On April 20th, the IIHF Under 18 World Championships will commence with Sweden looking to defend their gold medal from the previous year. In order to do so, they will need to go through the extremely difficult ‘Division A’, which includes Canada, Czechia, Slovakia, Germany, in addition to Sweden. The Swedes have medalled in four straight tournaments, but they will face stiff competition from Canada and Czechia, especially, as the three enter the tournament as gold medal contenders.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN / kod SH / SH0380
Sweden
The Swedes are going to be a difficult team to score against with three potential first round picks anchoring the blueline (Sandin-Pellikka, Lindstein, and Willander). Nearly the entirety of this roster helped capture a silver medal at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and a gold at this winter’s World Junior A Challenge. Up front, Otto Stenberg will be looked upon to be a leader as a returning player from last year’s gold medal winning U18 squad. The only really negative thing to say about this group heading into the tournament is that they will be missing one of their best forwards in the age group in Felix Nilsson, who recently fractured his wrist. His playmaking ability will definitely be missed.
Top Players to Watch
Theo Lindstein (D)
Lindstein played a depth role on last year’s U18 gold medal winning squad and returns this year as someone who will be relied upon in all situations. This is a big tournament for Lindstein as it pertains to his NHL draft stock. Once considered to be in contention to be the first defender drafted, he has seen others pass him by due to concerns over his high-end upside. Puck management will be key for Lindstein at this event as he tries to prove to scouts that he can be a primary facilitator from the backend.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka (D)
A high-end puck moving defender and skater, Sandin-Pellikka has been a steady riser over the course of this draft season. He’s largely been great for Sweden internationally and will be counted upon heavily at this tournament. He should quarterback the top powerplay unit and will have a chance to be in contention for the top defender award. Scouts will be looking for him to be more consistent in the defensive end, especially when it comes to his physical intensity.
Tom Willander (D)
This is a big tournament for Willander to prove that he belongs in the same conversation as the above two. It seems like he has been a bit underrated this year based on his achievements and play and if he shines at the U18’s, he may have a chance to pass both Lindstein and Sandin-Pellikka in the rankings of some teams. Willander is a composed and intelligent two-way defender whose game should transition very well to the NHL level.
Otto Stenberg (F)
As alluded to, Stenberg scored two goals in last year's tournament as an underager and will be looked upon to be the leader of the forward group this year. The thing is, his play this year has been very inconsistent, both internationally and in Swedish league play. No question, the Swedes will need Stenberg at the top of his game to repeat as gold medal winners. A dynamic skater and transitional attacker, Stenberg is as skilled as any forward in this tournament.
Anton Wahlberg (F)
A favourite of McKeen’s assistant director of scouting Derek Neumeier, Wahlberg is this year’s version of Filip Bystedt for this Swedish team. He’s a big forward (6’3) with excellent puck protection skill down low and a penchant for taking the puck to the net. He can play that heavy game that can match teams like Canada and the United States and was good in SHL action to close out league play this year.
David Edstrom (F)
One of the big beneficiaries of Felix Nilsson’s injury, Edstrom may just be one of the most underrated players in this Swedish ‘05 group. The big center (6’3) has had a very good second half of the draft year, establishing himself as a regular in the SHL. Like Wahlberg, he can play that heavy game needed to win in tournaments like this and his work near the crease and in the corners will be critical to Sweden’s success.
Noah Dower Nilsson (F)
This is a big tournament for Dower Nilsson and his NHL draft stock. He is both intelligent and skilled, a combination that made him a potential first round selection coming into the year. He had a great statistical year in the Swedish J20 league for Frölunda, however his play internationally has been fairly indifferent. This includes an injury shortened World Junior A Challenge. Like Stenberg, Dower Nilsson will be looked upon to be an offensive leader and will need to show scouts that his skating has improved over the course of this year.
Canada
No question, this year’s Canadian entry at the U18’s is better than last year’s when they finished fifth following a quarter final loss to Finland. In fact, on paper, this might be one of the better Canadian entries at this event in recent memory, rivaling the 2021 roster that captured gold. The challenge for Canada each year is to select players already eliminated from the CHL playoffs and this can have a very negative impact on the quality of the talent pool available. This year, many of Canada’s top ‘05’s happened to play for weaker CHL teams and that means a significant number of the team’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup players from the summer will double dip at this tournament. Goaltending should be a strength with Carson Bjarnason manning the crease, a candidate to be the first goaltender drafted in 2023. The defense and forward groups are also strong led by the likes of Colby Barlow, Cal Ritchie, Andrew Cristall, Cam Allen, Caden Price, Lukas Dragicevic, Matthew Wood, and potential first overall pick in 2024 Macklin Celebrini (an ‘06). Additionally, Canada has only registered 12 forwards. That means that they are eyeing an addition or two from a team eliminated early in the second round of the CHL playoffs like Riley Heidt and the Prince George Cougars.
Top Players to Watch
Carson Bjarnason (G)
Playing on a weak Brandon team this year, Bjarnason was consistently tasked with having to steal games and that led to some fatigue down the stretch. The back-up from the summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky team, it will be great to see him with a stronger roster playing in front of him. Bjarnason has everything NHL scouts are looking for from young netminders these days and with a strong tournament, he could vault himself to the top of many team’s goaltender rankings in 2023.
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Colby Barlow (F)
Colby Barlow (F)Last summer, at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, Barlow was tasked with playing more of a shutdown role on the third line and as a primary penalty killler. At this event, he’ll be more heavily counted upon to be an offensive play driver and the near 50 goal scorer (46 with Owen Sound this year in the OHL) should be up to the task. Barlow excels playing a North/South power game thanks to his straight-line speed, size, and goal scoring ability. Look for him to be part of the leadership group for this team too.
Cal Ritchie (F)
There might not be a player in this tournament with more on the line than Ritchie. The leading scorer from the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in the summer, Ritchie entered the season as a potential top ten selection. However, his play with the rebuilding Oshawa Generals was quite inconsistent this year and this has led to him falling in the consensus rankings. No question Ritchie is a highly intelligent playmaker, but scouts will have a keen eye on his pace of play and his physical intensity level. His injury status is also something worth monitoring as he limped into the OHL playoffs with an upper body injury.
Matthew Wood (F)
Wood is a returning player from last year’s U18’s but should be a much different player this time around after struggling to make a consistent impact as an underager. He is coming off a tremendous season for the University of Connecticut, where he posted the best point per game average by a U18 player in the NCAA (a true freshman) of this millennium, besting Jonathan Toews’ mark with North Dakota. No question, Wood’s skating remains an area of weakness, but every other area of his game stands out for positive reasons.
Macklin Celebrini (F)
Speaking of record-breaking seasons, insert potential first overall pick in 2024, center Macklin Celebrini. He obliterated the previous scoring record by a U17 player in the USHL this season by leading the entire league in scoring for the Chicago Steel. The Steel were courteous enough to let Celebrini play in the U18’s despite qualifying for the USHL playoffs, similar to how Adam Fantilli was released for last year’s tournament. Even as an underager, Celebrini should have a great tournament for Canada. Those that have never seen him play before will be surprised by his physicality and tenaciousness, in combination with his high-end skill.
Andrew Cristall (F)
Cristall may just be this draft’s most polarizing player. An extremely skilled and creative attacker, Cristall’s offensive upside may be among the highest available this year. However, some scouts are concerned by his lack of dynamic qualities in combination with his lack of elite size. This event should go a long way in convincing those on the fence that Cristall is someone worth pounding the table for in Nashville. He will play a critical offensive role for Canada.
Nick Lardis (F)
A midseason trade to the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) ignited Lardis and he finished the season as one of the hottest players in the entire CHL. Even in the first round of the playoffs, with his rebuilding Bulldogs facing the veteran Barrie Colts, Lardis was a standout and one of the highest scorers of round one. Lardis can continue to rocket up draft lists with a big tournament here and he should be given a great opportunity inside Canada’s top six. He has speed to burn and tremendous shot.
Cam Allen (D)
Remember when I said teammate Cal Ritchie might have the most to gain/lose from participating in this tournament. Defender Cam Allen is right there with him. The captain of Canada’s Hlinka/Gretzky team last summer, Allen was thought to be the best defender available for the draft this year heading into the season. A disastrous draft year for Guelph has seen Allen plummet down draft boards. He has struggled with his decision making all year and this will be a huge chance for him to prove that he is a worthy high selection.
Caden Price (D)
Ironically, Caden Price is in a bit of a similar situation as Allen, a player he paired with consistently at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in the summer. Playing on a rebuilding Kelowna team, Price’s decision making at both ends left a lot to be desired this past season. However, he still has a very intriguing package of size, skill, and mobility on the backend and could really help his draft stock with a strong performance for Canada.
Lukas Dragicevic (D)
After playing for Canada at last year’s U18’s as an underager, Dragicevic was a shocking cut from the summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky team after the coaching staff was unimpressed with his defensive play. Offensively, Dragicevic is a difference maker, and he should quarterback the top powerplay for Canada at this event. Defensively, his game is a major work in progress. Finding the right partner for him at the event will be critical in order to bring out the best in him.
Czechia
Even in all of their previous hockey glory, the Czechs have never captured gold at this event and have only ever made one final (back in 2014 led by Jakub Vrana). This year’s team does have a strong roster on paper and could definitely challenge for a medal. Michael Hrabal is a top goaltending prospect for the 2023 draft and should give Czechia a consistently great effort in net. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Eduard Sale to have a fantastic tournament. He was among the scoring leaders last year at the U18’s as an underager and this Czech team will only go as far as he can take them.
Top Players to Watch
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN / kod SH / SH0387
Eduard Sale (F)
As mentioned, Sale was a standout at this tournament already last year as an underage player and he returns this year to try to help Czechia capture a medal. Sale always seems to be among the leading scorers of any international tournament that he plays against his peers and expectations are no different here. A skilled winger with size and great playmaking ability, Sale is a potential top ten selection this year.
Michael Hrabal (G)
It hasn’t been easy for Hrabal this year playing for Omaha in the USHL, one of the worst teams in the league. He has faced a ton of rubber and his consistency has suffered because of it. However, he is one of the top-rated goaltenders in this year’s draft for a reason. His combination of size and athleticism keeps him in every play and gives him high upside as an NHL starting netminder. In order for the Czechs to upset Sweden and Canada in the preliminary round, he is going to have to steal the show…and he’s capable of that.
Dominik Petr (F)
Life comes full circle for Petr. After a strong start at last year’s tournament as an underage player, he was hit awkwardly by fellow underager Ryan Leonard and suffered a tournament ending injury that saw him stretched off the ice. Since then, Petr hasn’t really been the same. A former highly touted player in this class, Petr is now seen as more of a mid to late round pick with upside. However, a strong showing at the U18’s could cause scouts to re-evaluate his standing.
Jakub Dvorak (D)
Is Dvorak one of the most under-scouted players in this year’s draft class? Injuries have limited his play this year, including missing the World Junior Championships. Additionally, when he has played, it has been in a limited role in the Czech men’s league. However, he appears to be healthy now and will suit up as the Czech’s top defender at the U18’s. All eyes will be on the big defender (6’5, 200lbs) to see if he can be a difference maker at both ends.
Adam Jiricek (D)
The younger brother of Columbus prospect David Jiricek, Adam shows significant promise for next year’s NHL draft and has been solid internationally for Czechia this year. The ‘06 defender will likely play a large role for Czechia at this event despite his young age. At the recent U18 four nations, he was a standout, and he will be entering the tournament with a lot of confidence.
Slovakia
It has been 20 years since Slovakia medalled at this event and they will be facing an uphill battle to do so again after being placed in such a strong division after requalifying. However, this team does have some talent and should be competitive. They will be led by forward Dalibor Dvorsky and Maxim Strbak, two significant draft prospects for this year and two players who were already a big part of Slovakia’s entry at the U20 WJC’s this past January. Of note, Erie Otters forward Ondrej Molnar has not been invited to play at the event due to the ongoing investigation over his actions during a floorball game earlier this year.
Top Players to Watch
Maxim Strbak (D)
A Michigan State commit, Strbak is the kind of defender you just know is going to be a long time pro. The 6’2 blueliner is mean, is relatively mobile, and is smart, a combination that should at least make him a dependable stay at home type at the NHL level. He was already fantastic at the U20’s for Slovakia, so it will be interesting to see him at this event competing against his age equivalent peers.
Dalibor Dvorsky (F)
This is a big tournament for Dvorsky. He was instrumental in helping Slovakia get back to the main group last year as an underager. The potential lottery pick has had a pretty up and down year playing in Sweden between the pro and the J20 level, but a big tournament would go a long way in convincing scouts that he is indeed one of the top forwards available this year.
Jakub Chromiak (D)
The younger brother of Los Angeles Kings’ prospect Martin, Jakub is a puck moving defender who played for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL this year. A late ‘05 born, he is not eligible for the NHL Draft until next year. Quite frankly, his season in the OHL was a little underwhelming compared to the expectations, but the jump to North America can be a difficult one for young defenders. Chromiak is still a highly rated prospect for next year and he should be a top four defender on this Slovak team.
Germany
As someone with German roots, this one hurts a bit. However, Germany is in trouble at this event. Despite a resurgence of late, the ‘05 group for Germany is not a strong one. This is a team that lost a game to Japan recently. They were outgunned at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and things could get even uglier at the U18’s given the division they were placed in. The team will simply try to keep things competitive in every game of the round robin and then hope to avoid relegation by beating the low team from Division B. The one hope they do have is that they did manage to beat division A rival Slovakia in some lead up games.
Top Players to Watch
Kevin Bicker (F)
After a strong Hlinka/Gretzky Cup performance, Bicker drew a lot of interest from the scouting community as a potential 2023 NHL Draft selection. However, his performance in Germany this year left some to be desired, at least compared to previous German draft selections. Bicker is a high energy winger who plays with tenacity. Just how high the offensive upside is remains to be seen, but he should be one of the top offensive performers on this team.
Linus Brandl (F)
Another German forward who had a strong Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, Brandl is a bit different than his running mate Bicker. He’s more of a cerebral, skilled attacker who needs to gain the quickness and strength to be a more consistent presence off the puck. He will also be looked upon to be a top performer at this event and he is one of the few players on this German team with a chance of being drafted.
Timo Ruckdäschel (F)
Not a name that a lot of people know right now (he was not even listed by NHL Central Scouting at midterm), but Ruckdäschel may have been Germany’s most consistent ‘05 internationally this past season. A big, power forward, he is the kind of player who can match up against the big guns of this tough division. He has played much of this year at the pro level in Europe, in both the DEL and the AlpsHL. With a big U18’s, he could go from relative unknown to potential draft selection.
Norwin Panocha (D)
Don’t be hard on yourself if you haven’t heard this name yet. Just rest assured that the 6-foot, 170-pound defenseman has gone from an unknown to top of Germany’s defensive list for the scouting community. A cog and leader for Berlin’s very strong DNL outfit, Panocha’s solid and mature game earned him five viewings in the DEL2 as well as three games in the DEL. Expect to see him in a top four role at this tournament and perhaps even with a letter on his chest (Chapin Landvogt)
Edwin Tropmann (D)
First eligible for the 2024 NHL draft, Tropmann was already on last spring’s team and by the end of the tournament, he was on the top power play unit in the Ovechkin spot. A righty shot who is clearly a coaching staff favorite, Tropmann is coming off a solid winter where he put up more than a PPG for his DNL club while also collecting 131 penalty minutes in 43 games. The training wheels should be off at this tournament. He’s also got two games of DEL and four games of DEL2 experience. Look for him to log plenty of minutes at this tournament. (Chapin Landvogt)
Paul Mayer (D)
Mayer will likely be a third pairing defenseman at this tournament, but in local hockey circles, he’s spent several years being seen as an up-and-comer with NHL potential. At 17, he’s already 6’2”, 185 lbs., and spent this past season putting up 37 points in 46 DNL games. The season also saw him make his debut for the Mannheim Adler of the DEL after having played four DEL2 games as a 16-year-old. His pace is still a work in progress, but there are plenty of tools, plenty of size, and a lot of promise for a player who’ll first be a draft topic in the summer of 2024. He’s still getting his feet wet internationally. (Chapin Landvogt)