The World Junior Hockey Championship begins Friday and promises to bring together many high-level talents. Future NHL stars who have participated in the men’s under-20 tournament in recent years include Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson and Leo Carlsson.
The Canadian Press brings you some of the players to watch at this year’s tournament, which is being held in Minnesota.
Gavin McKenna
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Once considered the clear number one pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old forward from Whitehorse struggled to produce at the same rate as last season, recording 18 points in 16 NCAA games with Penn State after dominating the Western Hockey League as a member of the Medicine Hat Tigers. McKenna, who recorded 129 points in 56 games in 2024-25 and contributed to Canada’s fifth place at the World Junior Championship, could still be the first player selected at the next junior auction, and he will be a key part of his country’s attack.
Ivar Stenberg
The 18-year-old Swedish winger is one of the players vying with McKenna in expert rankings ahead of the upcoming NHL draft. A skilled playmaker, Stenberg has spent the last two seasons with Frolunda, in his country’s top professional league, recording 24 points in 25 games so far in 2025-26.
Michael Misa
Twelve months ago, he wasn’t even invited to Canada’s selection camp, but today the 19-year-old forward was parachuted from the San Jose Sharks into the tournament. The second player selected in last June’s NHL draft, after scoring 134 points in 65 games in 2024-2025 with the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League, Misa scored his first goal with the Sharks this fall and has three points in seven games with the California team.
Anton Frondell
The 18-year-old Swede, whom the Chicago Blackhawks selected third overall in the June 2025 draft, played professionally in his native country with Djurgardens for the past three seasons. A center player with good stature, Frondell collected 15 points in 25 games in 2025-2026 before joining the national team.
James Hagens
A key player in the gold medal won last January in Ottawa, the 19-year-old is back to lead the United States on home turf in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The seventh player selected in last June’s draft — by the Boston Bruins — Hagens has 18 points in 16 games this season with Boston College.
Cole Hutson
The younger brother of Montreal Canadiens star Lane Hutson, the defenseman led the team in scoring with 11 points in seven games at last year’s World Junior Championship for the United States. Aged 19 and a 2024 second-round pick of the Washington Capitals, Hutson had 20 points in 18 games with Boston University in 2025-26.
Alberts Smits
The 18-year-old Latvian defender could be selected among the top 10 in the upcoming draft. Smits played the last two seasons in Finland’s professional top division, collecting 12 points in 29 games in 2025-26.
Chase Reid
The 17-year-old American defenseman is another draft-eligible prospect who will have the opportunity to showcase his talent to scouts in Minnesota. Reid spent the last two seasons with the Sault Ste. Greyhounds. Marie in the Ontario Hockey League, collecting 35 points in 31 games so far in 2025-26.
