The Canadian Tire Centre is the main venue for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, and IIHF.com writers Lucas Aykroyd and Andrew Podnieks are covering all the action.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
There’s never a dull moment at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, and there’s certainly a lot to discuss and analyze. We asked our longtime IIHF.com correspondents Lucas Aykroyd and Andrew Podnieks to offer their insights on what we’ve seen through the first three days of action in Ottawa.
What is the significance of Latvia’s upset shootout win over host Canada?
Aykroyd: I think back to another World Junior game I covered between Canada and an underdog that finished 3-2 in a shootout. It was at the 2016 tournament in Helsinki. The Canadians trailed Switzerland 2-0 after the first period but bounced back to win on shootout goals by Brayden Point and Mathew Barzal. Dylan Strome said afterwards: “I think we didn’t respect them enough at the beginning of the game. I think we came out flat. We didn’t know how fast they were.” However, ultimately Canada won, and this result wouldn’t have held major significance if they didn’t also crash out in the quarter-finals with a 6-5 loss to the Finns. Bottom line: staging this huge upset is a wonderful, historic moment for Latvia, but unless the host nation continues to sputter, the end-of-the-world messaging from Canadian media is overblown.
Podnieks: From the other side, I think the win gives the young Latvians confidence, and they showed that again against the U.S., playing a pretty strong game and getting great goaltending from Linards Feldbergs again. The two points makes life easier as well, as they approach the vital game against Germany on Monday, the loser very likely having to play the relegation game rather than qualifying for the playoffs.
Hockey is a game of emotion. What is the most emotional moment you’ve witnessed so far at these World Juniors?
Podnieks: I have to go back to Latvia. An important part of their success is from blocking shots, not a pleasant task, but whenever they do the players on the bench smack their sticks against the boards to applaud. Against the United States, Oskars Briedis was a one-man show, earning huge applause in the third during a 3-on-5 and blocking at least three hard shots.
Aykroyd: When Carter George got his 4-0 shutout against Finland, there was this real feeling of shared appreciation between the Canadian players and fans. The big roar as the Finns fought unsuccessfully to score at 6-on-4 in the dying moments, with Canadian shot blocks aplenty, was very cool.
Which players have stood out for you so far in the preliminary round?
Aykroyd: You expect big things out of high-profile names like Sweden’s Axel Sandin Pellikka or the U.S.’s Ryan Leonard. I’ll focus instead on two players I consider 2024 draft steals for the Washington Capitals. I’ve watched U.S. defenceman Cole Hutson (second round, 43rd overall) tear up the U18 Worlds twice. For him to put up five assists on Day One was just one hint that maybe someday soon, he’ll be an NHL rookie of the year candidate like his more acclaimed brother Lane. And how about the leadership and grit of Latvian assistant captain Eriks Mateiko (third round, 90th overall) with a team-high six shots against Canada? After he scored that authoritative shootout winner, I – hailing from Vancouver – couldn’t help but be reminded of 2011-era Ryan Kesler with his arms-wide, attitude-laden celebration.
Podnieks: For me, it’s been goalies, goalies, goalies. Feldbergs with Latvia, sure, but Samuel Urban was valiant for Slovakia against Sweden and Michael Hrabal was a scene-stealer for the Czechs in their win over Switzerland. The same for Germany’s Linus Vieillard. All these guys are athletic, move well, smother rebounds, and give their team confidence. Although there have been 58 goals through the first ten games, it’s the goalies, not the scorers, who come to mind first.
This is often called a “19-year-old tournament.” Do you believe that is still the case?
Aykroyd: Yes, but not as much as in the past. This year, Canada and the U.S. have brought nine players apiece born in either 2006 or 2007. You can also look at how a 17-year-old Connor Bedard rewrote the Canadian record book in Halifax two years ago. That said, it’s hard to go all the way unless you’ve got at least some older returning players who bring experience, like, say, Logan Stankoven or Olen Zellweger on that 2023 Canadian team.
Podnieks: Still, the average age per team, I think, is based largely on what country we’re talking about. Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, and the Czechs generally have an older lineup because they don’t need to play 17-year-olds. Of course, exceptional players come along and have to be on the team, but for smaller nations, there is no choice. The talent pool is much thinner, and younger players are needed to fill out the rosters.
Who’s your early pick for the tournament scoring leader?
Aykroyd: With due respect for the numbers the top Czechs put up in their 14-2 rout of Kazakhstan, it’s hard to look past the talent and built-in cohesion of the Americans. I don’t know if James Hagens will be “the guy” in the gold medal game, but even if the U.S., say, stumbles into the bronze medal game, his playmaking and vision could easily leave him on top.
Podnieks: Well, logic would first of all suggest we delete any defenders from the list of possibilities. In the previous 48 editions of the World Juniors, only twice has a blueliner been tied at the top of the scoring list—Canada’s Carlo Colaiacovo in 2003 and American Erik Johnson four years later. I don’t think there are any more games left where players can pad their stats, so I agree it’s looking like an American could be numero uno this year. I’ll go a little off the board and suggest Cole Eiserman.
You covered the 2009 World Juniors, the first time the tournament took place in Ottawa. What’s changed the most and what’s stayed the same?
Podnieks: For sure the biggest constant is that the top teams remain the top teams in these age-restricted tournaments. You just can’t escape the fact that Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, and other lower-ranked teams are hard-pressed to contend for a medal. And the North American programs for teens are so advanced it’s often like men playing against boys. Having said that, what has changed is that those lower-ranked teams are more competitive and there are fewer blowouts. They play with more confidence and force the top teams to play their best to win, something that perhaps wasn’t always the case.
Aykroyd: Like the NHL, we’ve seen a big evolution toward speed and skill and away from physicality and agitating in the last 16 years. You can argue over whether Canada, for instance, should have emphasized high-end scoring ability more when picking its roster. But you don’t see those role players who are primarily there to run around and bump the opposition into submission, as you did in the 1990’s and 2000’s. As for what’s stayed the same, the sheer love for hockey in Ottawa is surely as permanent as the Rideau Canal.
What’s a trend you’ll be watching as the group stage wraps up?
Aykroyd: I’m curious to see what happens with Finland’s special teams. To have a perfect PK (6-for-6) but a punchless PP (0-for-8) is manageable in the preliminary round. But if their key offensive players like Kasper Halttunen and Aron Kiviharju can’t get going with the man advantage, Suomi could end up going home early.
Podnieks: The bottom of the standings is incredibly intriguing. You have two groups of five teams, and the top four make the quarter-finals, while the last-place teams must survive the relegation game. So, there’s this massive and yet fine line between great tournament success (quarter-finals) and abject disappointment (relegation game). And nothing’s settled yet.
What is the significance of Latvia’s upset shootout win over host Canada?
Aykroyd: I think back to another World Junior game I covered between Canada and an underdog that finished 3-2 in a shootout. It was at the 2016 tournament in Helsinki. The Canadians trailed Switzerland 2-0 after the first period but bounced back to win on shootout goals by Brayden Point and Mathew Barzal. Dylan Strome said afterwards: “I think we didn’t respect them enough at the beginning of the game. I think we came out flat. We didn’t know how fast they were.” However, ultimately Canada won, and this result wouldn’t have held major significance if they didn’t also crash out in the quarter-finals with a 6-5 loss to the Finns. Bottom line: staging this huge upset is a wonderful, historic moment for Latvia, but unless the host nation continues to sputter, the end-of-the-world messaging from Canadian media is overblown.
Podnieks: From the other side, I think the win gives the young Latvians confidence, and they showed that again against the U.S., playing a pretty strong game and getting great goaltending from Linards Feldbergs again. The two points makes life easier as well, as they approach the vital game against Germany on Monday, the loser very likely having to play the relegation game rather than qualifying for the playoffs.
Hockey is a game of emotion. What is the most emotional moment you’ve witnessed so far at these World Juniors?
Podnieks: I have to go back to Latvia. An important part of their success is from blocking shots, not a pleasant task, but whenever they do the players on the bench smack their sticks against the boards to applaud. Against the United States, Oskars Briedis was a one-man show, earning huge applause in the third during a 3-on-5 and blocking at least three hard shots.
Aykroyd: When Carter George got his 4-0 shutout against Finland, there was this real feeling of shared appreciation between the Canadian players and fans. The big roar as the Finns fought unsuccessfully to score at 6-on-4 in the dying moments, with Canadian shot blocks aplenty, was very cool.
Which players have stood out for you so far in the preliminary round?
Aykroyd: You expect big things out of high-profile names like Sweden’s Axel Sandin Pellikka or the U.S.’s Ryan Leonard. I’ll focus instead on two players I consider 2024 draft steals for the Washington Capitals. I’ve watched U.S. defenceman Cole Hutson (second round, 43rd overall) tear up the U18 Worlds twice. For him to put up five assists on Day One was just one hint that maybe someday soon, he’ll be an NHL rookie of the year candidate like his more acclaimed brother Lane. And how about the leadership and grit of Latvian assistant captain Eriks Mateiko (third round, 90th overall) with a team-high six shots against Canada? After he scored that authoritative shootout winner, I – hailing from Vancouver – couldn’t help but be reminded of 2011-era Ryan Kesler with his arms-wide, attitude-laden celebration.
Podnieks: For me, it’s been goalies, goalies, goalies. Feldbergs with Latvia, sure, but Samuel Urban was valiant for Slovakia against Sweden and Michael Hrabal was a scene-stealer for the Czechs in their win over Switzerland. The same for Germany’s Linus Vieillard. All these guys are athletic, move well, smother rebounds, and give their team confidence. Although there have been 58 goals through the first ten games, it’s the goalies, not the scorers, who come to mind first.
This is often called a “19-year-old tournament.” Do you believe that is still the case?
Aykroyd: Yes, but not as much as in the past. This year, Canada and the U.S. have brought nine players apiece born in either 2006 or 2007. You can also look at how a 17-year-old Connor Bedard rewrote the Canadian record book in Halifax two years ago. That said, it’s hard to go all the way unless you’ve got at least some older returning players who bring experience, like, say, Logan Stankoven or Olen Zellweger on that 2023 Canadian team.
Podnieks: Still, the average age per team, I think, is based largely on what country we’re talking about. Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, and the Czechs generally have an older lineup because they don’t need to play 17-year-olds. Of course, exceptional players come along and have to be on the team, but for smaller nations, there is no choice. The talent pool is much thinner, and younger players are needed to fill out the rosters.
Who’s your early pick for the tournament scoring leader?
Aykroyd: With due respect for the numbers the top Czechs put up in their 14-2 rout of Kazakhstan, it’s hard to look past the talent and built-in cohesion of the Americans. I don’t know if James Hagens will be “the guy” in the gold medal game, but even if the U.S., say, stumbles into the bronze medal game, his playmaking and vision could easily leave him on top.
Podnieks: Well, logic would first of all suggest we delete any defenders from the list of possibilities. In the previous 48 editions of the World Juniors, only twice has a blueliner been tied at the top of the scoring list—Canada’s Carlo Colaiacovo in 2003 and American Erik Johnson four years later. I don’t think there are any more games left where players can pad their stats, so I agree it’s looking like an American could be numero uno this year. I’ll go a little off the board and suggest Cole Eiserman.
You covered the 2009 World Juniors, the first time the tournament took place in Ottawa. What’s changed the most and what’s stayed the same?
Podnieks: For sure the biggest constant is that the top teams remain the top teams in these age-restricted tournaments. You just can’t escape the fact that Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, and other lower-ranked teams are hard-pressed to contend for a medal. And the North American programs for teens are so advanced it’s often like men playing against boys. Having said that, what has changed is that those lower-ranked teams are more competitive and there are fewer blowouts. They play with more confidence and force the top teams to play their best to win, something that perhaps wasn’t always the case.
Aykroyd: Like the NHL, we’ve seen a big evolution toward speed and skill and away from physicality and agitating in the last 16 years. You can argue over whether Canada, for instance, should have emphasized high-end scoring ability more when picking its roster. But you don’t see those role players who are primarily there to run around and bump the opposition into submission, as you did in the 1990’s and 2000’s. As for what’s stayed the same, the sheer love for hockey in Ottawa is surely as permanent as the Rideau Canal.
What’s a trend you’ll be watching as the group stage wraps up?
Aykroyd: I’m curious to see what happens with Finland’s special teams. To have a perfect PK (6-for-6) but a punchless PP (0-for-8) is manageable in the preliminary round. But if their key offensive players like Kasper Halttunen and Aron Kiviharju can’t get going with the man advantage, Suomi could end up going home early.
Podnieks: The bottom of the standings is incredibly intriguing. You have two groups of five teams, and the top four make the quarter-finals, while the last-place teams must survive the relegation game. So, there’s this massive and yet fine line between great tournament success (quarter-finals) and abject disappointment (relegation game). And nothing’s settled yet.