Exciting Start to the 2025 World Juniors: Key Matchups and Players to Watch

Hagens to Lead Team USA’s Offense; Martone a Potential Key Player for Canada

Thursday marks the opening day of the IIHF World Junior Championship 2025, held in Ottawa. The excitement is already building as the world’s top young talents face off in an electrifying start to the tournament. Here’s what you need to know for the opening games!

Sweden vs Slovakia (12:00 PM ET)

Sweden enters the tournament with plenty of motivation, opening the B Group round at TD Place. The team returns nine players from last year’s squad that fell 6-2 to the U.S. in the gold medal game on home ice in Gothenburg. Among the standout returnees is defenseman Theo Lindstein, a St. Louis Blues prospect who led all defenders with eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) in seven games. Another player to watch is forward Victor Eklund, a highly ranked prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s list. The 18-year-old has been lighting it up in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, scoring 15 points (8 goals, 7 assists) in 24 games, the most of any player under 19 in the league. Slovakia will be led by Dalibor Dvorsky, a St. Louis Blues draft pick who leads the American Hockey League’s Springfield team with 11 goals in 27 games. Slovakia has a potent offensive lineup, with Juraj Pekarcik (Blues), Daniel Alexander Jencko (2025 draft eligible), and Tomas Pobezal (2025 draft eligible) expected to drive the attack. Goaltender Samuel Urban will likely start for Slovakia, boasting three seasons of North American experience.

Germany vs USA (2:30 PM ET)

As the defending champions, the United States is eager to repeat their gold medal victory from last year. The team returns seven players who participated in the previous championship, led by goaltender Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings), who was a standout in last year’s tournament with a 1.17 GAA and.948 save percentage. Up front, Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals), Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers), and James Hagens, a top contender for the 2025 NHL Draft‘s No. 1 spot, will lead the charge. The USA boasts a high-powered offense, with Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders), Trevor Connelly (Vegas Golden Knights), and Oliver Moore (Chicago Blackhawks) all expected to make significant contributions. Germany’s squad, led by NHL-drafted defenseman Norwin Panocha (Buffalo Sabres), faces a challenging task against the U.S. Without three of their top scorers from last year, Julius Sumpf (2025 draft eligible) will be one of the key players to watch for Germany. He registered 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 29 games for Moncton in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Switzerland vs Czech Republic (5:00 PM ET)

The Czech Republic begins their campaign in Group B with seven returning players from the squad that won bronze last year, including Michal Hrabal (Utah Hockey Club), the goaltender who made 28 saves in a 3-2 win over Canada in the quarterfinals last year. This season, he has posted a .917 save percentage in his sophomore year at University of Massachusetts. If Hrabal can bring that form into the tournament, the Czechs, who finished second in the 2023 WJC, could make history by winning their third consecutive medal. Switzerland managed to avoid relegation last year with a crucial win over Norway and might face a similar battle this year. Forward Leo Braillard (2025 draft eligible), who had 12 goals in 24 games for Lethbridge in the Western Hockey League, could be one of the top players for Switzerland. Another player to watch is 15-year-old Jonah Neuenschwander, who already has 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 26 games for Biel-Bienne in the Swiss U-20 league. Neuenschwander is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft and is the youngest player in this year’s tournament.

Canada vs Finland (7:30 PM ET)

Canada, playing on home ice, enters the A Group with a lot to prove after finishing fifth last year, falling short in the quarterfinals against Czechia. This year, Canada boasts a roster loaded with talent, including 10 first-round NHL draft picks, and two players who could be major contributors to the 2025 NHL Draft: forward Porter Martone and defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Martone (6-3, 208), a physical force, is second in the Ontario Hockey League with 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) in 26 games as the captain of Brampton. Schaefer, a dynamic offensive defender, is regarded as one of the top skating prospects in the draft. He has 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) in 17 games with Erie in the OHL. Also, keep an eye on Gavin McKenna, the 17-year-old who leads the Western Hockey League with 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) in 30 games with Medicine Hat. Finland, known for their hardworking style, will have significant offensive contributions from Konsta Helenius (Buffalo Sabres) and Kasper Halttunen (San Jose Sharks), both of whom have been pivotal in their previous success at the 2024 WJC.

The stage is set, and Day 1 of the 2025 World Juniors promises to be filled with intense competition. Stay tuned for more updates!