Tournament MVP Nela Lopusanova celebrates a goal on Team Canada.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDREA CARDIN
Slovakia’s scoring sensation Nela Lopusanova was voted tournament MVP at the 2025 Women’s U18 World Championship. She impressed journalists working at the competition with her 11 (5+6) points from five games in the tournament. Additionally, she was involved in all but three of Slovakia’s goals in the competition.
Lopusanova’s award is remarkable for two reasons. The 16-year-old becomes the first player to be voted MVP at two U18 World Championships. In 2023, she also topped the poll as a 14-year-old after leading the tournament in scoring with 12 points. She is also the first player to be voted MVP despite playing in a relegation round. With Slovakia securing top-level safety thanks to a 5-1 win over Japan, she could return for a fourth championship next year.
The Zilina native, who currently plays her hockey for Bishop Kearney Selects in the USA, was also voted onto the media All-Star team for this year’s tournament. She is joined by Stryker Zablocki of Canada , who led the tournament in scoring with 12 (8+4) points after potting an empty-netter to seal the gold-medal game. The USA’s Bella Fanale (9 (5+4) points) completes the trio. Last year’s MVP Chloe Primerano (CAN) and America’s Megan Healy were chosen on defence, and U.S. goalie Morgan Stickney got the nod between the piping after becoming the first netminder not to allow a goal through the group phase.
In a separate process, the tournament directorate nominated its top players. Fanale was selected as this year’s best forward, with Primerano named top defender. Czechia’s Daniela Novakova, who backstopped her team to bronze after stopping 92.82% of the shots she faced, was chosen as the best goalie.
Tournament MVP
LOPUSANOVA Nela (SVK) #12
Media All-Star Team
Goaltender: STICKNEY Morgan (USA) #30
Defender: PRIMERANO Chloe (CAN) #8
Defender: HEALY Megan (USA) #18
Forward: LOPUSANOVA Nela (SVK) #12
Forward: ZABLOCKI Stryker (CAN) #21
Forward: FANALE Anabella (USA) #28
Directorate awards
Best goalie: NOVAKOVA Daniela (CZE) #30
Best defender: PRIMERANO Chloe (CAN) #8
Best forward: FANALE Anabella (USA) #28
Lopusanova’s award is remarkable for two reasons. The 16-year-old becomes the first player to be voted MVP at two U18 World Championships. In 2023, she also topped the poll as a 14-year-old after leading the tournament in scoring with 12 points. She is also the first player to be voted MVP despite playing in a relegation round. With Slovakia securing top-level safety thanks to a 5-1 win over Japan, she could return for a fourth championship next year.
The Zilina native, who currently plays her hockey for Bishop Kearney Selects in the USA, was also voted onto the media All-Star team for this year’s tournament. She is joined by Stryker Zablocki of Canada , who led the tournament in scoring with 12 (8+4) points after potting an empty-netter to seal the gold-medal game. The USA’s Bella Fanale (9 (5+4) points) completes the trio. Last year’s MVP Chloe Primerano (CAN) and America’s Megan Healy were chosen on defence, and U.S. goalie Morgan Stickney got the nod between the piping after becoming the first netminder not to allow a goal through the group phase.
In a separate process, the tournament directorate nominated its top players. Fanale was selected as this year’s best forward, with Primerano named top defender. Czechia’s Daniela Novakova, who backstopped her team to bronze after stopping 92.82% of the shots she faced, was chosen as the best goalie.
Tournament MVP
LOPUSANOVA Nela (SVK) #12
Media All-Star Team
Goaltender: STICKNEY Morgan (USA) #30
Defender: PRIMERANO Chloe (CAN) #8
Defender: HEALY Megan (USA) #18
Forward: LOPUSANOVA Nela (SVK) #12
Forward: ZABLOCKI Stryker (CAN) #21
Forward: FANALE Anabella (USA) #28
Directorate awards
Best goalie: NOVAKOVA Daniela (CZE) #30
Best defender: PRIMERANO Chloe (CAN) #8
Best forward: FANALE Anabella (USA) #28