Simon Meier – McKeen's Hockey

2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – December 30th Game Recaps + Three Stars

Steven Graves — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 15:49:35 +0000

231230 Jonas Taibel of Switzerland celebrates scoring 3-2 during the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Switzerland and Norway on December 30, 2023 in Gothenburg.
Photo: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN / COP 89 / MI0589

Switzerland 6, Norway 2

A day after losing a hard-fought game against the Slovaks, the Norwegians came into their last game of the tournament with an 0-3 record. This was their biggest game of the tournament, and their best chance at avoiding playing in relegation. The first period started off rough with Simon Meier opening the scoring for the Swiss early after Stian Solberg was caught pinching. A minute later, 2024 NHL draft prospect Leon Muggli took a dangerous boarding penalty where the Swiss saw themselves without the defender for the rest of the game and the Norwegians found themselves on a 5-minute power play opportunity. Unfortunately, the Norwegian power play was discombobulated, and the Swiss ended up with more shorthanded chances on the penalty kill than Norway had on their PP. Before the end of the first period, the Norwegians scored 2 quick goals - a great individual effort on the power play by Martin Johnsen where he cut to the net with speed and beat the Swiss netminder, and a lucky bounce by Patrik Dalen after he tried to make a cross ice pass to his teammate and the puck bounced right back to him for an easy tap in.

The second period was all Switzerland; undisciplined play by Norway led to multiple power play opportunities for the Swiss where they figured out goaltender Markus Stensrud. Three of their four goals in the period were shots taken up high. The goal scorers were Leo Braillard, Jonas Taibel, Rodwin Dionicio and Thierry Schild. The Captain, Taibel ended up with 3 points in this period for the Swiss.The third period saw another goal by Anaheim Ducks prospect Rodwin Dionicio to make the game 6-2 and the Norwegian’s were out of it by then. Jonas Taibel finished the game with 4 points and was all over the ice all game long.

Latvia 6, Germany 2

Latvia came into this game without scoring a goal in the tournament after being shut out by Canada, Sweden and Finland. This game was their best chance at winning and avoiding relegation and although they hadn’t shown competitive up to this point in the tournament, the 6-5 victory against Germany in pre-tournament games meant that this game has always been the one Latvia was looking forward to. The first period was all Latvia - they were controlling the pace of play all period long. 2024 NHL draft prospect Eriks Mateiko opened the scoring for Latvia after a harmless looking shot fooled the German netminder Philipp Dietl and went 5-hole for Latvia’s first of the tournament. Undisciplined play by Lutz led to a man advantage for Latvia and Rubzerts Bukarts made him play with a rocket one timer. Then after lost coverage by Lutz, Peteris Bulans pots Latvia’s third goal of the period.

In the second period, Samuel Schindler gets Germany on the board with a weak wrister entering the zone but Latvia answers after a bad German line change and Rainers Darzins gets in on a partial break to put Latvia back up 3. Another penalty by Lutz allowed Sandis Vilmanis to score a one timer goal to end the period. Vilmanis continued where he left off in the second to make it 6-1 after a strong power move to the net after a nice feed from Bruin’s 4th rounder Dans Locmelis. Germany had a breath of life after Sabres prospect Norwin Panocha snuck in from the point to give the Germans their second goal of the game. However, after Veit Oswald made a dangerous hit from behind that led to a 5-minute power play for Latvia, Germany was out of the game and handed Latvia the win.

Three stars

#1 Jonas Taibel - Switzerland

Switzerland’s captain played a really strong game today and was a major reason why the Swiss defeated the Norwegians. Taibel was all over the ice, facilitating plays and being dangerous throughout. Not only did he score the game winning goal for Team Switzerland (an absolute snipe might I add) but he added three helpers in the game to give him a four-point day, truly a great performance to propel Switzerland to the win.

#2 Sandis Vilmanis - Latvia

Vilmanis, a Florida Panthers fourth round selection, came out to play for the Latvians today in a must win game for the nation. The Sarnia Sting forward was constantly causing headaches for the Germans on the forecheck with his speed and was dangerous when given space in the offensive zone. Vilmanis had two goals in the game including a real nice power move to the front of the net to give Latvia a 6-1 lead.

#3 Rodwin Dioninco - Switzerland

Dionicio, who is the lone NHL drafted player on this Swiss roster played a very strong game for the Swiss in this one. He was constantly joining the rush, thwarting plays all over the ice, being physical and most importantly had 2 of the Swiss’ 6 goals in this game. The Anaheim Ducks prospect showcased his offensive ability on his two goals, one of which was a deadly snipe on the Norwegian goalie, and the other was him cutting to the net showcasing how fearless he can be. All in all an impressive performance.

MCKEEN’S 2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – Team Switzerland

Chapin Landvogt — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 16:11:20 +0000

What a rollercoaster ride the 2023 WJC was for the Swiss side. A 3-2 OT win in the opener against Finland was followed by another 3-2 OT win over the pesky Latvians. Things were tight for a while against the USA (ultimately a 5-1 loss) before duking it out in an all-important Game 4 against Slovakia, once again coming out on top in overtime (well, the shootout) 4-3. The Czechs put a quarterfinal end to any thoughts about a Cinderella run with a 9-1 shellacking, but it was the first time in the past three WJCs that Switzerland was able to go from disappointment to inspiration. It also served as the swan song for 3-year head coach Marco Bayer.

Enter Swiss legend Marcel Jenni, who’s been in charge of the program’s U18 squad over the same period of time. A 2-time WJC participant himself, and 15-year veteran of the Swiss national team, Jenni has seen it all and has put together a team for this year’s event that is shy on draft picks (just one) and players honing their craft in North America (no more than 6). That’s not to say that it’s shy on international experience as no less than 9 players are playing abroad, and 2 others spent last season in Canadian juniors while forward Endo Meier actually began this season with the Barrie Colts. Nonetheless, only 4 members of his team are returning from last year’s tournament and 3 other likely nominees are just 17. This means Jenni is entering tourney play with three different generations and little in the way of WJC experience.

Theoretically, things should be fine in goal as the team will be going to battle with three goaltenders who have all done something special sometime in the past two years. Alessio Beglieri even returns to action with parts of two games under his belt at last winter’s classic, but Ewan Huet of the Regina Pats is the man with the familiar name, and the youngest in the group. Will his WHL experience mean he’s the go-to guy?

That is yet to be seen, but a defenseman with plenty of OHL experience is entering his third WJC and will most definitely be the go-to guy, namely Rodwin Dionicio, who was drafted this past summer by the Anaheim Ducks as an overager. He’s bound to see plenty of action and be a ne plus ultra on the blueline for the power play. Behind him you can expect to see 17-year old draft-eligibles Leon Muggli and Daniil Ustinkov get a long hard look at key minutes while this tournament will have special meaning for 3-year Swedish juniors veteran Eric Schneller (a half Swede himself). Still, the heart-n-soul of this defensive crew is Simone Terraneo, who captained the Swiss at the 2022 U18 Worlds. After a fantastic season in the SL last year (21 points in 35 games), the all-rounder is strutting his stuff in style now for Ambri-Piotta of the NL and looks like a strong candidate to be drafted as an overager. Depth options Louis Füllemann, Gael Christie, and Tim Bünzli all bring NL and/or SL experience to the table.

Up front, we’re missing someone who’ll spearhead the offense. Sure, Miles Müller is doing fine for the Moncton Wildcats this season and is a returnee while Léo Braillard (WHL) and Simon Meier (BCHL) are showing well for themselves in Western Canada. Jonas Taibel will be given a key role as he prepares for his third WJC. Still, we’re not seeing offensive-oriented gamers like Attilia Biasco, Lorenzo Caninco, and Simon Knak, none of whom were even stars in their own right, though impactful players. First year draft-eligible Jamiro Reber could assume such a role though. We liked what we saw at the U18 Worlds and Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and now he’s having a dandy of a season with the HV71 U20 team in Sweden. We can see him doing some nice things here with his U18 wingers Endo Meier and Matteo Wagner, the latter of which is also plying his trade in Sweden’s U20 circuit. The rest of the forward corps, save for possibly Alessandro Lurati (USHL), is currently splitting the season between their clubs’ U20 squad and either the NL or SL. Julian Rod, Matteo Reinhard, and Thierry Schild should all be expected to take a regular shift.

A big advantage for the Swiss is their group and the scheduling. Group B does indeed include powerhouses Czechia and the USA, but Norway and Slovakia are teams the Swiss should be gunning for as beatable opponents. In addition, they’ll have the day off before facing each of these teams, which will both be coming off a tough game the day before. This will have to factor in Coach Jenni’s plans and may allow his group of young men to take advantage of tired legs. The Swiss also feature a potpourri of very promising young players mixed with a number of program vets who had looked quite promising a few years back. Several of the players are playing in Sweden now too, so there’ll surely be some extra incentive in Gothenburg to help light their competitive fires. The team has its eye no less than 4th place, internally 3rd place, but either one will surely mean heading to the quarterfinals against one of Canada, Finland, or Sweden. Then we’ll see what the team is really made of.

MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK - DECEMBER 31: Rodwin Dionicio #4 of Switzerland skates against Slovakia in Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Avenir Centre on December 31, 2022 in Moncton, New Brunswick. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)

10 to Watch plus a Sleeper

Rodwin Dionicio D

Rare is the player who gets into 3 WJCs, but the 6’2”, 214-pound Dionicio is one such specimen. He’s in his 3rd year of OHL play and currently has 29 points in 26 games split between Niagara and the Windsor Spitfires. This is on the tails of a 22-23 season in which he clipped at a PPG pace with 50 points in as many games. We won’t go as far as to say he’ll be competing for the top defenseman honors in Gothenburg, but he will be manning the 1st PP unit and playing with whatever group of forwards Coach Jenni deems to be the most effective line. He loves to jump up in the play, shows good smarts and mobility, and even plays the physical game with aplomb. But we’ve never been fans of his footwork and the book is out on him. Still, the Swiss need a mini-Josi type of performance and he’s the guy contracted to bring it.

Miles Müller C/W

A well-built plugger whose game has been developing bit-by-bit over three seasons in the QMJHL, the half Canadian Müller is having his best season to date, basically churning out a PPG pace and putting up an impressive +17 rating. The latter stat is important because he’s going to be tasked with playing against the big boys and keeping them honest at this tournament. He’ll want to be keeping them off the scoreboard too. There may not be a whole lot of offense to expect of him, just like in last winter’s WJC, but he’s going to have to be a leader and an on-ice presence for this team to enjoy success, and the team wouldn’t mind a few scrappy, hard-earned goals here and there. Not one of the big names, but a player who is expected to play big.

Léo Braillard RW

We really liked Braillard last fall when he was playing in Switzerland. In fact, it looked like he could be the nation’s top prospect in last summer’s draft. His play was so impressive that he was quickly brought over to spend the season with Shawinigan Cataractes. His play there was, all things considered, just fine, but not enough to convince a team to draft him. This season, he’s moved on over to the WHL where things have picked up with 20 points in 18 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Still 18 until next July 5th, Braillard is a stocky player with active feet around the net, for which he’s got a real nose. Able to handle the rough stuff, he’s got a North American feel to his game and will need to be an in-your-face presence in a top 6 capacity at this tournament, which he’ll surely be using to hopefully increase his overage stock draft.

Jamiro Reber C

One of the most talented Swiss players to come along in recent years, Reber is a real slick playmaker who not only reads the play at an above-average level but can make the kinds of passes no one else sees coming. A smaller player at 5’10”, 170 pounds, Reber is building up his draft profile with HV71’s U20 team in Sweden, entering this tournament with 6 goals, 24 points and a +6 in 30 games. We’ll expect him to be pumped up to put on a show in light of a realistic opportunity to face off against Team Sweden in the playoffs and further establish his credentials both there in Scandinavia and in the eyes of the scouting community. We’d even go so far as to say he’s primed to be on whichever will be the most effective offensive line Coach Jenni throws on the ice. There’s a connection there. Make sure to keep an eye out for him because if anyone on this team will be able to dazzle you, it’s Reber.

Leon Muggli D

Heading into the season, we’d have thought Muggli might have a shot at the #8 Dman role on this team. Maybe. With a good fall. Now we’re thinking we’ll be seeing him in a top 4, if not top pairing, role. Still 17, Muggli has spent all season in the NL, excelling his way to 9 points and an outstanding +18 in 25 games. He simply gets better week by week and is now at a point, where his maturity and hockey IQ just cannot be ignored. A player many felt was promising over the past two seasons is now blooming before our eyes and doing so much quicker than anyone could have reckoned with. Seen as a defensive defenseman who can lay on the hurt, Muggli has been sticking out as a player who can make a solid first pass, get pucks through from the point, and join the rush. Perhaps Switzerland’s top prospect for the 2024 NHL draft at this point, Muggli should be front and center for the Swiss throughout this tournament.

Simon Meier C/LW

A playmaker at heart, Meier’s U18 Worlds performance in his hometown Switzerland was bland and unspectacular at best. Current teammate Endo Meier (no relation) stole the show in a scoring role next to the aforementioned Reber, but the slightly undersized Simon quietly headed over to North America to begin his trek to the NCAA with the renowned Penticton Vees program. Committed to Northern Michigan University as of the 24-25 season, Meier is currently tied for 5th in team scoring with 23 points in 23 games, but all those ahead of him have played 4-5 more games than Meier since he began missing action in order to be with Team Switzerland in preparation for this tournament. Long story short, Meier is coming to Gothenburg brimming with confidence and is a player who we hope will raise some eyebrows. He certainly has the make-up to be one of the better offensive generators for a team that isn’t exactly swimming in them.

Matteo Wagner RW/LW

er average-sized winger on this team, we really liked Wagner’s nose for the net at the U18 Worlds. He was coming off a decent season in Finland’s U18 league and then harmonized well on a line with Reber. After 4 goals there, he headed back to Finland for this season and a slow start in the Finnish U20 circuit led to a jump to AIK in Sweden. There, he’s back to his goal-scoring ways with 9 goals (12 points) in 20 games. There’s a slickness to his game and his hand-eye coordination sometimes seems to be too good to be true. He also keeps opponents guessing with plenty of shake-n-bake with his head and shoulders. We think he could score a couple of important goals at this tournament, and he too belongs to the smaller group of players playing in Sweden who have that extra bit of incentive to put on good performance in front of the Swedish crowds.

Eric Schneller D

Schneller is a player who we expected big things from at last spring’s U18 Worlds. While 3 points in 5 games isn’t shabby for a defenseman, his -7 gave rise to concern. Returning to Rögle for this season, he’s been a steady but unspectacular player for the green and white’s U20 squad. In fact, he’s done little to insinuate that he should be an overage draft topic next summer. The main reason he’s listed here (instead of i.e., Simone Terraneo) is that, as a half Swede who Switzerland needs to step up and grab a key defensive role, Schneller has all the motivation in the world to play his best and most effective hockey to date. Expect him to be hitting the ice with extra jump anytime he’s called upon. Maybe the circumstances surrounding this tournament end up giving him the extra boost his young career has been in need of?!

BASEL, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 23: Switzerland's Simon Meier #27 and Daniil Ustinkov #28 battle for the puck during the Switzerland vs Latvia Preliminary Round - Group B action at 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at St. Jakob Arena on April 23, 2023 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

Daniil Ustinkov D

Ustinkov was the guy we wanted to watch at last spring’s U18 Worlds. He didn’t disappoint. Then he was the guy we wanted to see at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Again, we saw everything we wanted despite a rough first game. Now it’s his draft year and, as expected, he’s been playing pro hockey every minute of the way split between the NL and SL, with plenty of minutes in the SL and fewer so in the NL. The respect for how pro-ready he and his skillset are is deserving of respect and moreover, draft recognition. Still, there’s been little in the way of production thus far. Ustinkov has all the tools to be an absolute stud on the blueline one day, but he’s clearly going to need more time to get the toolbox put together. There won’t be time for that at this tourney. He needs to bring his A-game and be a solid, tough-to-beat blueliner who distributes well. That’s his game, so he just needs to deliver.

Thierry Schild C/RW

Of slightly sub-average height and build, Schild is a player who has just kind of “been there” for several years now, but not a guy you’ve heard anyone really talking about despite strong junior numbers in recent years. Still, if you ask the Bern organization about him, they’ll be singing his praises. What Schild has proven to be is a thoroughly adaptable and responsible player who can roll with the punches, so much so that you may just see Jenni using him as a shutdown forward throughout this tournament. He’s also been a bit of a goalscorer for the Swiss U20 in test games stretching over the past two seasons (6 in 12 games). There’s some bite to his game, but it’s the mature approach that has led to him spending just about all season in the Swiss NL, putting up 4 points and a +1 in 26 games to date. If opponents are having a hard time scoring against Switzerland, Schild will probably be one of the main reasons.

Sleeper

Lorin Grüter G

You look at this goalie trio and see the name Ewan Huet, son of a former long-time NHLer who has cult status in both France and Switzerland’s hockey scenes, who is currently playing in the WHL and Alessio Beglieri, a former OHLer who got into 2 games at last winter’s event, and you’ve got to wonder why a 3rd goalie is even worth mentioning. The reason is quite simple, as Grüter may just be the best of the bunch. Hailing from famed second leaguer Küsnacht, the average sized Grüter started turning heads last spring with a 1.62 GAA and 8-0 record for his club in the U20 league playoffs. He’s continued to be a big winner with shiny numbers for that same club this year but has also gotten into a handful of games for the pro team in the SL, where he’s got a 5-2 record with a 2.26 GAA and impressive .932 SV%. Considering the fact that he’s outdueling Beglieri in Switzerland while Huet has struggled with the Regina Pats, don’t be surprised in the least if Grüter winds up in net when the money is on the line.

2023 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: DIVISION B – Team Previews – Players to Watch

Chapin Landvogt — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:32:44 +0000

On April 20th, the IIHF Under 18 World Championships will commence with Team USA looking to turn last spring’s silver medal into this spring’s gold. The preliminary round should serve as a rather quick path to a prime playoff position before things get real hard in the round where every game counts. Certainly, Finland will have no intention of simply gifting the US with first place in the group, but it’ll require an otherwise down draft class to get some help from a handful of 2006-born players rising to the occasion. The hometown Swiss could be good for a hard showing and will be gunning for no less than third place, hoping to maybe surprise the Finns in the process. A tenacious Latvian club sniffing opportunity and an upstart newbie in Norway, which will nonetheless be lacking just about everyone of note who got them back into the top division, round off a group that, after the US, is looking fairly wide open.

United States

It’s like groundhog day all over again when talking about the goal for Team USA at this year’s U18 Worlds. All sites are on gold and there’ll be extra motivation after dropping a tight gold medal game against Sweden last spring that saw the third period get out of their grasp. The winner of 10 U18 gold medals and a whole slew of silver and bronze medals will be keen on regaining the main prize and this year’s US squad has plenty of reason to expect no less than a medal round appearance in Switzerland, seeing as how it’s chock full of prospects throughout the line-up who are gaining notoriety as probable top 65 picks this summer. Throw in the always imminent chemistry that the USNTDP spends two years investing in (there are only two players who have been added from outside the program, namely high schooler Hampus Slukynsky and OHL forward Carey Terrance), and you’ve got a built-in advantage that should first be tested in the quarterfinals.

Top Players to Watch

Trey Augustine - Photo by Rena Laverty

Trey Augustine (G)

We rarely get to see a goaltender this established at the U18 Worlds. After having stood in goal for four outings last spring, including the gold medal game, he’s had a brilliant winter that also saw him in goal for six games (3-1-0) at the WJC. Primed to work again with former US coach Adam Nightingale at Michigan State next fall, this tournament will serve as Augustine’s swan song with the USNTDP and there’s really nothing more for him to achieve but gold. Inspiring great confidence in this endeavor is the fact that Augustine has lost all of 5(!) games all winter, two of which came in overtime. It’s questionable whether any team this century has entered this tournament with a more established and successful goaltending presence.

Cole Eiserman (F)

Naturally, everyone was extremely excited to see Team Canada nominate Macklin Celebrini to its squad, but there’s nothing stopping the hockey community from just getting downright giddy about seeing Eiserman as well, as we may be getting a preview of the players going 1st and 2nd overall in the 2024 draft. We won’t go too much into the details of his 137 points collected this winter, but we would like to point out that he put up 17(!) goals in 13 games for the U18 team internationally. One of the most talked about US players in recent years, Eiserman can be a game-changer right here at this tournament and would have made just about any other team’s roster, despite being an “underager”. Expect him to show you why.

James Hagens (F)

Considering Eiserman is the next big thing, then is Hagens we’re all going to be seeing the next next big thing. Only 16 and first a 2025 draft eligible player, he’s along for the ride after accumulating 66 points for the U17 team and another 54 in 41 total games with the U18 squad. Surrounded by a plethora of more established players, Hagens should have fairly little pressure to deal with at this tournament, but there really isn’t any reason he shouldn’t be able to contribute offensively, especially in preliminary round play. Enjoy a glimpse into the future. We sure will.

Cole Hutson (D)

You may have trouble seeing him at 5’8” and 143 lbs., but you won’t be able to miss him. Yes, that name is familiar because his older brother Lane not only killed with the program, but then set a variety of records this past winter in getting his BU team to the Frozen 4. First draft eligible in 2024, and already a commit to the BU school his brothers are attending, Cole has big shoes to fill but already spent this season putting up a total of 81 points split between the program’s U17 and U18 teams. There’s every reason to believe we’ll see him on the power play every now and again here, and the US had no qualms in playing his older brother regularly as an underager back in Texas, so get ready for some more Hutson dynamism on the blueline this time around too.

Ryan Leonard (F)

A returnee to this tournament after a nice little underage showing last spring that saw him contribute six points and a whole lot of moxy, Leonard’s winter has been all about building on his draft profile, and his 97 points and +81 stats have him scheduled to perhaps go in the first half of this summer’s draft. For this tournament, Team USA is going to need Leonard to not only produce, but basically be the sniper on the team, which features a whole lot of players who can set things up.

Oliver Moore. Courtesy of the U.S. NTDP.

Oliver Moore (F)

One of the more established profiles on the team, Moore is expected to continue providing secondary scoring while supporting all efforts in all three zones. Heading into the draft this summer as a probable mid-first rounder, Moore brings a lot of the traits that are generally aligned with the pro game. For now, spectators can expect him to be the ying to Smith’s and Perreault’s yang while being a go-to player in just about all situations.

Gabe Perreault (F)

The son of former NHLer Yanic Perreault and brother to already drafted Jacob, Gabe is the actual leading scorer for this winter’s USNTDP squad, chalking up a total of 159 points. He’s a surefire top 40 pick in this summer’s draft and his performance here could decide if he’s a first or second rounder, as if the scouting community doesn’t already know what he can do. Nonetheless, this tournament is where there’s no tomorrow and the team will need him to continue coming as advertised. We’ll point out that he’s certainly not the biggest player out there and that can definitely factor in when the dice are rolled.

Will Smith (F)

In Mr. Smith, we’re looking at the US player who will likely be drafted highest this summer and a strong tournament in Switzerland could even fortify him as a top 5 pick, if he isn’t seen as such already. An outstanding player with a potpourri of tools, you’ll find plenty of people willing to gush about his future possibilities and we here at McKeen’s are no different, but we want to see him when the money is on the line. He’s been working up to this point and is no less than 7 games away from gold. If anyone here can will it into fruition, it’s Smith.

Finland

The Finns enter this tournament with a bronze medal in their pocket from last spring. That included a tough 1-0 semifinal loss to eventual gold medal-winning Sweden before knocking off Jiri Kulich and the Czechs for third place in the bronze medal game. And to kick off the playoffs, the Finns were able to defeat Canada in overtime of a game that required two late third period goals on their behalf to even get to overtime, so there was lots to be excited about last spring. This year, the Finns are expected to be right back in the thick of things, with perhaps no other reason than that there are three other teams in the group that should all have no business beating the Leijonat in the preliminary round. But despite the plethora of recognizable names in the line-up (be they related to former NHLers or not), this year’s team doesn’t feature an identifiable offensive star and, in general, doesn’t feature all too many players expected to be drafted top 45 this summer. A top three group finish is in the cards, but we expect things to get tough once the playoff round kicks off.

Top Players to Watch

Kasper Halttunen (F)

Having been a top 6 forward in last spring’s tournament, the 6’3”, 207-pound giant moves well for his size and has impressive offensive instincts and hands. He displayed that last spring and in his nation’s top U20 circuit this winter. His one point in 27 Liiga games gave reason to doubt his prospect status, at least in seeing him as worthy of a first round selection. With his team in need of point-producers at this event, he can kill two birds with one stone with any considerable offensive outburst. Expect him to make himself seen in several games this upcoming week.

Sweden's Oscar Davidsson and Finland's Konsta Helenius during the P17 international ice hockey match between Sweden and Finland on August 26, 2022 in Nyköping.
Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN /

Konsta Helenius (F)

Here’s a player who’s ready to steal the show for Finland. Not only can proudly look back at 33 Liiga games (11 points, +9) this winter, the most of any player on this squad, he’s also only 16. As such, Helenius will be using this tournament to further back the belief that he’s headed for a first round selection in 2024. His international outings for both the nation’s U18 and U17 clubs this past season have been fantastic, seeing him scoring at over a PPG pace in each. Will he be doing the same in Switzerland? We won’t put it past him.

Topias Hynninen (F)

Another prospect for the 2024 draft, Hynninen was a PPG player and assistant captain at the U20 level this winter. He also got into 15 games of Liiga action (3 goals) and 7 games of Mestis play (3 points). If the name looks familiar, then you likely remember having seen him at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, where he chipped in three assists. We see him being a top 9 forward at this tournament and, like Helenius, further boosting his status as a top prospect for the summer of ‘24.

Emil Järventie (F)

The younger brother of Ottawa Senators draft pick Roby, and former Muskegon Lumberjack of the USHL, Järventie should be one of the more recognizable players at this tournament. Not necessarily the scoring star his brother was, he nonetheless has tested his metal in the pro game, suiting up 15 games of Liiga action and then another 28 in the second league Mestis (12 points) this past season. This makes him a clear-cut go-to guy for Finland and his value may also be most pertinent in how often he’s on the ice when the team needs to maintain a lead or sway momentum.

Jesse Kiiskinen (F)

A winger with solid skating and, at times, strong offensive instincts, there are talent watchers out there who feel this guy is ready to be a top 40 pick this summer. He’s scored plenty at the U20 level (45 points in 35 total games) and got into 8 games of Liiga play. He’s got good size and roll with the punches. We’ll be watching closely and hoping he shows us his best side, especially when the going gets tough.

Aron Kiviharju (D)

Kiviharju was all the rage this time last year. A double underager, the hockey world got to see a little tyke gaining tons of attention as a top 4 defenseman and getting all sorts of minutes for a medal contender. Fast forward to this spring and his status has cooled off. But is that fair? He still got into 21 Liiga games and his 20 points in 22 U20 games is nothing to frown upon. And we are still talking about a slightly undersized player who won’t be 18 until January. We feel there’s no reason he won’t be a major factor for Finland gaining just as many minutes, if not more, than he did last spring. He should be clipping at over a PPG pace this upcoming week.

Jesse Nurmi (F)

Another recognizable name, Nurmi was a dominant point producer in the U20 league this winter, finishing 6th overall in scoring only to get shut down come playoff time. It still earned him 9 games of Liiga action. Of very average size for his age, there are some really nice offensive attributes in this player, who can still be pushed off the puck too often for our taste. It’s a vanilla group Finland is sending to the Worlds and they’ll be looking for unexpected contributors, so there’s no time like the present for Nurmi to show the scouting community what he’s really made of.

Latvia

The Latvians are always a tough out. The little engine that could seems to continually be a thorn in the side of some unlucky opponent that needs to get by them with an “easy win” in the preliminary round. And then it doesn’t happen. In recent years, the nation has profited from there being no relegation. That circumstance ends now. The small nation has to enter preliminary round play with the intention of avoiding the relegation round. Fortunately, with newcomer Norway in the group, that task would appear to have become a whole lot more possible. Some strong outings before the tournament, including a 5-4 victory over Germany, should have the Latvians revved up for a tournament in which 3rd place in Division 2 is very possible with a couple of victories at the right time.

Top Players to Watch

Peteris Bulans (D)

A returnee from last spring’s event, Bulans is coming off his first season in North America with primarily Chicoutimi of the QMJHL, where he was a pleasant surprise with 18 points in 29 regular season games followed by 6-point outburst in five playoff games. In essence, a rarity for a Latvian player that has the recently turned 18-year-old forcing people to take note. He’ll now be a key to a blueline that features several players who spent the season in Finland, Sweden, or Switzerland and several who played pro in the Latvian entries to the Estonian league. He’ll be given top minutes in this tournament.

Harijs Cjunskis (D)

Not a team in the tournament comes close to fielding this many 16-year-olds, much less with four on the blueline, but we feel it’s pertinent to mention the 6’1”, 180-pound Cjunskis because he spent this winter playing in Switzerland. In fact, he did some heavy hitting in the U17 circuit to the tune of 10 goals and 30 points in 44 total games for Lugano, a team he captained. There’ll be special meaning to him for this tournament, even if much of the competition has been playing at a higher level this winter. Expect him to prove competent and ready for the challenge in wrapping up his DY-1 season.

Kristofers Krumins (F)

Committed to the University of Vermont as of the 24-25 season, Krumins has been playing in North America for several years and measures in at 6’2”, 198 pounds. He’ll need to be doing some heavy lifting at this tournament and is actually one of the team’s older players, having turned 18 in March. His season was a bit short, but he put up 21 goals in 24 total games for the Jersey Hitmen, so look for this program to put him in a position to shoot.

Eriks Mateiko (F)

Like Bulans, a returnee from last year’s event and a fellow QMJHLer, the 6’4”, 200-pound Mateiko is going to be a hard boy to contain at this tournament. Production to the tune of 16 goals and 36 points as a first year CHL rookie is nothing to bat an eyelash at and the Latvians will need him to be a key provider of pressure up front, at least in the games where it matters most. He’ll be a noticeable figure on the ice and will surely keep opponents on their toes while opening up avenues for fellow skill players.

Nils Maurins (G)

Whereas a number of talented Latvians have been making their way to Swedish juniors in recent years, rarely has it been a goalie who has gained notoriety in being an impact player for a U18, much less U20 club. However, Maurins was downright dominant for Södertälje’s U18 team this season going 18-3 with a 1.56 GAA and .932 save percentage. He’s also 6’3” and whereas that is a delightful sight for any goaltender, it becomes even more daunting when you see that Maurins just turned 16 last September, meaning there’s a lot of growth for a young man who could be a hot topic come the 2024 NHL draft. For now, we’d like to see what his tools and experience in Sweden can mean at a tournament of this magnitude and really hope the team is invested in going with him, despite the fact that Leonard Feldsbergs - who missed the entire season - returns after having been last spring’s starter.

Switzerland

We look at this squad after its non-descript showing last spring and see the potential of finishing anywhere from 2nd to 5th in its division. On paper, there’s plenty to like, especially in comparison to Latvia and Norway. Nonetheless, a lot is going to have to go right in order for this team to do anything but make a quarterfinals exit, which would be a shame for the program in light of being the tournament’s host. Coach Marcel Jenni will surely be hoping that home ice advantage leads to as much fan support as was seen in Zug in 2015, when a Denis Malgin-led squad battled its way to play for a medal. Truth be told, we don’t see any Margins or Jonas Siegenthalers on this year’s club, so we’re expecting an uphill battle where much depends on the team’s outcomes against Latvia and Norway.

Top Players to Watch

Léo Braillard (F)

Entering the season on fire for Biel-Bienne’s U20 outfit with 15 goals and 19 points in 16 games, we felt he was Switzerland’s top candidate for this summer’s draft. He’ll now be ranked with North Americans with respect to the draft after making a late fall jump to Shawinigan of the QMJHL where his eight goals and 22 points in 41 games served as a decent introduction but cooled down his overall prospect status. Nonetheless, he’ll be counted on as a go-to player at this tournament and will need to find some offense if Switzerland is going to get much done. We’d love to see him do so, because up to now it’s looking like he could find himself in the prospect anonymity that landsmen Lorenzo Canonica and Attilio Biasca have been mired in.

Christian Kirsch (G)

There’s no telling who coach Jenni is going to have in net on any given gameday at this tournament, but after a fantastically dominant performance for Zug’s U17 and U20 programs this winter, we’re hoping (and believing) that this 6’4” 16-year-old will be getting the nod in goal for any game that truly matters. A commit to UMASS as of the 26-27 season, Kirsch has some attributes that make us think he could end up being the next true goaltender of note to come out of Switzerland. Admittedly, it’s been a while. For this tournament, Ewan Huet may be his biggest combatant for ice time. If that name is familiar, it should be, as he’s former NHL Christobal Huet’s son.

Simon Meier (F)

Perhaps the team’s best pure playmaker, Meier will be found in a top six role, perhaps next to his partner in crime - and twin brother - Rafael, with whom he was an offensive force at the U20 level for Kloten’s junior team. Free of pro experience to date, the soon-to-be 18-year-old (no relation to teammate Endo) has shown some cerebral tendencies in his game and is currently seen as a bit of a longshot to be drafted this summer, which he is surely aware of. We’re thinking that that plus being part of the host nation will allow us to see his chocolate side at this tournament.

Erik Schneller (D)

One of the few players on this squad who spent his winter on foreign soil, Schneller plied his trade for Rögle BK this winter, where his 21 games of U18 play coupled with the trust installed to see him get into 18 games with the U20 team. A mobile player who seems to pride himself more in a strong +/- than goal he could score, you can expect to see Schneller in a top 4 role with his ice time increasing whenever Switzerland has something to protect.

Daniil Ustinkov (D)

A beautiful aspect of the U18 Worlds is that we almost always get to see a handful of 16-year-olds in their DY-1 seasons. First turning 17 in August, the 6-foot, 183 pound Ustinkov is coming off a full season of U20 play for Zurich’s partner club, the GCK Lions. His play was so impressive that he not only got into two SL (second league) games, but also five NL games for Zurich. All in all, Ustinkov showed a lot of promise and poise although there was little in the line of offensive output. That hasn’t stopped coach Jenni from having Ustinkov on the power play in U18 test game action. Time to sit back and enjoy a young man who could be a very hot topic at this time next year.

Lenn Zehnder (F)

The mid-sized left winger is probably the single-most noteworthy jumper-upper when it comes to his appearing on the draft scene. There was little indication (for or against) of him being among notable Swiss players at this tournament, but he’s had a monster winter in the nation’s U20 league as primarily a 17-year-old (turned 18 one month ago), finishing 10th overall in scoring with 48 points in 47 games. Not a player in the league who finished ahead of him in scoring was any less than six months his elder, most already over 19. He’s primed for a top line role and has scored to the tune of 5 points in 8 U18 games over the course of the winter. Expect him to make an impression over the next 10 days.

Norway

The most important thing you need to know about Norway’s entry in this tournament is that there is one Norwegian forward in particular who the entire scouting community was just licking its chops to see. His name is Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and well, ladies and gentlemen, you won’t be seeing him. He’ll be missing this event after having undergone season-ending surgery at the conclusion of his junior season with the Mora IK program. Clearly, this is a severe blow to Norway’s aspirations to maintain the class, a goal that was in jeopardy even with his participation. After a fairly strong wave of Norwegians who got the nation into the top group had graduated, the Norse selection is one consisting of three forwards who play their junior hockey in Sweden, a goalie who is active in North America, three players who spent the bulk of the season in Norway’s pro circuit, and then a group of young men who took their shifts in Norway’s U20 league. The only goal here can be class retention and that will almost surely require a relegation round battle.

Top Players to Watch

Felix Granath (F)

A true little tyke at 5’9” and 150 pounds, the trickster should be the guy up front for Norway who surprises us all with a nifty little deke and pass. He was part of the club that gained promotion last spring as an underager and is coming his second of junior play in Sweden, where his 28 points in 21 eye-opening U18 games parlayed into 9 points in 32 U20 league games with Frölunda’s junior program. A notable player on a team void of notable players.

Ludwig Lafton (D)

Having just turned 17 in January, Lafton is already 6 feet tall and had a very busy winter scoring at an above-average pace at Norway’s U20 level while crushing it in the nation’s top U18 league. He also slotted in 13 games with the club’s top league pro team, including two playoff games, collecting 3 assists along the way. There’s a possibility he may be headed to Sweden next season, but for now he’ll need to be a minute muncher for Norway at a tournament where one preliminary round win would be a humongous success for the Group A newbie.

Alieu Moldal Bah (F)

Coming off his second season with the Brynäs program in Sweden, where he got into 18 U20 league games after an above-average offensive showing in the club’s U18 team, Moldal Bah is one of the few players on the squad eclipsing the 180-pound mark and brings among the best experience of anyone on the team. More of a playmaker than goalscorer, there’s work to be done in the skating department, but he’ll be spoonfed top 6 duties at this event. If there’s any success enjoyed at this tournament, it's hard to see it happening without Modal Bah’s contributions.

Elias Straume Vatne (F)

Another little fella at 5’8”, 152 lbs., Straume Vatne will celebrate his 17th birthday on the first day of tourney play for Norway. Like Granath, he’s playing his club hockey in Sweden and was a go-to scorer on Färjestad’s U18 team but played only one game for the U20 team. That after he spent the entire season prior playing (and scoring) for Stavanger’s U20 squad in Norway. With Michael Nygard out of the picture, the onus of scoring when it counts most is falling into very few laps, with Vatne’s being one of them.

Stian Solberg (D)

First eligible for the 2024 draft, Solberg just turned 17 on December 29th and is the best Norwegian defensive prospect the team has had since, well, maybe ever. Already 6’1” and 194 pounds, he should be logging insane minutes throughout this tournament. Nonetheless, this past season saw him miss a huge chunk of time due to injury and has cost him a good bit of developmental time. Just 3 U20 games (5 points) were accompanied by 18 contests with Norwegian champ Stavanger (5 points and +5), albeit he didn’t see any playoff action. We don’t know where he’ll be next season. We only know that there has been talk of him having first round drafting possibilities, so he’s going to need to be somewhere more competitive than Norway next season. For now, we can enjoy him being Norway’s go-to guy at the U18 Worlds.