After starting off with some terrific action and the odd surprise here and there, the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship were unexpectedly cancelled last December due to Covid-related complications and will now be reconducted in a unique summer edition in Edmonton, Alberta. All players eligible for the event in December will retain eligibility for this summer edition of the tournament, but just about every participant is providing a team that features some overturn in the line-up. These new faces will surely prove to be critical to the success or lack thereof for several nations, especially in light of the multitude of changes that teams such as Canada have made to their roster. 

At the same time, several of the event’s minnows will be bringing rosters with few changes, possibly giving them that extra edge in the chemistry department.

The following is a look at some of the key new players for the upcoming games that will surely impact their teams’ fortunes.

Group A: Canada

William Dufour - RW - The QMJHL Player of the Year and Memorial Cup MVP, Dufour was one of the CHL’s highest impact players and biggest winners this past winter. A New York Islanders draft pick, Dufour is set to begin his pro career this fall after setting a Saint John Sea Dogs record with 56 goals in 66 regular season games. In total, he had 116 regular season points and then starred at the Memorial Cup with seven goals and eight points in four games. Canada was hoping for a pure sniper to show up on their radar and Dufour is that guy. Look for him to be a mainstay with one of the top playmaking centres and on the powerplay.
 
Zack Ostapchuk - LW - Every team needs a bruiser and Team Canada is well-known for providing some of the best at every World Juniors. Enter Mr. Ostapchuk. The 191-cm, 90-kg winger knows exactly where the corners - and the penalty box - are. Nonetheless, he did rack up 26 goals and 43 points in 60 games for the Vancouver Giants this year and upped the ante in the playoffs with another 23 points in 12 games. Like most on this team, he can play the game any way it comes.
 
Brennan Othmann - RW/LW - Having played pro hockey in Switzerland while the OHL was cancelled for the 2020/2021 season, the New York Rangers’ 2021 first rounder returned to his Flint Firebirds this winter and tore things apart to the tune of 50 goals and 97 points in 66 games. His 24 points in 19 playoff games weren’t shabby either. For a Canadian team full of offensive weapons, Othmann’s versatility and attention to detail will have him ready for any role given to him. The 2021 U18 Worlds gold medal-winning winger is familiar with playing together with Canadian team captain Mason McTavish, so don’t be surprised if that’s exactly where you see him for this tournament.
 
Josh Roy - C/RW - A late-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, Roy absolutely exploded on the scene this season for the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL. His 51 goals and 119 points in 66 games were good for tops overall in the league and he continued on with that in the playoffs, aiding his team’s efforts with 23 points in 11 games. A go-to offensive force with a variety of weapons, Roy can really be referred to as a goal scorer despite the gaudy assist totals. Alas, his role on this offensively loaded squad may be more of that of a hustler and forechecker, but rest assured that he’ll be ready and able to strike at any time.
 
Jack Thompson - D - Thompson is the sole righty shot on Canada’s blueline and should be looked at as a prime candidate for the power play. One of the tournament’s older players, Thompson was responsible for 21 regular season goals in the OHL this past season and added another six goals and 14 points in just nine playoff games for the Soo St. Marie Greyhounds, making him one the top goal-scoring defenceman whatsoever in the CHL last season. Look for Canada to maximize on exactly this attribute.

Finland

Aatu Raty - C - Coming off a fantastic season in Liiga action, in which he put up 42 points in 48 total games for former NHLer Olli Jokinen’s Jukurit, the two-way centre is not only a newbie to the team, but he’s also scheduled to centre the team’s first line between returnees Joakim Kemell and Roni Hirvonen. A New York Islanders draft pick, Raty has been putting up big numbers in the test games and enters the tournament as possibly one of the absolute key players for any team whatsoever.
 
Eetu Liukas - LW - Another New York Islanders draft pick, every team will need a few guys who go to the dirty areas and toss their shoulders around. Enter the 188 cm tall, 93 kg heavy Liukas, who just spent this past season suiting up for TPS Turku in Liiga for 65 games, putting up 12 goals in the process. He’ll be here to add some snarl and you can bet your bottom dollar the opponents will quickly notice that he’s in the game. If any Finn will be getting under anyone’s skin, it’s likely Liukas.

Czechia

Jaroslav Chmelar - F - A New York Rangers draft pick, Chmelar measures in at 194 cm and 95 kg. He’ll be here to throw that weight around and create some space for some of his smaller linemates. Although his 18 points in 30 U20 league games may not inspire thoughts of a heavy scoring impact at this tournament, be sure that the Providence College commit will be here to make his presence known and pounce on opportunities whenever they arise.
 
Tomas Hamara - D - The recently drafted Hamara (Ottawa Senators) has been playing for years in Finland’s junior system and even cracked the Liiga line-up to the tune of 26 games with Tappara this past winter. He topped that off with an eight-assist showing over six games at the U18 Worlds, quarterbacking the powerplay for the Czechs. Now he’s here with the big boys on a very impressive blueline and has the all-round instincts and athleticism to make a heavy impact over the next few weeks. Don’t be surprised if alone his skating raises your eyebrow every now and again.
 
Petr Hauser - RW - You won’t be able to miss the 193 cm tall, 93 kg heavy winger when he’s on the ice. Making his international tournament debut for Czechia, Hauser was recently selected by the New Jersey Devils in this summer’s draft after putting up a very impressive 75 points in 52 games for Sparta Prague’s U20 outfit. Another 17 games and four points in second league men’s play has Hauser revved up for a spot with Sparta Prague’s men’s team this fall, and the Czechs will need him to put his body to good use in this tournament in order to hang with the big boys.
 
Gabriel Szturc - C - Hard on the forecheck, Szturc is a bit of a grasshopper who's good at making life hard on opponents. He’s also coming off a 40-point season for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL and is very familiar with the rink in Edmonton. A veteran of the nation’s U18 outfit in 2021, Szturc is one of a handful of new forwards on this team and should get a good role in a shutdown capacity and more if either of the top two centres fall out for any reason.

Slovakia

Samuel Honzek - C - Already 191 cm tall and 83 kg heavy, the 17-year-old Honzek is a hot topic for next summer’s NHL draft. After spending the entire season in Slovakia’s top men’s league and scoring 10 goals in 53 games, the youngster was drafted by the Vancouver Giants of the WHL this summer and is believed to be reporting to the team straight from Alberta by the end of August. For now, he’s going to have to help replace a myriad of Slovakia’s best offensive players from December who now find themselves preparing for the upcoming season with their various NHL assignments.
 
Martin Misiak - F - The next 17-year-old of note on the team, the 188 cm large Misiak is also coming into this tournament with an entire season of top-league men’s action in Slovakia under his belt. The author of 10 points in 46 games, Misiak was a key contributor at the U18 Worlds Division I where his five points and +5 rating went a long way in gaining promotion for Slovakia. He’s thought to be one of Europe’s most fascinating prospects for the upcoming season, which he’ll begin before his 18th birthday, and he’ll need to step up to the plate in Alberta if Slovakia is going to make some noise.
 
Oliver Stumpel - F - For a team that’ll be missing forward stars such as Martin Chromiak, Filip Mesar, and Juraj Slafkovsky, the California-born Stumpel comes in as one of the most hopeful off-the-map young players in this tournament. He spent last season putting up fairly humble numbers for the NAHL club in Corpus Christi after gaining experience in Slovakia’s second highest men’s circuit for most of the 20/21 season. He’s now looking to put his name on the map as yet another young Slovak talent of note, although his name is likely already quite familiar to you. After all, he’s the son of former NHLer Jozef Stumpel, who suited up for 1012 NHL contests over 16 seasons.

Latvia

The whole team is new to the tournament, so there’ll be plenty of young men looking to make a name for themselves on the international stage, particularly defenseman Niks Fenenko and drafted forwards Dans Locmelis, Klas Veinbergs, and Sandis Vilmanis.

Group B: USA

Sean Behrens - D - A 2021 second round draft pick of the Stanley Cup winning Colorado Avalanche, Behrens is coming off an absolutely fantastic season with the University of Denver, having contributed heavily to the college’s national championship. Overall, he accounted for 29 points and a +9 in 37 games. Now he’s joining a U.S. squad chock full of former USNTDP teammates and will surely get some solid minutes in a two-way capacity, something the U.S. program continues to pride itself on. Behrens can play this game any way it comes.
 
Thomas Bordeleau - C - Without a doubt, perhaps the most elite addition any team in this tournament is adding to its outfit. Covid-related reasons out of his control kept him out of the past two World Juniors, but he’s here now and he’ll be a first-line player for this rag-tag team of predominantly U.S. college boys. After scoring a power-play goal for the University of Michigan this past winter, he then put up five assists in eight NHL games and another three assists in two AHL games for the San Jose Sharks organization. Born in Houston, Texas, Bordeleau’s father hails from Canada and spent half of his illustrious career playing in Switzerland and for the French national team after several strong seasons for the Nashville Predators. Thus, there’s a whole lot of international hockey background in this young man.
 
Charlie Stramel - RW - Stramel is an impressive 191 cm tall and 98 kg heavy power forward who has been playing in the U.S. system above his age group every step of the way. Just 17, he’s already a two-time veteran of the U18 Worlds, contributing five points and a +7 to the United States’ silver medal at the most recent event in Landshut, Germany. Now he’s making his World Juniors debut and is already well-enshrined in the notebooks of NHL scouts. Look for him to only get a lower line role at this event, but to nonetheless find his way onto the scoresheet. Stramel will hope to kick off his draft year with the kind of tournament that has him dotted for the first round of next summer’s draft.
 
Jacob Truscott - D - A defensive defender through and through, Truscott is coming off a wonderful season for the University of Michigan, where he collected 17 points and a +28 in 40 games. Now he’ll be teaming up with international star Luke Hughes, with whom he patrols the blueline at Michigan. The two form a very complementary pairing and will likely be team USA’s go-to defensive unit. The Vancouver Canucks draft pick brings size and snarl, but it’s his slick mobility and strong passing skills that allow him to excel.

Sweden

Ludvig Jansson - D - Just drafted this summer by the Florida Panthers, the 182 cm tall Jansson is coming off a 21/22 season that was spent almost entirely with Sodertalje of the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan. A good address and league for a young man this age to have gained experience in, Jansson is now suiting up for his first official international tournament with Sweden and helps complete a blueline crew that is already overflowing with pro experience. On a team that loves to make use of seven defenders, Jansson will surely be one of the top-depth D-men for any team in this tournament.
 
Jonathan Lekkerimaki - RW - Drafted in the first round this past summer by the Vancouver Canucks, a team with a long history of success with Swedish talent, Lekkermaki was one of the most exciting young men in European hockey last season. A dominating U20 league performance was topped off with a strong SHL showing (7 goals) with an eventually relegated Djurgarden club. One of the absolute heroes of U18 gold this past spring in Landshut, Germany, Lekkerimaki is the most recent addition to Sweden’s outfit for this tournament, ultimately filling in for missing captain William Eklund, and would very well be the top line right winger for several participants in this tournament. Now he can blend in a bit on a strong roster and add a sniper element, something he’s done every step of the way in his young career.
 
Fabian Lysell - RW - Expected to make an NHL roster push this fall, the 2021 first rounder of the Boston Bruins is coming off a wonderful first season of WHL action with the Vancouver Giants, for whom he collected 62 points in 53 regular season games. He then put the cherry on top of his development to date with another 21 points in 12 postseason games. Now he’s looking to make a killing in Alberta, very acquainted with the ice in western Canada. With no lack of confidence, Lysell is as swift and creative a player as anyone at this tournament and should be a cog in the offence of a team expected to make a very strong push for gold.
 
Liam Ohgren - LW - Selected 19th overall by the Minnesota Wild earlier this summer, Ohgren is an all-round winger who has an absolutely uncanny ability to generate offense. Although this wasn’t put on display much in his 25 SHL games with Djurgarden this past season, he did dominate the nation’s top U20 circuit, scoring 35 goals in 36 total games. He then chipped in nine points in six games as the captain of gold medal-winning Team Sweden at the U18 Worlds. Very used to playing with Lekkerimaki on a line, Ohgren should have absolutely no problem stepping in and serving as one of Sweden’s top attackers at this tournament.
 
Victor Stjernborg - C/LW - Having missed a chunk of last season due to injury, Stjernborg was a regular lower line player in winning the SHL championship with Vaxjo in the 20/21 season. His SHL role was diminished this past season, but while on assignment to Troja-Ljungby of the HockeyAllsvenskan, Stjernborg scorched his way to 15 points in just 11 games. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect is now one of the unassuming names on this Swedish roster who should have other teams in fits with his strong two-way play and nagging forecheck. This young man truly is one of the underrated players on the prospect map and you should be seeing why very soon.
 
William Wallinder - D - The goaltending is the big story for Team Sweden, seeing as how all three nominees would be the likely starter for a handful of teams in this tournament, but the gigantic 193 cm Wallinder is a shot-blocking machine who’ll help his last line of defence see fewer pucks. He’ll also have little problem being one of the tourney’s better breakout defenders. Already the beneficiary of a ton of professional experience, the 20-year-old Detroit Red Wings prospect shot up the prospect chart during the 21/22 season, not only seeing action in 60 games for contender Rogle Angelholm, but also contributing 20 points along the way.

Germany

Ryan Del Monte - F - Not a whole lot is different for this German squad, but 19-year-old Del Monte is now part of the fun and will be making his international debut for Germany. The dual citizen (CAN) is currently a member of the Barrie Colts of the OHL, and thus quite familiar with North American ice, but spent the Pandemic-affected 20/21 season in Germany, primarily with the Hannover Indians of the third-tier Oberliga. Born in Freiburg, his father had been a long-time pro in the country, having first ended his career there in 2010. Ryan spent a good part of his childhood on German ice and will surely add a very North American dimension to the attack.
 
Luca Hauf - RW/LW - One of Germany’s more effective players at the U18 Worlds on home ice last spring, Hauf was promptly drafted by the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL in the CHL Import Draft and Hauf is scheduled to report. He’ll be joining the club to kick off a season in the WHL right after this tournament and Germany is counting on him to strut his stuff to his future employer. With both DEL and DEL2 experience in tow, Hauf spent the past two seasons offensively tearing apart the nation’s third pro circuit - as a 16- and 17-year-old.
 
Haakon Hanelt - RW/LW - The 180 cm tall Hanelt has not played a lot of hockey the past few seasons but has the potential to be maybe Germany’s most important offensive producer at this tournament. A myriad of ailments and injuries caused the Washington Capitals draft pick to miss out on the U18 Worlds in 2021 and this past winter’s WJC, so this will be an important outing for Hanelt, who already played a Deutschland Cup with the men’s national team in November 2021. After an injury-riddled 20/21 season with Eisbaren Berlin in the DEL, Hanelt jumped the pond to Gatineau of the QMJHL this past winter, but only got into a grand total of 22 games, where he collected 12 points. Will he use this tournament to finally arrive on the scene as an impact player? Germany could really use it.

Yannick Proske - C - Coming in at a very solid 189 cm and 85 kg, Proske has a world of experience under his belt despite still being just 19. He spent the entirety of the 20/21 season with Iserlohn in the DEL before transferring to Spokane of the WHL for the 21/22 season, in which he collected 32 points in 62 total games. A solid two-way centre, Proske’s experience in Western Canada will be invaluable for this German side and he’ll likely guide one of the nation’s two grinder lines. When other players perhaps crumble a bit under the level of play, expect Proske’s ice time to increase.

Switzerland

Giancarlo Chanton - D - Having not gotten into action in December, Chanton is as good as new for this team after having been a fairly regular contributor at the 2021 event. Last season, he spent his year primarily split between the top-tier National League (5 games) and the second-tier Swiss League (22 games) after he had played in the OHL the year before. His experience will be crucial for a blueline that is missing recent first-round draftee Lian Bichsel.
 
Rodwin Dionicio - D - Originally born in Newark, NJ, USA, Dionicio spent the entirety of last season with the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL. Despite putting up 31 points in 57 games, he didn’t hear his name called at this summer’s draft, but now brings a whole lot of experience in North American rinks with him to this Swiss side and isn’t afraid to get involved physically as his 45 penalty minutes last season attest. Mark him down as one of the better skaters on this squad.
 
Simon Knak - RW/LW - Possibly coming into this tournament as the team’s captain, the Nashville Predators draft pick was unavailable to play in the discontinued event in December and should now serve as the lynchpin of the attack. Tall, creative, and often elegant in his puck movement, the former Portland Winterhawk will be one of the oldest players in Alberta and is coming off a full season of NL play with HC Davos for whom he contributed 15 points in 51 games. Expect Knak to be a big difference maker when it comes to round robin opponents such as neighbours Austria and Germany.
 
Jonas Taibel - F - Taibel won’t even turn 18 until after this event, but he’s already got an entire season of QMJHL action under his belt. Despite only putting up 21 points in 57 games, 15 of those came in the last third of the season once the youngster got an understanding of how things work. Now he’s potentially staring at a top 9 scoring role for a team that hasn’t put up much offense at recent WJCs. There’s more here than meets the eye.

Austria

Ian Scherzer - C - In Scherzer, we have a highly touted 17-year-old centre who plays his club hockey for Rogle in Sweden. Yep, you’ve heard that before, right? Marco Kasper will not be part of Austria’s line-up, which poses one of the greatest line-up hits any team here could take, but his heir apparent as the next big Austrian prospect taking the Swedish route will be strutting his stuff in Canada and, like Kasper before him, will have to successfully take on top six minutes in order for Austria to tread water, much less make music. Still, he’s only played at the U18 level in Sweden and got little done for an Austrian squad that basically did all it could to be relegated at U18 Division I play. The pressure is on for Austria’s next big thing.