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The world junior ice hockey tournament commences on Friday, showcasing numerous elite prospects. Over the past few years, the under-20 men’s championship has featured future National Hockey League standouts such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, Lane Hutson, and Leo Carlsson.
The Canadian Press highlights several athletes to keep an eye on during this year’s competition, hosted in Minnesota:
Gavin McKenna
Previously considered a lock for the top selection in the 2026 NHL entry draft, the 18-year-old Whitehorse-born forward has found it challenging to replicate last season’s offensive output, accumulating 18 points over 16 NCAA games for Penn State, following his commanding performance in the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers. McKenna, who tallied 129 points in 56 appearances during the 2024-25 season and was a member of the Canadian squad that finished fifth at the world juniors, remains a strong contender for the first overall pick and is expected to be vital to his nation’s offense.
The 18-year-old hockey player reflects on last year’s tournament and his desire to bring home a gold medal for Canada.
Ivar Stenberg
This 18-year-old Swedish winger is among the prospects vying with McKenna for higher positions on scouting reports. Stenberg, known for his agile playmaking, has spent the past two seasons competing in Sweden’s premier professional division with Frolunda, where he has recorded 24 points across 25 matchups to date in the 2025-26 campaign.
Michael Misa
Despite not receiving an invitation to Canada’s tryout camp a year prior, the 19-year-old forward has joined the team from the San Jose Sharks specifically for this competition. Misa, who secured the second overall pick in June’s NHL draft subsequent to racking up 134 points across 65 games in the 2024-25 season with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, netted his inaugural goal for the Sharks this autumn and has accumulated three points over seven appearances with San Jose.
Anton Frondell
The 18-year-old Swedish player, chosen third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in June, has been playing professionally in his native country for Djurgardens over the past three seasons. Frondell, a sizable center, had contributed 15 points through 25 games in the 2025-26 season before joining his national squad.
James Hagens
Instrumental in securing the gold medal victory last January in Ottawa, the 19-year-old returns to spearhead the United States team on their home turf in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Hagens, a center who was the seventh overall selection by the Boston Bruins in the 2025 draft, has recorded 18 points in 16 contests with Boston College during the current season.
Cole Hutson
The sibling of Montreal Canadiens standout Lane Hutson, this defenseman counterpart topped all participants with 11 points over seven games at the previous year’s world junior tournament representing the U.S. The 19-year-old Hutson, a 2024 second-round selection by the Washington Capitals, has achieved 20 points in 18 appearances for Boston University in the 2025-26 season.
Alberts Smits
This 18-year-old defenseman, hailing from Latvia, is potentially a top-ten selection in the forthcoming draft. Smits has competed for the past two seasons in Finland’s premier professional league, notching 12 points over 29 matches in the 2025-26 season.
Chase Reid
The 17-year-old American defenseman represents another prospect eligible for the draft, poised to be observed by scouts in Minnesota. Reid has played the previous two seasons with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, accumulating 35 points in 31 contests thus far in the 2025-26 campaign.
