well-placed shot from the point through traffic to beat George high. The first period would slow down again, as it became more of a chess match.

In the second period, Finland would take a couple penalties early, and on their second man advantage opportunity of the period, Canada’s power play would make them pay again. This time, it was Tij Iginla putting it home. Parekh would absolutely thread the needle on a beautiful stretch pass to spring Iginla on the breakaway, where he would make no mistake to beat Rimpinen in tight to give Canada their lead back again. That goal gave Canada plenty of momentum, as they really controlled the pace of play for much of that period. It wasn’t until the final few minutes of the period when Canada would take a two-goal lead, as Cole Beaudoin put home a chaotic scramble for the puck at the Finnish net front. Sam O’Reilly won a battle in the corner and sent the puck to the side of the net, where Caleb Desnoyers would drive hard, creating chaos and knocking the puck into space, and Beaudoin would put it away. But the Finns responded quickly yet again, cutting the Canadian lead back to one just 35 seconds later. Suvanto would force a turnover on the dump and chase, applying pressure and finishing a heavy hit in the corner, and Vesterinen would snag the loose puck before roofing it over the shoulder of George.

Going into the third period, it turned into a chess match again early, with both teams clamping down against rushes and preventing long offensive zone sequences. But Canada would strike first, as Beaudoin would score yet again off a beautiful feed from O’Reilly as he drove the net. Canada would completely lock it down after taking the two-goal lead, not allowing Finland to really have any sustained offense. O’Reilly would put the game away with a deserving goal, finding the Finns empty net, and punching their ticket to a date with Slovakia in the Quarter Finals.

MVPs:

Canada: Zayne Parekh, Brady Martin, Sam O’Reilly

Finland: Matias Vanhanen, Roope Vesterinen, Oliver Suvanto

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Sam O’Reilly (CAN) 1G 2A

O’Reilly had his best game of the tournament by far, in a crucial match up with a tough opponent. What makes Finland such a difficult team to play comes down to their details and ability to win physical battles along the boards. O’Reilly played to their strengths and won, time and time again. He was a key part of Canada’s win. It’s especially important to note due to the fact that he was not a popular choice to make the team when the rosters were initially announced, and he has done nothing but prove Team Canada right in their choice to bring him on. He caused issues for Finnish breakouts, forcing turnovers and creating scoring opportunities all game long, and he was rewarded for it on the scoresheet in the most important game of the tournament thus far for a star-studded Canadian team.

Jack Berglund (SWE) 3A

Sweden’s captain had his most important international performance on New Year's Eve. Berglund went to work early in the contest by matching the Americans’ aggression early, throwing his body around in neutral and defensive ice. There were a couple of great stops along the wall to limit the initial American attack, stepping up and showing why he will fit right in as a Philadelphia Flyer when he comes to North America. However, Berglund’s best period was the second alongside winger Lucas Pettersson. His mobility was crucial for both assists in the period, he did a great job of getting to the middle of the ice and in transition, cutting straight through the American defense. On the Pettersson shorthanded goal that put Sweden up 4-1, he put it all together, blocking the shot and supporting his linemate to become an option on the rush. Berglund finished his great night with some nice hands in tight to the net, feeding Stenberg on a rebound dish at the end of a long 5v3 power play. Berglund’s skill set is built for the NHL. Standing at 6-foot-4 and playing like it too, he will be a valuable middle six center for a team that has been desperate for some gritty center play for a long time.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

Tomas Chrenko (SVK) 2A

In a disappointing loss for Slovakia, Chrenko continued to shine. He made an impact in all three zones in this game, showing off his relentless motor. He was able to make plays in the defensive end and transition up ice for some offensive looks against the Swiss. What makes that all the more impressive is the fact that the Swiss have done such an excellent job defending against rushes in this tournament with their structure, and Chrenko was still able to find those opportunities to make his impact felt. But it was in the offensive zone where Chrenko would truly stand out. He recorded assists on both goals, including one gorgeous power play set up to the back door on a shot-pass. But he was feeding chances to his teammates all game long but just didn’t convert into goals. He was excellent yet again, and his remarkable tournament continues into the quarterfinals, where he has truly become a core piece of the Slovak roster.

Viggo Bjorck (SWE) (2A)

Sweden’s best performing offensive player has been Viggo Bjorck so far, and the passing game has been the biggest key to that success. His creativity with his stick and space creation has been wonderful for the Swedes in the offensive zone. Bjorck truly came to play against the United States, fully coming alive in the second period, striking right away. His work to transition, enter the zone, and then draw two U.S. defensemen to him to open up space for Eddie Genborg was incredibly smart, a crucial decision to get Sweden up by two early in the second. After tons of other chances that didn’t convert, he showed off his flair by saucing a no-look pass to Genborg again on the power play. Though his size has been and will be a factor when he eventually gets drafted, his talents are evident every time he steps into the offensive zone, and the IQ with which he plays the game makes him more mature than many of his teammates in the neutral and offensive zones. Bjorck’s play against the U.S. last night truly shows the extent to which he has grown in the SHL and hopefully that confidence carries over to the rest of his season.

2025 NHL DRAFT: SECOND CHANCES – Overage Draft Eligible Prospects – Part Three – Europe

Felix Robbins, Jérémy Rivet, Henry Lawrence, Matej Deraj, Chapin Landvogt — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 15:52:59 +0000

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

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

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

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

This is part three of the series, putting the spotlight on those re-entries available from leagues across Europe.

Sweden

250311 Linköpings Adam Hofbauer och HV71s Jamiro Reber under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan HV71 och Linköping den 11 mars 2025 i Jönköping.
Foto: Carl Sandin / BILDBYRÅN / kod CS / CS0691

Jamiro Reber – Center/Wing - HV71 (SHL)

Reber was an analytical darling and a favourite among public scouts in 2024, but NHL teams did not see things the same way. The undersized Swiss forward put up solid numbers in the J20 with HV71, but the bar for players like Reber is insanely high. That, plus not having such a great U18 WJC, put Reber back into the draft pool for 2025. That may have been a blessing in disguise. Reber has taken a massive leap this season, seizing an every day spot in HV71’s SHL team and is currently leading all DY+1 SHL players in points (ahead of drafted prospects like Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Melvin Fernström and Lucas Pettersson). Reber could be an interesting case study for scouts, as very little about the way he plays the game has changed. He’s still aggressive on the forecheck and backcheck, using his quick feet and good motor to harangue puck carriers and force turnovers. He can zip through the neutral zone and move the puck, either on his own stick or through smart passing. Once play arrives in the offensive zone, things get a bit murky – not unlike last year. For all the moments of skillful stickhandling and clever cuts into soft ice, there are still moments where Reber simply chips the puck from low to high and defers playmaking responsibility.

While he’s clearly trying to improve, Reber still has a tough time grabbing the bull by the horns and creating offence himself. However, the fact that Reber is getting consistent reps in the SHL (as well as special teams minutes), working hard to improve his game, and putting up points all the while bodes very well for his NHL potential. On top of it all, he’s a 2006 September birthday – one week removed from 2025 eligibility. A late round swing on Reber could yield fantastic results, so long as he stays on his current developmental trajectory. He may not have a future in a teams top 6, but he could project nicely as a 3rd line energy forward who can give you secondary scoring and responsible two-way play. (Felix Robbins)

David Granberg – Center - Luleå (SHL)

Granberg went unnoticed during his draft year, splitting time between Luleå’s J18 and J20 teams with limited production. Last year, he found his man-strength and took a mighty step in the right direction, scoring over a point per game in the J20 and earning some games in SHL as well. However, he didn’t show enough projectable offence to move the needle for scouts. This year, after establishing himself as an everyday SHLer and surprising the hockey world with an outstanding WJC U20 performance, Granberg can be ignored no further. Granberg plays a physical, hard-nosed brand of hockey. He’s a hard forechecker with good size and a steady work rate, not unlike his uncle Mikael Renberg was in his heyday with the Flyers. He’s always found points at the junior level by going to the gritty areas of the ice and battling or by insulating the puck for his more skilled teammates. However, the boost to his draft stock has to do with the flashes of high-end puck skills and refinement to his shot, which showed up in a big way on the world stage. While he still needs a ton of work to his straight-line speed and quickness, there may finally be enough upside to take a swing on for the double-overager from Piteå. He’ll most likely top out as a gritty bottom six role-player who’s good for the locker room. Not the flashiest pick by any means, but you cannot win without players like Granberg in your organization. (Felix Robbins)

Isac Hedqvist – Wing - Luleå (SHL)

Despite his J20 production skyrocketing and locking down an SHL role, Hedqvist was once again passed over at the draft and once again finds himself on our list. All signs pointed to him having a breakout year in 2024-2025, but that hasn’t really materialized yet. Sure, the production has taken a natural step forward, but Hedqvist still looks like the same player as last year – for better or for worse. Hedqvist is a speedy, undersized forward who excels at hunting down pucks on offensive retrievals, grinding out possession for his team along the walls, and making plays from dirty areas to the slot. He can withstand physical pressure from bigger and stronger opponents in battles for position and open up space for his teammates with his off-puck movement on the rush. He flashed a lot of skill and pace-pushing puck carrying ability in the junior leagues, but the on-puck game still isn’t where it needs to be at the pro level. If that doesn’t change soon, his ultimate upside may not be all that appealing to NHL teams and his path to the show will be in serious jeopardy. That being said, there may still be a glimmer of hope. He played well at the U20 WJC down the lineup for Sweden, where he showcased his tenacious forechecking and efficient transition play. Getting picked to represent your country at the biggest junior tournament of the year is always a draft stock booster. If Hedqvist can build upon that heading into the new year, hopefully flashing some more offence along the way, there’s a good chance he could earn himself draft consideration. (Felix Robbins)

Wilhelm Hallquisth – Defense - HV71 (SHL)

Through his first two years of draft eligibility, Hallquisth didn’t stand out among the swaths of Swedish talent in the pool. Looking at his pre-2024-2025 resume, it’s easy to see why. Splitting time between the J18 and the J20 in his draft season, not putting up world beating numbers in the J20 as a DY+1, and a humble U19 appearance doesn’t exactly jump off the page. This year is a different story. Hallquisth has got off to a nice start to his 2025 campaign, seeing consistent minutes in the SHL on a bottom pair role with SHL and finding the score sheet every now and then. In addition, he was one of the four surprise undrafted players to be selected for Sweden’s 2025 U20 WJC team, which is like a shot in the arm for any players draft stock. Hallquist is a mobile right shot defenceman who can quickly move the puck in a straight line from the defensive zone and through the neutral zone. Despite being a touch undersized, he’s a strong defender, using his feet and his stick to maintain gaps and taking away the middle of the ice from puck carriers. While he certainly has the skating ability for it, Hallquist isn’t as active along or below the offensive blue line as one might hope from a player with his toolset. He doesn’t seem to have the processing speed, stickhandling ability or playmaking creativity that, say, an Axel Sandin-Pellikka has. As a result, a good deal of his offence comes from D-to-D passes and shots from the point. While the skate tool is clearly above average and there may very well be more development potential here, it is difficult to project Hallquisth to the NHL. If the offensive side of things never comes along, he might be too small for a defensive puck-moving role on the bottom pair. In that case, what does he do for you? If a team has a clear idea of what he could be and how to best utilize his skating, Hallquisth could be a very savvy pick up in the later rounds of the draft. (Felix Robbins)

Hugo Pettersson – Wing - HV71 (SHL)

Over the course of his draft eligibility, Pettersson has been somewhat of a late bloomer. He split time between the J18 and the J20 in his first year of eligibility, bounced between the SHL and the J20 as a DY+1, and has finally found himself getting reps in the pros full time in this season. He’s struggled to make much of an impact in sheltered minutes with HV71, in part due to his inability to keep up with play at the SHL level (both physically and mentally), but his loan to Kalmar HC in the HockeyAllsvenskan has been a real boon for his development. More TOI (including powerplay minutes) has led to more point production, which in turn has led to Pettersson looking more and more confident with every game he’s played. Pettersson’s primary offensive tool is his wicked wrist shot. He’s a volume shooter who can get the puck on and off his stick quickly and accurately. He’s great at finding little pockets of ice in dangerous areas but doesn’t have much by way of space creation tools. His small area skill has taken a step but isn’t a reliable asset for him at the moment. He’s a bit passive on the forecheck and doesn’t chip in all that much on the other side of the puck. He doesn’t play a tenacious, physical brand of hockey, and attempts to do so at the SHL level made him look like the 19-year-old kid that he is. Still some filling out to do, clearly. On the plus side, he’s looked more involved in play off-puck while on loan with Kalmar, so there may be hope yet. While some may view Pettersson as a one-trick pony, that trick is putting the puck in the net – something you can never have enough of. With continued improvement to his quickness and the details of his off-puck game, Pettersson may be able to forge a path to the NHL in a depth scoring role in a team’s bottom 6. (Felix Robbins)

Felix Öhrqvist – Defense - Linköping HC (SHL)

It is never easy for 5-foot-8 defencemen to get drafted, much less so if you don’t put up otherworldly production in your draft year. Even then, most NHL teams won’t give you the light of day. Bias or no bias, Öhrqvist did not show enough upside to hear his name called in 2024. He played a competitive, defensive puck moving style, but it was impossible to project him to the NHL in that role. This year has been a completely different story. Öhrqvist seems to have reinvented himself. He’s added a touch of quickness and evasiveness to his skating. He’s started being more aggressive in the offensive zone. He’s trusting his skill and creativity to make plays in high danger areas of the ice. Naturally, the points have started piling up– from the J20 to the pros. What’s equally as impressive is how he isn’t sacrificing results on the defensive side of the puck to do what he’s doing – at least, any more than he was before. He does need to learn to pick his spots to walk the blue line and try to dangle around forwards closing him out, but that’s a lesson he’ll learn with enough reps at the pro level. While Öhrqvist has finally shown the offensive upside scouts look for in undersized defencemen, he still comes with all the risks attached to, well, being a 5-foot-8 defenceman. That means extreme boom-bust, and even a “boom” in this case means probable bottom four potential. He also pales in comparison to the player in the next sentence but bear with me. With Lane Hutson breathing new life into the Montreal Canadiens, and his brother Cole Hutson (WSH) performing so well at the WJC, perhaps this is the year we see NHL teams take more swings on really undersized defencemen? And if so, why not Öhrqvist? (Felix Robbins)

Wilson Björck – Wing/Center - Djurgården (HockeyAllsvenskan)

Björck is another player who totally flew under the radar during his draft year. He didn’t look totally at ease at the J20 level until just before the international break, and even then, he wasn’t much of a needle mover. To say he’s taken a step in the right direction would be an understatement. The 19-year-old has absolutely exploded offensively and is tied with brother Viggo (who, coincidentally, plays on the same line as him) for the J20 league lead in points. He also had an 18-game point streak that spanned across all J20 games from October 4th to December 15th, scoring 42 (!!) points during that time. A part of that is Djurgården being an absolute wagon this season. However, most of that credit goes squarely to Björck for the work he has, and continues to, put in to improving his game. Most notably, his shot has become a lethal weapon for him. He’s a clinical finisher who can find soft ice in the slot with ease. His small area skill and decision making with the puck has gotten quicker, allowing him to safely escape pressure along the wall in the offensive zone and make a good passing play. He’s always been competitive, but he’s added some tenacity to his off puck play. Björck’s come a long way, but there are still things to work on. Gaining muscle should be at the top of the list. A touch more quickness to his skating should be 2nd. Lastly, his processing speed is quite good when problem solving in tight or setting up tic-tac passing plays, but his ability to read and anticipate play leaves a lot to be desired. Recognizing changes in possession, knowing where to be and how to get there quickly are elements of a players hockey sense that take them from being a good player to a great one. Björck is young enough that enough reps and coaching may teach him, but it could be something that holds him back from hitting his ceiling. With that said, Björck has looked much more engaged and conscious of his off-puck positioning during his limited minutes in the HockeyAllsvenskan. It looks like the right place for him to develop at his current level – especially since it seems that the J20 has become too trivial for him. There is a lot to love with Björck’s versatility and offensive upside. If all goes according to plan, he projects to be a 3rd line winger who can be a triggerman on a team’s 2nd powerplay unit. (Felix Robbins)

Alex Nyman – Goaltender - Rögle BK J20

It isn’t uncommon for European goaltenders to go undrafted their first go around, especially when you’re as young as Nyman was for the draft class. Despite being and over-ager, Nyman is still young. He won’t turn 19 until the 2025 draft is over due to his august birthday. Not to mention, he didn’t even crack 20 starts at the J20 level last year. This year, Nyman has been getting the lion’s share of starts and typically faces 30+ shots per game. Despite the heavy workload and a GAA of over 3.05, he’s put up a .901 SV% across 23 games so far. Standing at 6-foot-5 tall, Nyman can fill the net pretty well. He is athletic and moves fairly well for his size but could use a touch more lateral quickness. Nyman doesn’t let any daylight through his stick side, both low and high, but is pretty leaky on his glove side. He gives up a ton of goals just above the pad and under the glove, especially when moving that way laterally. There are certainly kinks in his technique that need ironing out. While there is work to be done, at the end of the day, you really can’t teach size. Old and tired of a statement as it may be, it is especially true for goalies. It is easy to talk yourself into spending a late round draft pick on a 6-foot-5 goalie project because of the immense upside if it works out. Nyman is a fine gamble to take in the later rounds of the draft. Stash him away in Sweden and see what you’ve got in a few years. (Felix Robbins)

Gian Meier – Defense - Frölunda J20

Meier made a late push for consideration at the 2024 NHL Draft with a fantastic U18 WJC but ultimately went overlooked in his first year of eligibility. In an effort to take his development into his own hands, Meier left his hometown of Zurich to join the Frölunda HC program in Sweden. While his impact at the pro level has been extremely minimal, Meier has been a standout performer in the J20 in every facet of the game. The toolsy right-hander has stayed true to his game. He displays confidence and poise on puck retrievals, never deferring responsibility to his partner. He makes terrific defensive reads, using his reach and footwork to take away the middle and angling opponents to the outside. Meier makes a great first pass but has the vision and passing ability to look up ice for the long bomb outlet. His straight-line and backwards skating is impressive, though he could surely use some refinement to his lateral agility. There is upside as a puck rusher with Meier, if he can extend the same confidence he has in his defensive game to his puck-carrying game. His offensive contribution is mostly flinging shots from the point, but he has the ability to get them on net through traffic. There were questions about his strength and his coordination last year. Meier seems to not only have put on some weight and grown an inch over the summer, but he looks to be in total command of his body – no more awkwardness. If Rasmus Bergqvist (MTL 2024) is any sort of barometer for overaged defencemen in the J20, Meier has already proven he’s worth a swing in the later rounds of the draft. If he can fill out his body a bit more and put some work into his skating, Meier could become a very solid bottom 4 defensive puck-mover in the NHL one day. (Felix Robbins)

Finland

Benjamin Rautiainen - Wing - Tappara (Liiga)

Benjamin Rautiainen went undrafted in his first two eligible drafts (2023 and 2024). He attended Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp in summer 2023 as an invited player. He went back to his U20 club in Finland to have a really strong year with a production of 62 points in 36 games. This year will likely be the year that Rautiainen will be drafted in the NHL. He is now playing against men in the Liiga and he is able to put his fair share of points on the board (27 pts in 42 games at the time this was written). He is a strong skater who drives the net as soon as he has the chance. He excels in offensive zone pressure and creates chances for his teammates. He is intelligent with the puck and can play at high pace. Plays with intensity and he is engaged in all three zones. He played for Finland at this year’s World Juniors, and he made his line the most effective of his team. Even though he finished the tournament with only four points in seven games, he highly contributed to Finland's success, including a game-winning goal in overtime in the semifinal against Sweden. I would say he was the most visible and the most dangerous player for Finland during the tournament. In the mid-season NHL Central Scouting ranking, he was ranked as the 41st best European skater and I could see him be picked between the 4th and 6th round. The team that will draft him can hope that Rautiainen could become a middle six versatile forward that can play in different roles up and down the lineup when needed. (Jérémy Rivet)

Niklas Nykyri - Defense - HIFK (Liiga)

Nykyri is entering his second year of draft eligibility. He spent the whole season last year in the U20 in Finland in addition to a good amount of experience at the international level in the U18. This year, he started in the Liiga before getting sent down for one game where he played 21 minutes. After being sent down to U20, he was recalled in the Liiga and his ice time gradually went up and he has stayed at the pro level so far this season. He is a 6-foot-2 left-handed defenseman that has good mobility. He likes to support the attack and to make plays offensively, but it can lead to risky plays. Nykyri has some poise with the puck when under pressure to escape it and start the rush with a good first pass. Defensively, he has a good stick, and he is quite good with his gap control. Not a punishing type of defenseman but he is not afraid to use his body to kill plays and win pucks along the board. He is ranked as the 45th best European skater in the mid-season NHL Central Scouting ranking and I would think that he possesses the qualities to be an effective two-way defenseman in the bottom pairs and more likely as a 5 or 6th defenseman at best with some offensive upside. (Jérémy Rivet)

Daniel Nieminen - Defense - Pelicans (Liiga)

Daniel Nieminen played in the U20 in Finland last season and played 21 games in different international competitions with Finland U18. He was able to produce offensively (29 pts in 37 games), impressive for a defenseman that is not really known for his offensive game. His small size, under 6-foot at the time, was probably the main reason why he went undrafted last draft in his first eligibility year. This year, his game reached a new level. He has now reached what I would call an ‘’average size’’ at 6-foot and he played the whole season so far in the Liiga against men. The best way to describe Nieminen’s game is that he is a two-way left-handed defenseman that has very good mobility and agility in all directions and that competes at a high level on a consistent basis. Despite his smaller size, he can play a physical and aggressive game which makes him hard to beat in one-on-one battles. He also plays with intensity and grit in his own zone and in front of his net to box out players. His mobility and quick change of direction serves him well when he needs to escape pressure behind his net to start the transition. Offensively, he can support the rush and activate from the blue line to keep attacks alive. One aspect that he will need to work on is his decision-making with the puck. Also, he played at the World Juniors in Ottawa for Finland, and he was seeing top four minutes and was used in multiple situations. He played on the penalty kill and sometimes on the powerplay. Nieminen was a trusted defenseman by his coach during the tournament and his game was improving as the tournament went on. He is ranked #62 for European skaters in the mid-season NHL Scouting Central ranking and I could see him being drafted in the later rounds with a depth defenseman potential. (Jérémy Rivet)

Petteri Rimpinen - Goaltender - Kiekko-Espoo (Liiga)

Petteri Rimpinen went undrafted last year, despite a solid second half of the season at pro level in Mestis league, probably because of his size which is borderline small these days for the NHL at 6-foot. He responded this season by putting excellent numbers in the Liiga with a .910 save percentage average (at the time this was written) as the clear number one goalie of his team at only 18 years old. In addition to that, Rimpinen was named best goalie of this year’s World Juniors and he was the big reason Finland went to the final. He played all games for Finland and some people were even talking about him as the possible MVP of the tournament. Rimpinen is excellent with rebound control and puck tracking through traffic. He is the type of goalie that fights for every puck in his crease. He made several crucial saves, including breakaways and key overtime stops, to maintain the lead and allow Finland to win in the semi-final and repeated the same performance during the overtime of the Gold Medal game. His game management was good and gave confidence to his team. His performance at the World Juniors allowed him to be ranked the 4th European goaltender in the NHL Central Scouting’s ranking. His small size can be a disadvantage for him but he counters that argument with good athleticism and a high compete level. (Jérémy Rivet)

Mitja Jokinen - Defense - TPS (Liiga)

Mitja Jokinen is another average-size left-handed two-way defenseman that went undrafted in his first year last season and that made a great impression at the World Juniors this year. For me, Jokinen is a similar type of defenseman as Daniel Nieminen, however less physical but just as competitive and intense. He spent the majority of his last two seasons in the U20 with the TPS program before playing full time in the Liiga this year. He is a player that the Finnish national team had on their roster in every level since the U16 and did pretty well. In today’s NHL, small defensemen that are not incredible offensively or not very physical have a hard time establishing themselves in the league, but every NHL team needs reliable defensemen that can move the puck and that can be trusted when they are on the ice and that is what Jokinen has shown so far. The 5-foot-11 defenseman was a big part of Finland's success at the last World Juniors in Ottawa with him having an average ice-time of about 18 minutes as well as playing more than 20 minutes in the gold medal game against the United States. Jokinen can be described as a smart and shifty puck-moving defenceman who thinks the game at a high level. Jokinen is shifty on his edges, avoids pressure with fakes and cutbacks and also throws a fair bit of deception behind his breakout passes. On retrievals, he’s both poised and fast-paced depending on what the situation calls for. He can be used on the penalty kill and against the best players on the other side. Like I said, he is not the type of guy that will throw big hits and punish the opponents, but he is not afraid to use his body and engage in puck battles in the corner. If I had to make a projection for him right now, I would say that he could be a depth defenseman that can come in and out of the lineup and depending on how his offensive game will develop at the pro level, he could be in a top 6 on a consistent basis. (Jérémy Rivet)

Roope Vesterinen - Wing - HPK (Liiga)

After a disappointing season last year production-wise with 11 points in 27 in the U20 in Finland, Roope Vesterinen started this season strong in the U20 with nine points in the first seven games of the season. This hot start allowed him to be called up in the Liiga and he hasn’t looked back since then. Vesterinen just turned 19 years old in January and he is averaging above 0.50 point per game so far in Finland’s top pro league. His average ice-time really went up since November with him playing around 15 minutes on average which is very good for a rookie. Also, he is contributing in various roles during games as he sees ice both on the powerplay and on the penalty kill. The best way to describe his game is that Vesterinen is a speedy winger who uses his quickness to create chances for himself and his teammates. At 5-foot-10, he is obviously not the biggest, but he is not afraid to jump in the traffic as one of his strengths is his play around the net and how good he is at taking rebounds and scoring close to the blue paint. Almost all of his goals this season were scored from the slot. Vesterinen played for Finland at the World Juniors in Ottawa but was only in the lineup for the two first games and had limited ice time. Despite that, he was able to showcase his versatility, his engagement defensively and how he is able to play a more responsible and defensive/checking role. Roope Vesterinen could be a candidate to be drafted in the last rounds of the draft and the question will be if he can improve his puck handling and the pace at which he makes plays to allow him to pass to the next level. I would not be surprised if he goes undrafted again but receives an invitation to an NHL development camp during the summer. (Jérémy Rivet)

Topias Hynninen - Center - Jukurit (Liiga)

Topias Hynninen has just turned 19 years old, and he has seen action in the Liiga for the third straight season this year. His offensive production was disappointing last season, but he has really found another gear this season with 31 points in 46 games so far playing for the team that is at the bottom of the standings. He is the third point producer of Jukurit and he has played close to 20 minutes every night since November. At the World Juniors, he was a healthy scratch for the first game against Canada but was inserted on the first line with Helenius and Rautiainen and their line was probably the most dangerous consistently during the tournament for Finland. Hynninen is primarily an excellent playmaker and, despite his smaller size at 5-foot-10, he plays with a lot of energy. He possesses excellent vision and great skating ability. With his energy and tenacity, he is effective on the forecheck and causes many turnovers because of that. Hynninen is dangerous on the power play, and he can beat defense with a saucer pass, backhand saucer feeds and long-range slip passes. He is also engaged defensively and made smart plays to help his team in transition. He can advance the play with one-touch feeds in transition and prefers to play a give-and-go style most of the time. He’s got a really advanced sense of positioning away from the puck and is always involved in the play. Topias Hynninen has decent offensive upside that makes him an interesting option at the draft. He also has the hockey IQ to be able to adapt in a more utility role on a bottom 6 which makes his versatility even more attractive for a team that is looking for that kind of player later in the draft. (Jérémy Rivet)

Arttu Alasiurua - Center - Kärpä (Liiga)

Arttu Alasiurua has entered his third year of eligibility for the NHL draft. He will turn 20 years old early in February and time is starting to run out for him to make a good impression. He had a strong year last season in the U20 with 62 points in 41 games and he played some games in the pro level in the Liiga and in the Mestis. This season, he is playing full-time in the Liiga but he is still trying to find his offensive game. Despite his difficulty to produce, he shows great ability to adapt to a more defensive role. That is an aspect of his game that I really like from him at the World Juniors this year. He was an important element for Finland for defensive missions and a great penalty killer. He scored a goal on the PK in the preliminary round against the United States and ended the tournament with 4 points (3 goals and 1 assist) in 7 games. Alasiurua has impressive speed and puck handling, and he uses these two abilities to create scoring chances. Arttu Alasiurua also possesses high-end playmaking skills; he can create high-quality looks for his linemates often from out of nowhere. He is particularly effective at turning loose puck retrievals and forechecking steals into offence. The 6-foot center could be a good candidate for a team that is looking for a versatile role player with great skating and playmaking skills in the later rounds. (Jérémy Rivet)

Tuomas Suoniemi - Center - Kiekko-Espoo (SM-Sarja U20)

After scoring 120 points in 38 games in the U16 in the 2021-2022 season, Suoniemi’s production slowed down as he moved up the levels of Finnish hockey. This combined with his small stature was probably two factors that scared the scouts in his draft year last season. Suoniemi played most of his games last year in the U20, but also spent some time in the U18 and in Mestis. He also played 13 international games with Finland U18 where he ended up with 11 points in 13 games. This year is his third season in the U20 where he is averaging more than a point per game. The 5-foot-10 center played 6 international games with Finland before the World Juniors but he was not able to make his way to the roster that played in Ottawa. There is no denying Suoniemi’s soft skill. When he has time and space to operate, the passing and vision shine as he uses subtle fakes to open up space on the inside. He also possesses quick hands that he can use to win pucks, beat opponents one-on-one or set up teammates with precise passes. He is the kind of player that is offensive-minded and that likes to control the puck in the offensive zone. When he is on the powerplay, he is the one who controls most of the play and he is a constant threat as he can beat the opposition with a pass or with a shot. However, on the defensive side, he will need to be careful to not cheat in the defensive zone and be more responsible even if the defensive game will not be his role. His compete level will have to be more consistent as well, because sometimes he can showcase tenacity on the forecheck and in puck battles but sometimes he is easy to play against. (Jérémy Rivet)

Russia

Roman Luttsev - Center - Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)

Roman Luttsev had a solid season in the MHL last year putting up 27 points in 36 games but was largely overshadowed on a stacked Loko team. This year many of those stars have moved up to the pros, leaving an open spot for a new leader and Roman has stepped up to become Loko’s new game breaker. At the time of this article he is second in MHL in points with 57 in 45 games played. He has looked like an offensive dynamo in juniors and during his 3 games in the KHL he has shown that he can play a bottom 6 grinding role as well.

Luttsev is a skilled and speedy forward with great problem solving abilities. He performs very well under pressure, faking out opponents and working his way to space with ease when challenged with the puck. He makes great decisions, quickly finding the best possible option and moving the puck on time before the opportunity is lost. He has a heavy wrist shot which he is able to get off his stick quickly using a deceptive release that fools goalies with how quickly he can elevate the puck.

In the MHL, defensive effort and physicality were question marks at times. I felt that he did not give his best effort and mostly floated around the zone rather than engage in battles. In his most recent KHL game, many of these doubts were put to rest for me. He received 11 minutes of ice time and was very involved on the defensive side of the puck. He was constantly first to 50/50 battles and positioned himself well to make an impact in his own end.

Luttsev has developed into a highly skilled, smart, hardworking, lightning-fast player who has shown the ability to contribute on both sides of the puck. He is still a work in progress but he will soon be a consistent KHLer worth a selection in a late round of this draft.

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Kucherov-esque one touch pass sets up the easiest goal imaginable for his teammate.

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Not the prettiest goal but look at the wheels as he flies into the zone and cuts hard to the net.

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On his stick, off his stick. (Henry Lawrence)

Magomed Sharakanov - Defense - Lada Togliatti (KHL)

Sharakanov is an interesting case. I was a big fan of him in his first year eligible, but after he was passed up on in the draft he kind of fell into the background playing well in the VHL but not good enough to be worth a pick in his 19-year-old season either. Now, in his final year of eligibility, Magomed has exploded in the KHL as one of the top young defenders after being loaned to Lada for the season. He has scored highlight reel goals, set up high danger chances, and played lock up defense. He finally seems to have developed into the player we saw glimpses of a few seasons ago.

Magomed is a big, strong, two-way defenseman with smooth footwork, good puck handling, and an impressive ability to win battles. He moves very well, flying up and down the ice and pulling off some agile dance moves around defenders when the puck is on his stick. He is incredibly smooth and able to walk the line with ease, around opponents and into space. He is very creative with the puck, pulling off skilled dangles around opponents and deep into the offensive zone to set up chances.

He can pull his weight offensively, but the defensive end is where I have been most impressed with Magomed’s game. He is always in great position to help shut down chances and is fantastic at stripping pucks in battles. He takes fantastic angles to challenge opponents, using his body to separate them from the puck and quickly move pucks up ice. He gaps up well in transition and has great timing with his step ups. He has a big, sturdy frame which he uses well to shut down plays along the boards with big hits, quickly getting a stick on the puck to win back possession for his team.

Magomed has shown exceptional play on both sides of the puck and should be heavily considered as a pick in the 2025 draft.

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Great step up in transition. Gets the initial poke off and then follows up with a second attack of pokes and shoves his man to the ice for good measure.

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I like this effort. Magomed pinches aggressively and battles for possession. He continues to fight despite falling to the ice and makes stays composed from his knees to complete the pass to his teammate which sets up a dangerous look.

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Fake shot drops the defender, then a quick cut around and a bullet into the back of the net. (Henry Lawrence)

Timofei Zhulin - Wing - Bars Kazan (VHL)

Zhulin was one of my favorite players from last season and I was honestly very surprised that no teams took a swing at him in a later round. The lack of consistent production last year was definitely a major factor in this but every time I watched one of his games, I saw high energy play on both sides of the puck, a high paced style of play, the skill and the brains to escape difficult situations, and countless chances set up with his passing (often left unfinished by his teammates even with an open net)

This season Zhulin has spent most of his time in the VHL and has even been given some opportunities at the KHL level. In the first half of this season, he was on fire. He was racking up points night after night and bringing the same level of intensity and desire to win possession from his opponent through hard work and physical battles along the boards.

He is talented offensively, able to pull off moves around opponents and finish his chances in tight to the net. I think he would be more of a bottom 6 forward in the NHL but has the talent to put pucks in the back of the net and create through his passing. His speed has allowed him to create countless breakaway and odd man rush opportunities in transition. He is active in the defensive zone, positioning himself to take away lanes and explodes after loose pucks to secure possession for his team.

The biggest concern that still lingers for me is consistency. In the second half of this season, his production has slowed a bit and his motor is not at the same level in each game, but I still see the same upside as before. He is an incredibly hard-working player who pushes pace when the puck is on his stick and forces opponents onto their heels when he gets moving up ice. His development has progressed very well and he looks like he will be a consistent KHLer next season. I see Zhulin as a potential bottom six game changer well worth a swing in the late rounds of the 2025 draft.

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Wheels on the breakaway and nice finish inside.

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Insanely skilled toe drag reception around man and slips the puck back door to set up his teammate for a tap in.

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Skilled drag move and takes off around boards, attempts to move puck to teammate in slot, maneuvers around 2 opponents behind the net and is able to get the puck to his teammate despite tight pressure. (Henry Lawrence)

Czechia

Tomáš Galvas - Defence - Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia)

Galvas was one of the most surprising omissions in the last draft. He entered the season as a safe mid-round pick, even attended the NHL Scouting Combine, yet still went undrafted. Now he has a second chance to earn a shot with an NHL team. The main concerns with Galvas are the lack of size and the overall translatability of his game to an NHL level. He's an elite skater, smooth, quick and agile, likes carrying the puck, joining the rush and creating chances. His vision and hockey sense are great and he is not a defensive liability, but as a 5-foot-10 defenceman, his path to the NHL is quite difficult. Galvas needs to put on a lot of muscle to be able to withstand physical battles with stronger and meaner forwards. He's a dynamic offensive creator, but the lack of physicality and a weaker frame definitely won't help him. However, Galvas does have a lot of potential and it's worth spending a late round pick on him. He's able to hold his own in one of the best professional leagues in Europe, had a strong World Juniors, the upside makes him an intriguing pick even with the obstacles. (Matej Deraj)

Jaromír Pérez - Left Wing - Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia)

Pérez made a huge leap forward this year and has played some great hockey with Liberec recently. He's a double overager, but it seems like he has elevated his game to another level. He put on some muscle, plays a stronger game despite his average size (6-foot-0, 179 pounds) and possesses some decent offensive instincts. He's skilled and smart, able to create chances and carry the puck. He's scored some impressive solo goals in his career. Pérez is an interesting player, he doesn't have a super high ceiling but may be worth a flyer - he's been playing on a first line in Czech top tier league with decent production and made some significant steps compared to the previous years. He has an interesting background - his father is Spanish, Jaromír was born in Barcelona and actually started his hockey career there. (Matej Deraj)

Austria

Adrian Gesson - Center/Wing - Red Bull Juniors (AlpsHL)

A September 13th birthday, Gesson was one of the youngest players available for last year’s draft and there was little reason to know who he was after a strong, but unspectacular Austrian U20 season and 16 pointless games with the AlpsHL Red Bull Junior affiliate as a 17-year-old. As such, in what has essentially been his first full season as a draft-eligible, his captaincy of the Red Bull Junior team combined with 13 usually fabulous goals in 40 games should be drawing the attention of the scouting community considering Gesson’s mature game and regular ability to be at the right place at the right time, showing an X factor around goal and in the slot. His play has been impressive enough to see him get a call-up to powerhouse Salzburg of the ICEHL. Should be the type of import player CHL or USHL clubs are looking at for next season. (Chapin Landvogt)

Germany

Elias Pul - Center/Wing - Blue Devils Weiden (DEL2)

Pul started off the year as the hottest U19 player in Germany’s pro ranks. His eight goals and 11 points in his first 26 DEL2 contests for a league newbie had him atop the chart for U21 players in the country. However, he has slowed down considerably since. We had him pegged as Germany’s top prospect for the 2024 draft, but a season full of learning and facing adversity plagued his draft year. Now he’s bringing skill, anticipation, and a jumpy joie de vivre to the table, becoming a hot topic for DEL teams. Admittedly, we expected more from his WJC than we got, often being the team’s 13th forward, but the coaching staff didn’t hesitate to make use of him throughout the line-up, as a jack of all trades up front. Clearly though, he’s going to need to have a huge second half to his season in order garner continued draft interest, turning 19 in mid-May. (Chapin Landvogt)

Nick Maul - Wing - Kaufbeuren Jokers (DEL2)

We noticed Maul a few summers back at a U17 summer challenge in Czechia. Although small, he was sturdy and incredibly smart with the puck, showing the keen ability to out wait opponents in some cases, or dart right past them in others. He then had a very quiet draft year, never becoming a topic of interest while being solid at the Austrian U20 level and for the U18 team that gained promotion at the D1A level. Now he’s playing serious pro hockey and raising some eyebrows. Kicking things off with the Red Bull Juniors (4 assists in 7 games), he was quickly called up into the DEL line-up for Munich and now plays with the organization’s DEL2 squad Kaufbeuren, collecting eight points in 19 games. His inclusion on the U20 team was pleasant, if not downright surprising, seeing him assume a regular shift on the 3rd and then 2nd lines, being a key in the relegation game with an assist and whilst then screening the Kazakh goalie on the game winner. There’s a Michael Amadio style player here for the later rounds - thick, compact build to boot. (Chapin Landvogt)

Edwin Tropmann - Defense - Bad Nauheim (DEL2)

Tropmann is an average-sized righty shot defenseman who we’ve had on the map since he was 16 and found himself in the Ovechkin spot of his team’s first power play unit at the U18 Worlds. He then had a very quiet draft year and followed that up with a nice DY+1 season that lacked international showings. This has changed this winter as he captained Team Germany at the WJC and put up 4 points in the tournament while being on the ice for all the major assignments. He’s also spent this season taking a regular shift in the DEL2 and has seen seven games of stat-free action in the DEL. Word is that a few USHL teams are doing their darndest to get him overseas by February, meaning he could strut his stuff at the proper level just in time for draft consideration. (Chapin Landvogt)

Switzerland

Alain Graf - Center - SC Bern (NL)

Graf’s rise this season has been a plus for the Swiss scene. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound righty shot forward put up 7 points in two U20 league games before getting called up to the NL for a long stretch. A good block of 15 or so games saw him get in some solid 4th line minutes and since then, he’s been trekking it between the NL (3 points in 32 games) and SL, where he’s been logging 14+ minutes a night and has six points in nine games. More importantly, Graf has shown a combination of some acute offensive acumen and the embracement of the defensive side of his position. He also kicked off the WJC as the Swiss’ number one center and even if his one assist and -4 rating were underwhelming, he was there to face the other nation’s top lines, in a 3rd line capacity once the playoffs rolled around. He’ll need to conclude the season on a strong note, but he’s been a notable U20 player in a top European league. (Chapin Landvogt)

Rafael Meier - Wing - EHC Kloten (NL)

We’ve made a point of discussing Meier this season as the 6-foot 19-year-old has forced his way into the conversation after slipping through the grid a bit the past two seasons, where injuries were involved. All season long, he’s been one of the NL’s top U21 players having gone 5-9-13 and +8 in 44 games for Kloten. That has him tied for thirrd overall among U21 scorers in the league although he’s played at least 5 fewer games than the scorers above him due to his WJC participation, which was admittedly very quiet with zero points and a -3 rating, going from a 2nd to a 3rd line role in the course of the event. In pro play, we’ve seen a lot of jump and smarts in Meier’s game, often ready to play it rough ‘n tumble when necessary. Generally strong down low on the power play, he has shown a deceptive wrist shot throughout the season. We - and his team - expect a strong finish to the season if he intends on being a draft candidate. (Chapin Landvogt)

Ludvig Johnson - Defense - EV Zug (NL)

The Swiss U20 league’s top offensive defenseman to begin the season, the half-Swedish Johnson has gone from junior blueline all-rounder to being a man on the rise for EV Zug. Called up in late October, he’s now gotten into 30 NL games, going 4-6-10 with a +5 along the way. Perhaps more telling has been how he’s regularly gotten 10+ minutes of ice time, even topping 18 minutes of play several times this season. At the WJC, he advanced to Switzerland’s top pairing, going from just under 14 minutes of ice time in Game 1 to 22:22 in the quarterfinal against the USA. Just 6-foot and 180 pounds, Johnson is sneaky good with the stick, has an ever-improving shot, and has the skating to be a plus factor, even against senior level players. Also important is that Johnson is still just 18 and will be until after next summer’s draft, although this is his DY+1. We’re convinced that he’s a hot overage topic for NHL teams. (Chapin Landvogt)

Eric Schneller - Defense - Geneva (NL)

Another mid-sized defenseman armed with a righty-shot, 19-year-old Schneller brings a decent amount of mobility to the table and spent this past season seeing his role grow incrementally throughout the year, depending on what personnel was available. Telling was a stretch of five games at the end of January when he saw anywhere from 15:03 to 21:33 minutes of play, albeit while his team dropped five straight contests. With the playoffs out of the picture despite winning seven of the final nine contests, Schneller ultimately saw a rough average of 10 minutes of TOI when all was said and done. Ultimately, after three full seasons in Rögle’s junior program and a fairly strong showing at the 2023 U18 Worlds, Schneller has taken the next step in his development with 5 points and a -6 rating (middle of the road on his non-playoff team). He promptly joined Geneva's U20 squad for the playoffs, putting up four points in five games in a disappointing first round ouster. His thee points in five WJC contests was good for fiftth on the team as he saw between 13-19 minutes of TOI as a clear top 4 defenseman. Half Swedish, Schneller is expected to take on a bigger role next season while bringing yeoman work in all three zones. (Chapin Landvogt)

HLINKA GRETZKY CUP – Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Game Reviews

Jared Brown — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 22:10:47 +0000

Hlinka Gretzky Cup - Gold Medal Game (CAN vs CZE) Review

This year’s tournament didn’t have many close games and the goaltending was subpar. Luckily, the gold medal game between Canada and Czechia did not disappoint. Both goaltenders, Jakub Milota for Czechia, and Carter George for Canada were terrific. Canada’s penalty kill had to be sharp in this game. They were 7/8 on the PK, including an important kill in overtime. They blocked a ton of shots and Carter George was sharp in between the pipes.

Berkly Catton was a stud for Canada. Not only was he driving play offensively, he was making defensive stops in his own end all throughout the game. Adam Jiricek was a horse on the backend for Czechia, logging heavy minutes, and making consistent, clean outlet passes to start the transition. Malcolm Spence was the hero in overtime after he stripped Ondrej Kos of the puck in the neutral zone before outwaiting Milota on the breakaway to score the golden goal for Canada with under 10 seconds to go in overtime.

Hlinka Gretzky Cup - Bronze Medal Game (USA vs FIN) Review

USA captured their first medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup since 2018. It was a rather convincing win even though Finland had a push in the second frame. The Fins really struggled to move the puck cleanly out of their own zone while the Americans defended tightly and skated with more pace. A foggy rink and a foggy start for the Fins saw Team USA take an early 2-0 lead just two minutes into the game, and they never looked back.

Trevor Connelly scored a highlight reel goal and had another outstanding game. Even though he didn’t score, he created a plethora of scoring chances for himself and was by far the best player in this game. Heikki Ruohonen and Roope Vesterinen pulled their team within one in the second frame, while goaltender Kim Saarinen rebounded nicely after allowing three goals in the first, but they couldn’t complete the comeback in this contest.

HLINKA GRETZKY CUP REVIEW- Team Finland – Key missing pieces left Finns wanting – Some bright spots

Joely Stockl — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 22:00:38 +0000

Team Summary:

Finland’s odds were diminished prior to the tournament’s start, with top 2024 draft eligibles Konsta Helenius and Aron Kiviharju opting to compete in the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan. If that wasn’t enough, top defenseman Veeti Vaisanen got injured just before the round robin began. The Finns began the tournament with a massive statement win over Canada, jumping on every chance they could, and making Canada’s defenders panic with the puck. That win booked them a ticket to the semifinals, with a loss to the Swiss and a tight win vs Slovakia to round out the round robin. Finland would lose big to Czechia, sending them to the bronze medal game versus the U.S.

Fourth wasn’t the result that the Finns expected out of this tournament, especially with the strong draft crop they have heading into the 2024 draft. The skillsets of Helenius, Kiviharju, and Vaisanen were severely missed, and would have potentially made a difference in the final result. The win versus Canada is certainly a bright spot to take away from this tournament for Finland, as well as some strong performances from players who had the opportunity to step up and play a bigger role.

Top Five

Mitja Jokinen, LD

Mitja Jokinen was certainly Finland’s weapon from the back end through four games. Jokinen is an evasive skater with the puck on his stick, he has the ability to rely on his edges to escape oncoming pressure. Opponents have a difficult time getting the puck off of him when he is in control. Jokinen carries himself with such confidence and he isn’t afraid to take risks and create offensively. Offensively, Jokinen does tend to shoot the puck a lot and activate more often than not. He does struggle when defending the rush and gets beat a little too easily on the outside. Though his lateral movement and smooth edges are advanced, a little more straight-line speed would benefit his transition game. With his offensive performance, I think this tournament has put Jokinen’s name on the map in Finland.

Daniel Nieminen, LD

Daniel Nieminen is another Finnish, offensive minded, confident, puck handling defender in this draft class. One large difference from the rest is how Nieminen takes a large number of risks. He challenges opponents head on in the neutral zone, even when knowing that he is the last line of defense. He has straight line speed and hands that make him elusive in the neutral zone and makes his transition game the most dangerous. He is a much more active defender, in comparison to Jokinen. He jumps out high to block shots and get his stick in lanes, which leaves him out of position at times. Nieminen is certainly going to be another fun defender to watch this season, especially with his eye-catching deceptions in transition.

Emil Hemming, RW

One of their top forwards, Emil Hemming was a large part of Finland’s success on the scoresheet. Hemming prides his game on attacking with speed and tenacity. He is certainly difficult for opposing defenders to handle, especially when he is attacking from the outside, or seemingly skating circles around the offensive zone. Hemming likes time and space, and his explosiveness allows him to get to those spots before defenders can reach him. His shot is another weapon in his game, Hemming has a strong release from the perimeter of the “house”. Anywhere around the top of the circle is where you will see Hemming get a lot of his high-quality chances. Hemming doesn’t really have that “high end” skill that would make him a lottery pick, but his extremely high paced game would make him an effective bottom nine winger at the pro level.

Tuomas Suoniemi, C

Hemming’s offensive “partner in crime” was his centreman, Tuomas Suoniemi. Most of Suomniemi’s work is done on the inside, in and around the net. He possesses some high-end puck skill and is able to make manoeuvres in tight to beat opponents around the net. He isn’t an explosive speedster like Hemming, but Suoniemi is able to use changes in pace in contrast with his hands to attack offensively. Suoniemi isn’t afraid to get into those high danger areas around the net with and without the puck, to cause havoc. Suoniemi’s best game was against Canada, where he potted a hattrick by doing exactly that, getting inside and using his deceptive hands. There is some off-puck disengagement in Suoniemi’s game. He struggles to put tight pressure on opponents with the puck, which result in “fly-byes'' and draw him out of position.

Joona Saarelainen

As Finland’s captain in this tournament, there may have been higher expectations for Saarelainen offensively, heading in. Nonetheless, Saarelainen displayed his puck skills and ability to manipulate defenders to get inside. He scored a big goal versus Canada that put his team ahead 6-5. Despite his smaller size, Saarelainen is able to maneuver the puck in the corners and around the slot without getting knocked off of it. His speed allows him to get inside when he does find that space, and his deceptiveness allows him to finish a lot of those chances. I don’t think this was Saarelainen’s best showing, but his high-end skill makes him a player to watch this season.

Two Disappointments

Roope Vesterinen, W

Vesterinen had a strong performance at last year’s U17 World Hockey Challenge, which created high expectations for him in this tournament, with him playing a larger role. He plays a high pace game, and his game prides itself on his skating ability. Across the board, Vesterinen possesses high acceleration, agility, and straight-line speed, which he did display in this tournament. Not only did Vesterinen not produce offensively in this tournament, but he also didn’t really create many chances at all. In the U17’s for Finland, Vesterinen was using his hockey senses to create chances left and right, and this is not what we saw from him this time around. He can use his speed to beat defenders on the outside and be dangerous on the rush, but he was not using his speed to create in this tournament.

Petteri Rimpinen, G

Rimpinen’s Hlinka tournament began in Finland’s second game, as he took over his partner Saarinen after he allowed six goals versus Canada. Rimpinen had a strong game against Slovakia, allowing only one goal on 18 shots. In his games against Switzerland and Czechia, he allowed multiple weak goals. Most of his goals against in this tournament either went through him or were shot from a weak angle. Rimpinen’s positioning is effective, but he was not able to tighten up his body to save shots from going through him. His partner once again took over for him in the bronze medal game, and Rimpinen’s tournament came to a disappointing end.

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

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

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

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

Group A

Czechia

Adam Jecho - Forward

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

Adam Jiricek - Defense

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

David Svozil - Defense

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

Tomas Galvas - Defense

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

Jakub Fibigr - Defense

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

Adam Benak (2025) - Forward

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

Germany

Manuel Schams - Defense

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

Rio Kaiser (2025) - Defense

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

David Lewandowski (2025) - Forward

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

Gustavs Griva (2025) - Forward

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

Carlos Handel (2025) - Defense

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

Sweden

Alexander Zetterberg - Forward

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

Alfons Freij - Defense

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

Anton Olsson - Defense

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

Lucas Pettersson - Forward

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

Karl Sterner - Forward

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

Linus Eriksson - Forward

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

Victor Eklund (2025) - Forward

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

Viggo Nordlund (2025) - Forward

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

Love Harenstam (2025) - Goaltender

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

United States

Trevor Connelly - Forward

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

Mac Swanson - Forward

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

AJ Spellacy - Forward

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

Aidan Park - Forward

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

William Zellers - Forward

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

Owen Keefe - Defense

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

Will Felicio - Defense

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

Thatcher Bernstein - Goaltender

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

Ryker Lee (2025) - Forward

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

Group B

Canada

Sam Dickinson - Defense

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

Henry Mews - Defense

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

Zayne Parekh - Defense

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

Berkly Catton - Forward

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

Cayden Lindstrom - Forward

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

Maxim Masse - Forward

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

Michael Misa (2025) - Forward

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

Porter Martone (2025) - Forward

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

Malcolm Spence (2025) - Forward

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

Gabriel D’Aigle (2025) - Goaltender

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

Finland

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

Veeti Vaisanen - Defense

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

Niilopekka Muhonen - Defense

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

Joona Saarelainen - Forward

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

Roope Vesterinen - Forward

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

Emil Hemming - Forward

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

Petteri Rimpinen - Goaltender

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

Switzerland

Daniil Ustinkov - Defense

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

Jamiro Reber - Forward

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

Leon Muggli - Defense

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

Gian Meier - Defense

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

Yannik Ponzetto - Forward

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

Christian Kirsch - Goaltender

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

Slovakia

Ondrej Maruna - Forward

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

Theo Kiss - Forward

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

Tomas Pobezal (2025) - Forward

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

Luka Radivojevič (2025) - Defense

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

Tobias Tomik (2026) - Forward

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