Can host Finland challenge defending champion U.S.?

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship last came to Finland. The 2014 edition saw Lappeenranta and Imatra co-hosting, while this year (25 April to 5 May) Espoo and Vantaa are doing the honours.
 
Yet although the venues may change, the passion and skill on display at this hotly anticipated showcase of junior talent remain constants every year.
 
There is a reasonable chance that the 2024 gold medalists could emerge from Group A. Let’s take a quick look at the contenders and pretenders.

United States

The USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s strength was undeniable last year in Basel, Switzerland as the U.S. marched undefeated to gold with a record-setting 51-10 goal difference. This year’s squad might not match those numbers, but it’s still well-positioned to garner consecutive titles. That would be the first U18 Worlds repeat since the U.S. did it in 2014 and 2015.
 
Returning sniper talent abounds up front, from Cole Eiserman, whose 108 career USNTDP goals are second only to Cole Caufield (117), to James Hagens, the projected #1 overall NHL draft pick in 2025. Shifty Cole Hutson, the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson, led all U18 defencemen last year with 12 points, and having him back is also a huge plus.
 
New bench boss Nick Fohr knows what it takes to win after six previous stints as a U18 assistant coach, including the 2015 and 2017 gold medal runs. Anything less than making the final will be a disappointment.

Finland

Always hard-working and determined, the host Finns would love to end a U18 championship drought dating back to 2018. Rookie head coach Markko Kauppinen – a home-ice World Junior champion back in 1998 in Helsinki – brings stars who are hungry to hit their potential.
 
For instance, third-time U18 Worlds blueliner Aron Kiviharju (HIFK) is back in action for the first time since September due to a knee injury. His colleague Veeti Vaisanen (KooKoo) is motivated to dominate after being the last cut on defence for the 2024 World Junior team in Gothenburg.
 
Savvy if diminutive forward Konsta Helenius (Jukurit), a likely top-10 selection in June’s NHL draft, will be a difference-maker after trying out for the men’s Worlds team bound for Prague in May. Emil Hemming (TPS) has shown a strong work ethic during his 40 Liiga games. All in all, these Finns look medal-worthy, but the colour of that medal is an open question.

Slovakia

Last year, the Slovaks defied the experts by finishing fourth, their best result since 2003’s silver medal. They scored a 3-2 quarter-final upset over Finland and led Canada with under five minutes left in regulation before falling 4-3 in bronze-medal overtime.
 
However, odds of another Cinderella run this year seem slim with all-star ace Dalibor Dvorsky, captain Maxim Strbak, and top goalie Samuel Urban all having aged out. Close to half of the 2024 roster consists of 2007-born players.
 
Centre Tomas Pobezal (HK Nitra), who led his nation with six points at the last Hlinka Gretzky Cup, will look to spark the offence in his second U18 Worlds. Defenceman Luka Radivojevic (Orebro), a fellow 17-year-old who made his World Junior debut this year, adds good skating, vision, and creativity. Nonetheless, a quarter-final exit is Slovakia’s likeliest fate.

Latvia

With three top-eight finishes in the last four tournaments, Latvia’s U18 team has shown it can survive, if not thrive, at this level. Of course, there have been some highlights, like the 3-2 tournament-opening upset over Sweden in 2022. And fresh memories of the Latvian men’s historic 2023 IIHF World Championship bronze medal in Tampere should also fire up coach Olegs Sorokin’s boys.
 
That said, hard work and a gritty defensive effort, keyed by the likes of returning D-man Darels Uljanskis (AIK), will be indispensable if the Latvians hope to stay up. They’ve got the 29 April showdown with Norway circled on their calendars.

Norway

After a dismal 2023 preliminary round, the Norwegians elevated their game at the right time in the relegation round against Germany with 6-1 and 3-2 victories. This year, they must avoid getting mentally crushed early on after playing the Finns and Americans in their first two games.
 
With few returnees, another strong performance out of Elias Straume Vatne (Farjestad) would offer a big boost. The nifty 18-year-old attacker paced all Norwegian skaters with three goals and two assists last year. Given that Norway toiled in Division I from 2012 to 2022, though, skepticism about its ability to earn another elite berth in 2025 is justified.