The globe junior hockey champion has actually created remarkable minutes and impressive efficiencies.
This year’s event in Ottawa ought to provide the very same degree of enjoyment as the future generation of celebrities skate right into the display occasion’s limelight.
The Canadian Press considers a few of the gamers to see in the country’s resources when the yearly under-20 occasion starts Thursday.
Gavin McKenna– Canada
The 17-year-old onward from Whitehorse– his birthday celebration was recently– is forecasted as theNo 1 choice at the 2026 NHL draft. McKenna, that bets the Medicine Hat Tigers, leads the Western Hockey League with 60 factors in 30 video games this period.
He will certainly be wanting to comply with in the steps of current underage Canadian globe junior standouts Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini after likewise aiding his nation win gold at the under-18 globe champion and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
James Hagens– United States
The fresher onward out of Boston College remains in the discussion as the possible leading choice at the upcoming NHL draft inJune Hagens has 20 factors throughout 16 video games in the NCAA thus far in 2024-25. The 18-year-old will certainly be relied upon for offense as the Americans aim to go back-to-back after winning in 2015’s event in Sweden
Easton Cowan– Canada
The Toronto Maple Leafs possibility gets on a 56-game factor touch in the Ontario Hockey League with theLondon Knights Cowan looks readied to begin on the host nation’s leading line along with Callum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau after playing a sustaining duty at the 2024 occasion when Canada completed a frustrating 5th.
The 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont., that has 28 factors in 20 video games with London, obtained a lengthy check out Leafs training school in the autumn prior to being gone back to junior.
Matthew Schaefer– Canada
The 17-year-old defenceman from Hamilton is an additional gamer in the mix to goNo 1 at the 2025 NHL draft. Schaefer’s skating and smarts different him from the pack, and he figures to play a vital duty forCanada The blue lining has 22 factors in 17 ready the OHL’s Erie Otters after getting rid of mononucleosis beforehand this period. Schaefer is an additional dual victor at one of the most current U18 globes and Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Ryan Leonard– UNITED STATE
The Washington Capitals possibility cold in 2015’s last with a sensational specific initiative versus Sweden in the gold-medal video game. Leonard has 19 factors in 16 competitions this period having fun level with Hagens and fellow united state onward Gabe Perreault atBoston College The 19-year-old will certainly be wanting to do the very same in Ottawa.
Porter Martone– Canada
The 18-year-old power onward from Peterborough, Ont., is an additional possible leading choice inJune Martone and his six-foot-three, 208-pound structure can frequently be discovered creating chaos before the resistance internet. Martone has 54 factors in 26 video games this period for the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads on the heels of U18 and Hlinka Gretzky Cup accomplishments with McKenna and Schaefer.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka– Sweden
The 19-year-old defenceman has actually played skillfully on home dirt the last 3 periods, consisting of in 2023-24 when Skelleftea AIK covered the organization. The first-round choice of the Detroit Red Wings has 22 factors in 25 video games this period and will certainly be dressing at the globe juniors for a 3rd time.
Konsta Helenius– Finland
The 18-year-old Buffalo Sabres possibility has actually invested 2024-25 in theAmerican Hockey League Helenius was lent to his nationwide group by the NHL club after installing 17 factors in 28 video games with theRochester Americans The centre invested the last 2 periods playing in Finland’s leading organization with Mikkelin Jukurit.
Victor Eklund– Sweden
Another gamer forecasted to go high at the 2025 NHL draft, the 18-year-old winger has actually played skillfully the last 2 periods in his nation’s 2nd department with Djurgardens IF. Eklund has 15 factors in 24 video games as the fabled club wants to win promo and go back to Sweden’s leading circuit.
Eduard Sale– Czech Republic
The Seattle Kraken possibility is an additional AHL gamer launched to his nation for the event. Sale has 13 factors in 23 video games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds thus far in 2024-25. The 19-year-old onward, that will certainly be dipping into his 3rd globe juniors after aiding Czechia make bronze in 2015 and silver in 2023, had 7 factors in 7 video games at the 2024 event.
