2026 World Juniors Preview & Predictions

bradenmorrison
Dec 26, 2025
24 min read

The 2026 World Juniors drop the puck on Boxing Day with Sweden taking on Slovakia in the State of Hockey, Minnesota.

The host nation, Team USA, come in as the two-time defending champions after winning on Canadian soil in 2025. Canada boasts a team loaded with NHL first rounders and looks to avenge their two-year medal drought, the longest such streak since back-to-back fourth place finishes in the 2013 and 2014 tournaments.

After disappointing quarter-final exits in Ottawa and Gothenburg, the Canadians come in as tournament favourites looking to win the trophy on American soil after their border rivals won in Ottawa last year.

With that let's start the preview with the players to look out for tournament outlooks for each of the ten nations at this year's World Junior Championships.

Canada

The Canadian roster is loaded with talent and has a few players with NHL experience who have been loaned out by their respective teams. Every forward outside of, projected top pick in the 2026 draft, Gavin McKenna is a first round pick in the NHL with only one player on the roster, not in their first year of draft eligibility, who wasn't drafted in the first two rounds of the NHL draft.

That one player in question is 19-year-old Ethan MacKenzie. The physical two-way defender went undrafted in the 2025 draft and is a late bloomer playing in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings. He's eligible to re-enter the draft this year and a solid World Junior showing could boost his draft stock. MacKenzie isn't projected to play a large role on the Canadian back end, but he's a player that will be looking to make a name for himself in the opportunities he receives.

Canada has the best goaltending trio with all three goaltenders easily capable of handling a starting role. Carter George is the projected starter after an exceptional World Juniors in 2025 where he had a 1.76 goals against average

(GAA) and a .936 save percentage (SV%) across four games played. The Los Angeles Kings prospect has had an average season in the OHL playing for an Owen Sound team that sits in the middle of the OHL standings. Jack Ivankovic has been a standout freshman in the NCAA backstopping the Michigan Wolverines to the top spot in the NCAA rankings at the Christmas break. The 18-year-old is 16-4-0 with a 1.90 GAA and a .927 SV% starting every game this season for the #1 Wolverines. Joshua Ravensbergen seems to be the odd man out despite being the best goaltender in the WHL. The 6'4 19-year-old is 16-6-0 with a 2.50 GAA and a .921 SV% in 22 games with the Prince George Cougars.

The three players to look out for on this Canadian roster:

Gavin McKenna (LW): The projected top pick in the 2026 NHL draft, McKenna has had what might seem like an underwhelming season at Penn State after his years absolutely tearing up the WHL. The 18-year-old has 18 points in 16 games on a Nittany Lions team that lacks much of a supporting cast. McKenna has game-breaking ability with amazing vision and an underutilized shot that can keep goalies honest and open up passing lanes to setup his linemates. The left-winger will likely be on Canada's top line and powerplay unit and will look to follow in the footsteps on Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard in their draft eligible World Junior appearances.

Michael Misa (C): Misa was the second overall pick in the 2025 draft going to the San Jose Sharks. The 18-year-old is one of six players on the Canadian roster with NHL experience, as Misa registered three points in seven games this year with the Sharks and has one point with their AHL affiliate on a conditioning stint after an injury earlier this season. Misa's speed and creativity are the keys to his game. Weaving his way through defenders or blowing by them on the outside, Misa will be a favourite to take home the top forward and MVP awards at this tournament. The former OHL MVP and Memorial Cup winner brings a wealth of experience and winning pedigree to a Canadian team looking to right the ship and bring home the gold.

Zayne Parekh (RHD): Parekh has the most NHL experience among any player at this World Juniors. The right-hand shot defender has appeared in 11 games this season, and 12 games overall with a goal and assist over that time. The 19-year-old will be the offensive catalyst from the back end for Canada and will likely quarterback their top powerplay unit. The ninth overall pick in the 2024 draft possesses an offensive skill set many forwards would be envious of. His smooth skating and elusive cuts open up the ice for his teammates or for the Calgary Flames defender to unload his lethal shot. Projected to be the top pairing right side defender over Penguins' defender Harrison Brunicke, Parekh is slated to be paired with bruising defender Kashawn Aitecheson who will allow Parekh to jump up in rushes and fully utilize his offensive skills. If this Canadian team goes far, don't be surprised to see Parekh as a favourite to take home top defender.

Latvia

Latvia pulled up one of the biggest upsets in World Juniors history last tournament as they saw themselves avoid the relegation round and almost stun another powerhouse in the quarterfinals. Linards Feldbergs and Eriks Mateiko will go down in the history books for Latvia after their sensational performances in the massive upset of Canada in the group stage and the scare they gave Sweden in their quarterfinal match. Both these Latvian legends have aged out of the tournament, so the Latvians will be looking for new heroes to keep them in the top division. This team has a potential top ten pick in the 2026 NHL draft and if that were to come to fruition, they would become the highest drafted Latvian player in NHL history surpassing NHL journeyman Zemgus Girgensons. The second and third leading scorers from last tournament return for Latvia, with one name generating some serious buzz as the most skilled player in the nation's history.

The Latvians have two NHL prospects in returnee Darels Uljanskis, drafted by the Anaheim Ducks, and Mikus Vecvanags, drafted by the Montréal Canadiens. Vecvanags projects to get the starter's role in net as all three Latvian goalies are new to the tournament and if the Canadiens' prospect performs well, he could handle the whole tournament workload like Feldbergs last year. Vecvanags had a solid pre-tournament stopping 27 shots in a close loss to Czechia. The 19-year-old is joined by 19-year-old Nils Roberts Maurins and 18-year-old Ivans Kufterins. Roberts Maurins has been riding a strong stretch of games in the USHL after getting his footing in the North American game and appears to be the biggest threat to Vecvanags for the starter's crease. Kufterins was the starter for Latvia at the U-18's last year, so he's familiar with the international stage, but this looks to be an experience move to get the goaltender ready to start for the Latvians at next year's tournament.

The three players to watch on Latvia:

Alberts Šmits (LHD): The 2026 draft eligible player, Šmits is currently projected to go in the top ten to fifteen range. The 18-year-old defender can become the highest drafted player in Latvia's history. The 6'3 defender will also be pivotal on the blue line for a Latvian team that will be defending a lot and has three new goaltenders. Šmits shouldn't have to carry the full weight, as returnee and Ducks' prospect Uljanskis will eat up minutes on the back end for Latvia in a shutdown role while also providing some offensive flashes. Šmits is playing over 20 minutes a night in the top Finnish league, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him and Uljanskis both putting up monster time on ice stats for a Latvian team looking to make the quarterfinals for a third straight year. The Jukurit defender has exceptional puck handling to go along with a physical edge and strong defensive positioning. Look for Šmits to create offence from the Latvian blue line.

Olivers Mũrnieks (C): Mũrnieks has been heralded as the most skilled forward to come out of the country. The 18-year-old center is coming back from a concussion he suffered with the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL. Known primarily for his elite defensive skills, Mũrnieks will have to generate offence in the absence of Mateiko who had over 50% of the Latvians goals last tournament. Once seen as a potential first rounder in the 2026 NHL draft, the Latvian center has fallen into the mid-to-late second round in most projections. A player with a high hockey IQ and great intangibles, Mũrnieks will be a key forward for Latvia after putting up four points at last year's tournament.

Bruno Osmanis (RW): Osmanis is another returnee for Latvia where he racked up four points in the five Latvian games. The 19-year-old winger plays at a high-speed and has the IQ to pick apart defences with his skating and playmaking prowess. With nine points in the Swedish second division and 12 in nine games for his club's U-20 program, Osmanis' offensive creativity will be a welcome addition for the Latvians. The biggest question mark becomes who will step up as the Latvian's goal scorer to finish off the nifty playmaking ability of the IF Björklöven forward?

Czechia

Despite no true standout superstar, the Czechs bring one of the deepest teams to Minnesota. Czechia blends skill, physicality, and fundamentals with a team that has someone to fill every role. The biggest question mark for the Czechs could come in net. Projected starter and Nashville Predators prospect Jakub Milota is out for the tournament with injury, leaving the door wide open on the Czech starting job.

Michal Oršulák looks to be the front-runner to take control of the Czech crease. The 18-year-old goalie has had a strong season in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders with a 2.34 GAA and a .908 SV% in 16 games. The 6'4 goalie has good lateral movement and is above average in tight compared to goalies of his size. Ondřej Štěbeták and Matyáš Mařík round out the goalie trio the Czech bring to Minnesota. Mařík is the eldest of the group, but the 19-year-old has never represented Czechia in an IIHF event despite having professional experience in the Czech top division. Štěbeták, like Oršulák, plays in the WHL for the Portland Winterhawks. The 18-year-old is smaller than his Czech counterpart but has explosive lateral movement that makes up for his smaller size as he's able to easily move cross-crease and seal off the posts.

Three players to look out for on Czechia:

Radim Mrtka (RHD): Mrtka is a massive right-hand shot defender who plays the role of shutdown defender. Standing at 6'6, the Buffalo Sabres prospect is not known to be overly physical, but he is able to use his size to effectively position himself against attackers, shield the puck, and can throw the occasional big hit. The 18-year-old will likely matchup with the likes of Misa and McKenna when the Czechs take on the Canadians to open their tournament on Boxing Day. Mrtka isn't going to wow you on the offensive end but he's an effective puck mover that can create space with his skating and dish the puck to open players with his great vision.

Adam Jiříček (RHD): The St. Louis Blues prospect was questionable for last year's tournament as he was recovering from an injury, but he excelled with five assists. Teammates with Adam Benák in Brantford, Jiříček has had an electric start to the season where his potential has been on full display with 29 points in 25 games. The 19-year-old defender will be the primary puck-mover on the Czech back end and will likely quarterback the powerplay. Jiříček will see a big chunk of minutes as the Czechs search for their fourth straight medal at the tournament.

Adam Benák (C): Benák is an undersized forward at 5'8, but his size doesn't stop him from being one of the most dynamic point producers in Czech junior hockey history. The 18-year-old center holds the record for most points at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament registering 21 points in just ten games across two years at the tournament. He was two points off the single tournament record held by Philadelphia Flyer Matvei Michkov who had 13 points in five games at the 2021 edition. The Brantford Bulldog forward is known as a sensational playmaker and a defensively responsible forward. His electric speed helps him to not get caught up on the boards and allows him to maneuver around bigger players. Benák will play a huge role on the Czech powerplay as a top facilitator.

Denmark

The Danes are likely going to be relegated back to Division 1A. Their team does not have anywhere close to the talent of any of the nine other teams in the tournament this year. In the pre-tournament the Danes were outscored 19-3 in blowout losses to the Canadians and Swiss. The Danes bring one NHL prospect to the tournament this year, a 2025 fourth round pick by Florida. The Danes bring their starting goalie from the U-18 Division 1A tournament last year that saw them promoted to the top division. The already thin Danish attack will be without one of their best forwards, Linus Rørth, who will miss the tournament with an injury. The Danes don't have much offensive power but pride themselves in their strong defensive structure. Look for the Danes to play heavily on the counterattack to try to surprise teams and drop all five players back to defend their net in a chance to frustrate teams with a bend, don't break attitude.

The three players to watch for Denmark:

Markus Jakobsen (RHD): Jakobsen in his first year in North America has seen an uptick in his offensive numbers that was unforeseen when he was playing in Denmark and Sweden. Starting the year in the BCHL, the Danish defender quickly impressed and moved on to the USHL where he has five points in seven games for the Sioux Falls Stampede. The 19-year-old defenceman will be the primary puck handler on the back end for the Danes and should see plenty of minutes. A smooth skater, Jakobsen will hopefully catch other teams off guard on the counterattack and setup some of the Danes forwards to capitalize on their limited scoring chances.

Anton Emil Wilde Larsen (G): Wilde Larsen is the projected starter for the Danes as he was for the U-18 tournament last year that saw him go 4-0-0 and gain promotion for the Danes. The 17-year-old netminder has played in the Danish top division this season with probably the expected results of a 17-year-old goalie playing in a men's league. The projected Danish starter is 0-4-0 with a 4.84 GAA and a .847 SV% in five appearances for the Frederikshavn White Hawks. At 6'3 the Danish goalie has the prototypical size of a starting goalie in today's game. An athletic, positionally sound goaltender, Wilde Larsen will likely have to steal a game or two for the Danes to avoid relegation back down to Division 1A.

Mads Kongsbak-Klyvø (LW): Kongsbak-Klyvø will be heavily relied on to provide scoring for this Danish team. The 6'2 winger was drafted by Florida in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL draft. The power-forward is known for his heavy shot and above-average skating at his size. The combination of speed and power will make it a challenge for players to dispossess the Danish forward. Projected to be the top line winger, Kongsbak-Klyvø will likely be joined by William Bundgaard who was the top scorer with ten points in five games at the U-18 tournament and three points in the U-20 tournament last year to help the team get promoted. The Danes will need both these players to get hot specifically in their matchup against Latvia to try to avoid the relegation match.

Finland

The Finns were close to snatching a gold medal win away from the Americans last year in Ottawa and bring back the biggest key to that success. Los Angeles has some great goaltending prospects in this tournament as George will be starting for Canada, and the reigning goalie of the tournament Petteri Rimpinen will once again tend the Finnish crease. The Kings 2025 fifth rounder will look to improve on the colour of the medal at this year's tournament after playing in all seven of Finland's games last year. The 19-year-old had a 5-2-0 record with a 2.34 GAA and a dazzling .933 SV% to lead the Finns to a silver medal.

The Finns lost a lot of their offensive weapons from last year's tournament as most of their top scorers have aged out. If the Finns can get the same level of goaltending from Rimpinen the turnover on offence may not be too much of a concern, but the biggest question for the Finns will always be can they find a way to score against the top teams?

The three players to watch on Finland:

Oliver Suvanto (C): The 17-year-old center is a projected first round pick in the upcoming NHL draft. Suvanto has an incredible two-way game, and his style of play can be paralleled to a Finnish great in Mikko Koivu. Suvanto is a big-bodied center at 6'3 205lbs. He uses his size to control the center of the ice and push attackers to the outside in the defensive zone. Suvanto's defensive play is where he hangs his hat, likely to be on the Finnish penalty kill the defensive acumen and trust will see the 17-year-old garner more minutes as an underager. With experience at the professional level playing in Finland's top division, Suvanto could be a key shutdown center going up against some of the European players with professional experience and the Canadian players with NHL experience.

Aatos Koivu (C/RW): Nephew of the previously mentioned Koivu, Aatos is the son of Montréal and Finnish legend Saku Koivu. The 19-year-old forward plays a strong two-way game and has a shot that will strike fear into the goalies at this tournament. A third-round pick by the Montréal Canadiens, Koivu will be making his first World Juniors appearance after two seasons playing professionally in The Finnish Elite League (Liiga). Koivu was dominate at the Summer Showcase and will look to carry over that success to the World Juniors. Look out for the Finnish forward's one-timer when the Finns get a powerplay opportunity.

Aron Kiviharju (LHD): Kiviharju has constantly been the Finns best defender of his age group. The 19-year-old will be tasked with eating minutes on the Finnish blue line. His skills are on full display quarterbacking a powerplay or setting up a breakout from his own zone. The transition game and powerplay for the Finns will run through Kiviharju's masterful puck distribution. A rink general, Kiviharju will don the captaincy again at this year's tournament after his team was so close to the gold in Ottawa.

USA

Next up we have the two-time defending champions, the Americans. Every other team in the tournament will be breathing a sigh of relief when they look into the American crease and Trey Augustine is not to be seen. The illustrious World Juniors netminder played his last World Juniors last year and put up historic numbers in his four years at the tournament. The USA have a glaring hole in net with the departure of Augustine, and the job could be a three-horse race if no one takes the reigns early.

Nick Kempf projects as the starter with strong showings in the pre-tournament despite a less than stellar college season. Caleb Heil has had a decent season in the USHL and is committed to the University of North Dakota next year. Heil will likely backup Kempf but likely will only see the crease in one or two games if Kempf doesn't struggle. The third-choice goalie was viewed as an interesting decision as the Americans brought 2026 draft eligible netminder Brady Knowling. The 17-year-old is a dual citizen born in Toronto and played in Ontario's top youth league the GTHL up until the 2024-2025 season where he joined the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). It is yet to be seen as this is just a move for experience as Knowling projects to be next year's starter or if he can challenge for the starter's spot.

This US team will be led by top college players, James Hagens and Cole Hutson. The Americans come in with one of their weakest teams in recent memory but looking for a three-peat on home ice, it is best not to count out the USA when it comes to medal hopefuls.

The three players to watch on Team USA:

James Hagens (C): The Boston College star will headline the Americans attacking options with other top NCAA talent like leading scorer Max Plante and the second leading scorer Will Horcoff. Hagens will be without his former BC teammates on his wing in Washington Capitals' winger Ryan Leonard and New York Rangers' winger Gabe Perrault, who is with the Rangers' AHL affiliate. A lot of the offensive firepower the USA boasted the last two tournaments has aged out, so Hagens and other top NCAA players will have to pick up the offensive output. The speedy 19-year-old uses his exceptional skating to create space where he can show off his silky hands and potent playmaking ability.

Cole Hutson (LHD): Hutson is tied for second in defenceman scoring in the NCAA this season. The Boston University defender is known for his offensive play and will be crucial for this American team that lost a lot of firepower in their forward group. The Washington Capitals second rounder will likely quarterback the Americans top powerplay unit. Smooth skating and potent passing are the keys to the 19-year-old's game. Hutson led the tournament last year in points and is the favourite to win the top defender award for a second straight tournament.

Chase Reid (RHD): Reid plays with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL, and the right-hand shot defender looks to be in the conversation to be a top five pick in the 2026 NHL draft. The 17-year-old has 35 points through 31 games. A technically gifted skater, he won't blow you away with speed or physicality, but his mobility and vision are top traits for the skilled offensive-defender. An average defender his skating ability and active stick rarely see him exposed in the defensive zone despite all his playing time coming 5-on-5 or on the powerplay. Reid may not play a huge role on this team this year but look for the defender to be a future contender for top defenceman at this tournament.

Switzerland

The Swiss have struggled at the youth level, recently seeing their U-18 program relegated to Division 1A. The path to avoid relegation this year is not easy and a December 30th matchup against the Germans will likely decide the fate of this Swiss team. With weaker teams like Latvia and Denmark in Group B, the Swiss will have to hope they can best Germany or Slovakia, as they don't have the firepower to matchup against the Americans and Swedes.

A vast mix of youth and experience for this Swiss team sees them bring 16-year-old Jonah Neuenschwander who will be in his second World Juniors and was already drawing interest from NHL scouts last year for the 2027 draft prospect. It will be interesting to see if the 6'3 forward with experience in the top Swiss men's league will see a significant role or if he will play a minimal role like last year. The Swiss have some intriguing players but lack true star power that they've seen excel in the NHL in Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Kevin Fiala.

Their goaltending has two NHL prospects in projected starter Christian Kirsch drafted by the San Jose Sharks and Elijah Neuenschwander drafted by the Anaheim Ducks. Kirsch is having a good season with the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL sporting a 2.61 GAA and a .901 SV% in 21 games played. Neuenschwander has been solid playing in the second tier in Switzerland with a 2.66 GAA and a .904 SV% in eight contests. The Swiss will need one of these goalies to get hot to steal a game in the round robin or they will likely be headed to a relegation matchup with the Danes.

The three players to watch on Switzerland:

Jonah Neuenschwander (C): The 16-year-old center makes this list for me for the second straight year. Making the team last year as a 15-year-old was impressive, but his role was minimal. With additional experience playing in the top two tiers of Swiss hockey it will be interesting to see if the Swiss give their skilled youngster more opportunities to be a much-needed difference maker. A reliable two-way forward centering his own line in the top Swiss league against men combined with his 6'3 frame show he belongs at the top level. He's averaging around 14 minutes a game as a 16-year-old in the top division in Switzerland and his offensive game is starting to kick-in at the level now as well with three points in his last five and five points in his last ten games. In 15 games this season with his club's U-21 team he registered 16 points before getting the call up to the senior team. Neuenschwander possesses all the skills of an elite two-way center, from faceoffs to skating to size to skating to vision. The youngster has all the tools to be the crucial player to keep the Swiss up in the top division for the foreseeable future.

Lars Steiner (RW): Steiner was supposed to be a key player last year at the World Juniors but, like the Swiss team in general, he fell flat with no points in four games. The 18-year-old winger is coming off an All-Rookie season in the QMJHL with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The 2026 draft eligible forward has 14 points in 15 games this season despite missing about a month earlier in the season with injury. Steiner will be looked to on the top line to provide scoring chances for a Swiss team that will just be looking to avoid relegation. A smaller player, Steiner isn't afraid to be physical and has the speed to glide past defenders on the rush.

Leon Muggli (LHD): A second-round pick by the Washington Capitals, Muggli started the season with the Hershey Bears in the AHL before suffering an injury that has seen him out two months. It looks like Muggli will be fine to suit up for the Swiss team and he brings much needed experience on the back end as he suits up for his third World Juniors. The 19-year-old defender had three assists in five games for the Swiss at last year's tournament. The Caps prospect will likely captain the Swiss team and with his smooth skating and puck moving ability he'll be a catalyst to start counter attacks and sustain offensive pressure on the powerplay. His calm presence and ability to not be beat on the outside will be key for the Swiss defence as they look to avoid relegation.

Germany

The Germans narrowly avoided relegation last year as they beat Kazakhstan 4-3 in the relegation match to stay in the top division. Germany has been missing the likes of true star talent since the team led by Tim Stützle, JJ Peterka, Moritz Seider, and Lukas Reichel in 2020. The identity of this German team since then has focused on avoiding relegation as opposed to contending for the medal round. There looks to be an intriguing young talent in the ranks for this German team though with 16-year-old forward Max Penkin. The talented forward, who is eligible for the 2027 NHL draft, has 21 points in 16 games in Germany's top U-20 league and has two points across 14 games in the German top division. The Germans will rely on their three NHL prospects, forwards David Lewandowski, and Maxim Schäfer, and defenceman Carlos Händel.

Linus Vieillard returns for this German team and the 19-year-old netminder will be crucial for Germany if they want to make the quarterfinals or avoid being relegated. Vieillard doesn't have the greatest numbers in the WHL this season, but with the German team last year he posted a 2.66 GAA and a .915 SV% along with a 1-2-0 record in three games played. He'll be the starter for Germany and will likely feature in their games against Slovakia and Switzerland, both on the back end of back-to-back games with the USA and Sweden, in the group stage. The Germans likely won't cause any issues for the North American and the European powerhouses, but games against Slovakia and Switzerland could present chances to take crucial points to avoid a likely relegation clash against newly promoted Denmark.

The three players to look out for on Team Germany:

Max Penkin (C): Penkin is a 16-year-old, 2027 draft eligible player who is on the path to being the next big German prospect. The German forward was the first player to garner exceptional status to play in the German U-20 league, a feat not accomplished by the likes of previously mentioned NHLers Seider and Stützle, as well as Leon Draisaitl. As a 16-year-old it could prove challenging to carry a team in a tournament with majority of the players being two to three years older, but Penkin should provide an injection of skill and chance creation that this German team desperately needs. Penkin has a strong competitive edge and has shown a lethal scoring touch in Germany.

Maxim Schäfer (LW): The Washington Capitals third round pick in 2025, Schäfer plays a physical game using his 6'3 frame to create space and chances in front of the net as well as being a heavy presence on the forecheck. Playing in the QMJHL, the 18-year-old winger has 23 points in 25 contests for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. A returning player, Schäfer had three points in five games last tournament. Schäfer will be a pivotal forward in the German attack as the team looks to capitalize on any second chances they can get, especially against the bigger teams, like the USA and Sweden, where chances will be at a premium.

Linus Vieillard (G): The 19-year-old returnee will be the most crucial player in Germany's quest to make the quarterfinals and avoid relegation. Vieillard plays his club hockey with the Spokane Chiefs and despite his stats not looking great, the eye test for the German goaltender speaks volumes about his play. He's managed to steal some games for Spokane and prevent them from suffering blowouts, something he'll have to do for this German team as well. After a strong showing in the 2025 tournament, Vieillard is looking to replicate his personal success and have it lead to some more wins this year.

Slovakia

The Slovaks have brought an extremely young team with them to Minnesota with 19 players eligible to play at the 2027 tournament. Slovakia's top four scorers from last year's tournament have aged out, so the weight will fall heavily on returnees Jan Chovan and Luka Radivojevic who both had two points last year tied for fifth in team scoring. Draft eligible players will also play a large role for this Slovak team as they have multiple 2026 NHL draft prospects looking to boost their draft stock.

Detroit Red Wings goalie prospect Michal Pradel will likely get the starter's crease after being the third goalie last year and not seeing the ice in Ottawa. The 18-year-old is a towering presence in the net standing at 6'5. In 23 appearances this year with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, Pradel sports a 2.46 GAA and an impressive .916 SV%. Alan Lendak backed up Samuel Urban in the 2025 tournament and returns this year likely in the same role. Lendak is also in the USHL and has had a strong showing in 11 games with a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV%. However, at last year's tournament in his two appearances the Slovak goalie struggled mightily going 0-2-0 with a 6.10 GAA and a .767 SV%. The Slovaks project to be in the fight for third in the group behind the Swedes and Americans, but the games against Switzerland and Germany should be must see hockey.

Three players key to Slovakia's success:

Michal Pradel (G): The 18-year-old Pradel is a veteran on this young team and despite having no play time at last year's World Juniors, the 6'5 goaltender is one of the few returnees. The Red Wings prospect is one of just three NHL prospects on this Slovak team. The Storm goalie excels with puck tracking and lateral movement. With his large frame he takes away a lot of the net for prospective shooters to aim at. The towering keeper however can struggle with his rebound control, so it'll be crucial for the Slovak defence to box out their opposition to prevent high danger second chances. Pradel doesn't shy away from the big stage and if he gets hot, we could see the Slovaks pull off a quarterfinal upset.

Tomas Chrenko (C): Chrenko has tore up the U-20 leagues in Slovakia. In 129 games dating back to the 2022-2023 season, the now 18-year-old has put up a whopping 199 points for HK Nitra U-20, including 10 points in four games this year. In his two seasons at the top level of Slovakian hockey he has 26 points in 53 games for his club HK Nitra. Chrenko is widely projected as a late first round talent in the upcoming NHL draft. The Slovak center is slightly undersized, but he makes up for it with solid positioning, strong skating, and high hockey IQ. A very efficent player who can drive the Slovaks offence and distribute to teammates creating high quality scoring chances. With the departure of Dalibor Dvorský, Chrenko could fill his role as the first line center and catalyst on the powerplay.

Adam Goljer (RHD): Goljer doesn't have the flashy offensive game of the likes of Parekh or Hutson, but the draft eligible defender is a top shutdown defender. Playing over 20 minutes a night in the top Slovak league, the 6'3 defender is showing he has what it takes to match up with men. Goljer currently projects as a second or early third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL draft. A right-handed shot shutdown defender is something many NHL teams would love on their roster. He has a strong frame, a high hockey IQ, and strong puck handling. While he won't excite you as an offensive threat, Goljer has strong passing paired with good hands and smart offensive instincts. Goljer will likely matchup against some of the tournaments top players in a shutdown role as the Slovaks try to insulate their goaltender and push to upset a team and make the medal round.

Sweden

The Swedes had an impressive pre-tournament splitting a pair of games against tournament favourite, Canada before thumping Switzerland 7-3. Sweden boasts a roster with a ton of NHL prospects and top 2026 draft eligible players. Viewed as the biggest threat to the Canadians, Sweden has a stacked offence and a solid defence corp.

The biggest question for the Swedes this year comes in net as all three goalies they have brought to the tournament have no experience in the World Juniors. It looks like Herman Liv will get the nod as the starter as the senior goalie at 19 years of age, but Love Härenstam has been sensational in the Swedish second division with a 1.91 GAA and .918 SV% in 19 games played. Liv, also playing in the HockeyAllsvenskan, has a 2.45 GAA and .911 SV% in 14 contests. The Swedes could go with a tandem approach alternating starts, but eventually one of these goalies will have to take over the crease if the Swedes want to bring home the gold.

The three Swedish players to watch:

Ivar Stenberg (LW/RW): Stenberg is a top prospect in the upcoming NHL draft and has had his name in the conversation for the first overall pick. The 18-year-old winger is a shifty playmaker who has been producing at a point-per-game clip in the top division of Swedish hockey. Through 25 games with Frölunda HC the elite winger has 24 points. At this current pace, Stenberg will break the record for the most points by a draft eligible player in SHL history. In the U-18 tournament last year, Stenberg had 13 points in seven games. Stenberg projects to be on the top powerplay and will likely play on a line with 2025 third overall pick Anton Frondell and 16th overall pick Victor Eklund who are teammates on Djurgårdens IF in the SHL. Eklund's playmaking ability and two-way play paired with Frondell's shooting and Stenberg's creativity and playmaking should make for a lethal top line.

Leo Sahlin Wallenius (LHD): The Swedes seem to churn out skilled defenders, and Wallenius is no exception. The 19-year-old defender will likely take over the role as the primary puck mover and quarterback of the powerplay with the departure of Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Tom Willander. The San Jose Sharks prospect possesses smooth and efficient skating as a two-way defender that is the primary puck mover from the back end. Wallenius won't be a shutdown option but his ability to distribute the puck and open up space with his skating ability give the Swedes a connector from the back end to their lethal attacking options.

Jack Berglund (C/W): Berglund is an imposing forward standing at 6'4 with exceptional two-way play that will supplement Sweden's skill in the middle six. A 2024 second round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers, Berglund plays with a physical edge to his game. He operates best as a net front presence and uses his size to engage in board battles. Not known as a prolific scorer, Berglund will provide physicality, defensive responsibility, and a net front presence with good hands and decent finishing.

Predictions:

Group A

Sweden
USA
Slovakia
Switzerland
Germany

Group B

Canada
Finland
Czechia
Latvia
Denmark

Relegation: Germany defeats Denmark

Quarterfinals:

In a rematch of last year, Sweden defeats Latvia in what should be easier fashion.

Czechia continues to haunt North American teams in the quarterfinals, knocking off the host Americans.

Finland behind Rimpinen win a low-scoring dog fight against the Slovaks.

Canada dominates a Swiss team that just doesn't have the top-end talent to keep up with the high powered Canadians.

Semifinals:

Sweden defeats Czechia

Canada defeats Finland

Bronze Medal: Czechia gets their revenge from a group stage loss to take bronze from the Finns

Gold Medal: Canada defeats the Swedes in one of the best finals in recent history. Ultimately the goaltending supremacy of Canada sees them take the gold in a battle of elite teams who split their pre-tournament matchups.