Welcome to the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. As this tournament returns to Ottawa for the first time in 16 years, the excitement couldn’t be higher in the Canadian capital. The Americans, who are hungry to defend their World Junior crown successfully for the first time ever, top our opening Power Rankings. The host nation, equally eager to avenge last year’s disappointing fifth-place finish in Gothenburg, is close behind in second place. And the Swedes, who are seeking just their third World Junior title of all time, debut in third place. With the unpredictable, drama-laden nature of U20 international hockey, we’re sure to see some shifts as the World Juniors progress. Let the games begin!

Click here to check out the previous editions of the Power Rankings.

The Power Rankings are for the enjoyment of IIHF.com readers, and reflect the progress of teams during the IIHF World Junior Championship. They are distinct from the official standings and IIHF World Ranking.