The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship promises to be intriguing, as this year’s crop of first-timers – by most accounts – doesn’t feature surefire future superstars like a Peter Forsberg, a Sidney Crosby, or an Auston Matthews. The doors are wide open for multiple newcomers to strut their stuff in Ottawa, impressing scouts and fans alike en route to the medal games.

Some of the most talented hockey players who will hit the ice at the Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place Arena are top prospects for this year’s NHL Draft. Meanwhile, others are beating the odds by playing at the World Juniors before ever gracing the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship, or are eager to prove the doubters wrong after going undrafted in 2024.

Let’s take a look at five intriguing World Junior rookies of various distinctions.

James Hagens (USA)

It’s not every day you beat a scoring record that was set by a two-time NHL scoring champion and Stanley Cup winner. Yet that’s what centre James Hagens did when he racked up 22 points at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship to eclipse Nikita Kucherov’s old mark (21 in 2011).

The 18-year-old Boston College freshman – a top candidate to go first overall in this year’s NHL Draft – is aiming to win his third IIHF medal, preferably gold, after garnering U18 gold in 2023 and bronze in 2024. His excellent skating and on-ice vision are complemented by a quick, hard shot, and to see how these attributes translate in World Junior competition will be exciting.

Porter Martone (Canada)

For Canada, Gavin McKenna – who just turned 17 – has grabbed the lion’s share of the pre-tournament hype. But Martone’s mature, gritty, 200-foot game could prove indispensable as Canada aims to win an all-time record 21st World Junior gold medal. He already captained his country to gold at the 2024 U18 Worlds as a teammate of McKenna’s, and he’s a true student of the game.

The towering third-year OHLer has racked up 54 points in 26 games while captaining the Brampton Steelheads so far this season. Martone’s “stay where your feet are” mentality has served him well. The winger also plays with an edge that’s reaped comparisons to U.S. stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk.

Victor Eklund (Sweden)

William Eklund was drafted seventh overall in 2021 by the San Jose Sharks, and it’s possible his younger brother Victor could end up getting taken seventh too in June. Regardless, the 18-year-old Stockholm native and Djurgarden product is widely viewed as the best Swedish skater available in the 2025 draft. He has 15 points in 24 HockeyAllsvenskan games this season.

And when Victor steps on the ice and opens his bag of offensive tricks in Ottawa, he will have bragging rights over his big brother in one significant regard: William never got to play in the World Juniors.

Topias Hynninen (Finland)

Neither the biggest nor the flashiest player out there, Topias Hynninen enters his first World Juniors at age 19, and his rights do not belong to any NHL club. However, the smart and diligent playmaker has made a case to play a big role under Finnish head coach Lauri Mikkola.

In Liiga play, the 180-cm, 77-kg Jukurit forward has taken advantage of his chance to centre the top line. He has impressed Mikkeli fans with 24 points in 32 games. If that’s how Hynninen matches up against men, he might fare even better against the boys.

Adam Novotny (CZE)

Adam Novotny, who turned 17 in November, has seen his stock rise steadily this year and will make his World Junior debut before ever suiting up at a U18 Worlds. The Hradec Kralove-born winger scored a slick goal in Czechia’s opening 2-1 upset over the U.S. at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Given his age, Novotny’s pro numbers are unsurprisingly limited with the Extraliga’s Mountfield HK (1+2=3 in 26 games), but he brings top-six skill and noteworthy size at 186 cm and 90 kg. Could he be a difference-maker in the Canadian capital? Stay tuned.