December 26, 2024 by Ryan Lotsberg

The World Juniors are back in Ottawa for the first time since 2009, which was arguably the most memorable edition of the tournament of all-time. That tournament is most remembered for the epic semifinal between Canada and Russia where Jordan Eberle scored to tie the game in the final seconds before Canada won in a shootout. Canada went on to win their fifth straight gold medal that year.

No such streak is on the line for Canada in Ottawa this year. The Candians lost to Czechia in the quarterfinal last year. Their quest to get back atop the podium begins on Thursday evening when they take on Finland.

Canada

Canada has three returning players from last year’s team, including captain Brayden Yager, Easton Cowan, Oliver Bonk, and Carson Rehkopf. They also boast ten players drafted in the first round of the NHL draft.

Canada will be led offensively by the top line of Cowan, Calum Ritchie, and Bradly Nadeau. Cowan (2023 1st round, TOR) has a 56-game point streak going for the London Knights of the OHL. Ritchie (2023 1st round, COL) is an unbelievable playmaker who also has a slick patented breakaway move that he whipped out in a game for the Colorado Avalanche earlier this season. Nadeau (2023 1st round, CAR) has played in 22 AHL games for the Chicago Wolves and one NHL game for the Carolina Hurricanes this season.

17-year old phenom Gavin McKenna will anchor the second line. McKenna already has 60 points in just 30 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers, which leads the entire CHL. He just turned 17 on December 20. He’s not draft eligible until 2026. McKenna is going to be a ton of fun to watch.

The top defence pairing features Tanner Molendyk and Andrew Gibson. Molendyk (2023 1st round, NSH) is a tremendous skater, and Gibson (2023 2nd round, DET) will be relied upon to shut things down in his own end. The second pairing will feature returning defenceman Oliver Bonk (2023 1st round, PHI). His dad is Radek Bonk, who played for the Ottawa Senators for ten years. Bonk will be paired with electric 17-year old and potential top pick in the upcoming draft Matthew Schaeffer, who has 22 points in 17 games for the Eerie Otters this season. Sam Dickinson (2024 1st round, SJ) and Caden Price (2023 3rd round, SEA) will be on the third pairing. Edmonton Oilers prospect Beau Akey will be the seventh defenceman in this tournament, which means his ice time will be limited.

Carter George will be the starting goaltender for Canada. George (2024 2nd round, LA) has a history of winning with Hockey Canada. George has an opportunity to make history in Ottawa. He has won gold in both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the World U-18 Championships already. No goaltender has won gold in those two events and the World Juniors. 

The Competition

The Canadians will have tough competition at this tournament. The Americans will be led by top ten pick Ryan Leonard (2023 1st round, WSH) and James Hagens, who is a potential first overall pick for the 2025 NHL draft. Zeev Buium (2023 1st round, MIN) will be a factor on defence for the Americans. Cole Hutson, the brother of Montreal Canadiens rookie Lane Hutson, will be a player to watch on the American blue line as well. Oilers defence prospect Paul Fischer, who was acquired in a side deal when the St. Louis Blues signed Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets in August, will play for the Americans in this tournament.

Sweden will be led by the strength of their defence corps. Axel Sandin-Pelikka (2023 1st round, DET) and Tom Willander (2023 1st round, VAN) will be a standout top pairing in this tournament. Theo Lindstein (2023 1st round, STL) will also be a defenceman to watch. Viktor Eklund, whose brother is WIllam Eklund of the San Jose Sharks, is a top prospect for the 2025 NHL draft. David Edstrom (2023 1st round, NSH) has been the key prospect in two significant NHL trades already since being drafted. He was involved in the Tomas Hertl trade and the Yaroslav Askarov trade.

Czechia will be led by a pair of former first rounders. Eduard Sale (2023 1st round, SEA) has thirteen points in 23 games for the Coachella Valley Thunderbirds of the AHL this season. Adam Jiricek (2024 1st round, STL), the brother of Minnesota Wild prospect David Jiricek, has battled injuries since last year’s event. He’s a fantastic defenceman when healthy though.

Konsta Helenius (2024 1st round, BUF) has seventeen points in 28 games for the Rochester Americans this season, and he will lead Finland in this tournament. Finland might be lacking the high-end talent of some of the other teams in this tournament, but they’re always a tough out.

Predictions