The 2024 World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, is underway. Today’s article serves as a quick introduction to the main teams, players, and themes from the player pool at this year’s tournament. Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament, from the top prospects you’ll see to the games you can’t afford to miss.
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What do I need to know when watching this team?
Canada: Canada’s lineup is always stocked with NHL talent, as almost every player on this team has been or will be drafted. The most interesting name on their team by far is Macklin Celebrini, who is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and should be one of Canada’s top players. Canada’s top line is Matt Poitras (BOS) on loan from the NHL centered by Conor Geekie (ARI) and Matt Savoie (BUF). Their best defensemen should be Denton Mateychuk (CBJ) and Maveric Lamoureux (ARI).
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Czechia: The returning silver medalist from last year doesn’t have as threatening a roster this time. They do return their entire top line of Matyas Sapovaliv (VGK) in between Eduard Sale (SEA) and Jiri Kulich (BUF), who have been great in international play for years. It drops off significantly after them. As well, Sale, a Seattle first-round pick has struggled mightily this season in the OHL. Their saving grace could be goalie Michael Hrabal (ARI).
Finland: Finland’s team will be led by draft-eligible Konsta Helenius, who is expected to be their first-line center and a high pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Joakim Kemell (NSH) was not loaned to them so that hurt their scoring, but this is still a fairly deep group, albeit one without a ton of top-end talent. Lenni Hameenaho (NJD), Jani Nyman (SEA), Kasper Halttunen (SJS) and defenseman Arttu Karki (VGK) are all having big years in their respective leagues and are expected to be leaders on this team.
Germany: There isn’t a ton to watch on this German team. The second-round pick Julian Lutz (ARI) has some NHL potential.
Latvia: Dans Locmelis (BOS) and Sandis Vilmanis (FLA) are decent returning prospects. The most intriguing players on their team are probably their draft-eligibles in forward Eriks Mateiko and defenseman Darels Uljanki, who both figure to be mid-round picks or higher.
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Norway: This is one of the stronger Norway U20 teams I’ve seen. It’s also a group that lost 6-2 to Latvia in the pre-tournament, so expectations for them are more about avoiding relegation. Winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is expected to be the first Norwegian picked in the first round and he could go high in the first. Defenseman Stian Solberg could be picked in the first two rounds, as well.
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Slovakia: Slovakia was very good at last year’s tournament and returns a lot of their important players in forwards Dalibor Dvorsky (STL), Samuel Honzek (CGY), Filip Mesar (MTL), Adam Sykora (NYR), defenseman Maxim Strbak (BUF) and, of course, goalie Adam Gajan (CHI). They are everyone’s pick to upset a top team.
Sweden: Sweden is a gold medal contender on home ice. They return key members of age groups that either won gold or silver at their U18 level internationally. Their lineup doesn’t have top 10 picks like USA has, but it’s a deep group even if it lacks a true game-breaker. Forwards Noah Ostlund (BUF), Jonathan Lekkerimaki (VAN), Liam Ohgren (MIN), Filip Bystedt (SJS), David Edstrom (VEG) and defensemen Axel Sandin Pellikka (DET) and Tom Willander (VAN) among many others are expected to be notable contributors for this team.
Switzerland: This isn’t the most high-profile Swiss team you’ll ever see. Defenseman Rodwin Dioncio (ANA) is talented and should get his points. Defensemen Leon Muggli and Daniil Ustinkov could be top 3 round picks in the upcoming draft as well, although Muggli is expected to play the larger role.
United States: The Americans enter as the tournament favorite. They feature several top 10 picks in Cutter Gauthier (PHI), Will Smith (SJS) and Ryan Leonard (WSH). Lane Hutson (MTL) has been one of the top players in college hockey in the last 18 months as well, and Gabe Perreault (NYR) is currently a leading scorer in the NCAA. They also return several other important players, including wingers Jimmy Snuggerud (STL), Rutger McGroarty (WPG) and goaltender Trey Augustine (DET).
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A 2024 draft-eligible watch list/ranking
- Macklin Celebrini, C, Canada
- Konsta Helenius, C, Finland
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Norway
- Adam Jiricek, RHD, Czechia
- Zeev Buium, LHD, USA
- Stian Solberg, LHD, Norway
- Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD , Finland
- Emil Hemming, RW, Finland
- Tomas Galvas, LHD, Czechia
- Daniil Ustinkov, LHD, Switzerland
- Leon Muggli, LHD, Switzerland
- Owen Allard, C, Canada
- Eriks Mateiko, RW, Latvia
- Jamiro Reber, RW, Switzerland
- Emil Vinni, G, Finland
- Samuel St-Hilaire, G, Canada
- Miles Mueller, LW, Switzerland
The top five names are the ones you really need to know, as they are all likely first-round picks in the upcoming draft, with Celebrini as the potential No. 1 pick. The rest of the top five names listed could all very well go in the top 20.
Games you need to know
(All times Eastern)
Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 6:00 a.m.: Czechia vs. Slovakia; at 8 a.m: Canada vs. Finland
Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 6:00 a.m.: Slovakia vs. Switzerland
Thursday, Dec. 28 at 11:00 a.m.: Switzerland vs. USA
Friday, Dec. 29 at 11:00 a.m.: Czechia vs. USA; at 1:00 p.m.: Canada vs. Sweden
Saturday, Dec. 30 at 11:00 a.m.: Switzerland vs. Norway
Sunday, Dec. 31 at 6:00 a.m.: USA vs. Slovakia; at 8:30 a.m.: Sweden vs. Finland
Tuesday, Jan. 2 from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Quarterfinals all day
Thursday, Jan. 4: Semifinal 1 at 9:00 a.m.; Semifinal 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 5: Bronze medal game at 9:00 a.m.; Gold medal game at 1:30 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
Canada’s got this like always, right?
Canada is very much a gold medal contender as they are every year. They have a deep and talented group of skaters full of high NHL draft picks, including Celebrini. However, compared to some recent Team Canada rosters this isn’t as loaded a group. Their top players aren’t as dynamic as last year’s team, for example, and they are severely handicapped by how many of their best players are in the NHL. The result is that they are not the clear-cut favorite this season.
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Is Celebrini as good as this Connor Bedard fella?
Well, nobody previously as a draft-eligible had a tournament like Bedard did, so it would be unfair to set the bar that high. However, Celebrini is truly exceptional. There is no clear flaw in his skill set and he does everything at a high-end level. He has a chance to be one of the best players at this tournament.
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So you’re saying USA is going to win it?
This USA team on paper is the favorite. They are not unstoppable though. In particular, if you had to rank the three contenders (Canada, Sweden, USA), the American blue line would rank third among that group. It’s their clear-cut top forward group and dynamic skill throughout their team that gives them a real shot to win gold. They have good goalies, but if they don’t win, it will likely be because they couldn’t make enough defensive stops and get pucks up the ice crisply.
Any team have upset potential or could make an unexpected run like Czechia last season?
Finland and Slovakia would be my picks to potentially get deep into the medal round. Finland’s team isn’t their clear best, but it’s a strong group who will compete and have shown well in the pre-tournament, including a 5-1 victory over Slovakia and a 4-1 win over Czechia.
Slovakia has clear upset vibes. Dvorsky should shine at the junior level and Gajan showed last year he has the potential to steal a game. Dvorsky and Gajan didn’t play against Finland in the pre-tournament.
Why is ____ not at the tournament?
Aron Kiviharju has been a touted junior player in Finland’s program for years, but he was injured in late October and will be out until February. He could be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Joakim Kemell is absent from Finland as Nashville did not loan him in what would be his third world juniors tournament. Zach Benson would have been on Canada but he has been an important player for Buffalo and was not released by the Sabres.
So who are the legit future NHL stars at this tournament I should know about?
The main names to know are Celebrini on Canada, and Gauthier and Smith on USA. Helenius on Finland may play his way into that conversation by the end of the tournament.
Where can I get more information about these players?
You can reference our most recent pipeline rankings, U23 ranking, and 2024 NHL Draft ranking.
(Photo of Gael Christe and Ryan Leonard at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 28, 2023: Adam IHSE / TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP via Getty Images)
