The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship (WJC) in Ottawa showcased several standout players who made significant impacts for their respective teams. Here are some of the most notable performers from the tournament.
Ryan Leonard (USA)
Ryan Leonard is the Top prospect for the Washington Capitals, having been selected 8th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, and is currently playing for Boston College of the NCAA. Leonard was instrumental in Team USA’s success, earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and Captaining team USA to the Gold medal. He recorded 5 goals and 5 assists over 7 games, demonstrating consistent offensive prowess. His leadership and clutch performances were pivotal in securing victories for the United States. Leonard was named the best Forward in the IIHF World Juniors Championship, and was named to the Media All-Star team. Leonard became just the 6th American since 2001-2002 to win the MVP Award joining the likes of Zach Parise, John Gibson, Casey Mittelstadt, Ryan Poehling and Trevor Zegras.
Cole Hutson (USA)
Cole Hutson another Top Prospect for the Washington Capitals, who was selected in the second round, 43rd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, currently plays for Boston University of the NCAA. Hutson led all players in scoring in the WJC with 3 goals and 8 assists, totaling 11 points. His exceptional playmaking abilities and vision on the ice were key factors in the United States’ offensive strategies throughout the tournament. Hutson’s dynamic playdriving abilities were
a major reason why USA took home the Gold, as he became the first defenseman to lead the tournament in Points and set the national team record for most points by a defenseman at the World Juniors on his way to winning the Gold. Cole Hutson was named to the Media All-Team along with fellow American teammate Ryan Leonard. The Washington Capitals’ future looks bright with both Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson looking to be game-breaking talent.
James Hagens (USA)
James Hagens is the big winner coming out of the WJC. He was a star for the United States and it put him back in front of the hockey world after a few weeks of him waiting in the wings. The talk surrounding who the best player available has become muddied with some impressive play from the group ranked 2-4 on this list. After a dominant display over the globe’s best players under 20, he’s returned to the top spot and best prospect available. Hagens chipped in 5 Goals and 9 points while averaging 20:33 TOI, and was a standout player for the US team that won Gold. USA’s Top line of James Hagens between Leonard and Gabe Perreault was not only the best offensive line of the 2025 WJC, but one of the most productive in tournament history. The Boston College linemates had plenty of experience together playing for the Eagles in Hockey East. They combined for 13 goals and 29 points in seven games. It rivals some other all time, which include Canada’s top line in 2005 of Patrice Bergeron-Sidney Crosby-Corey Perry totaled 13 goals and 29 points in 6 games, Russia’s feared Top line of Artemi Panarin-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Vladimir Tarasenko had 11 Goals and 27 Points in 2011, Canada’s roster in 2015 featured Connor McDavid, but it was the line of Max Domi-Sam Reinhart-Anthony Duclair which combined for 14 goals and 29 points. In 2016, tournament champion Finland’s dynamic line of Sebastian Aho between left-wing Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi had 17 goals and 44 points.
Petteri Rimpinen (Finland)
Rimpinen, a W-rated goalie on NHL Central Scouting’s December players to watch list, knew he could come up big even before his impressive performance for Finland. Several years ago, the 18-year-old (6-foot, 176 pounds) had custom skates made with the words ‘Showtime’ on one of his skate blades. The moniker certainly fit Rimpinen in his first World Juniors with Finland. He was named the tournament’s best goalie after finishing 5-2 with a 2.34 GAA, .933 save percentage and one shutout in seven games. He made 30 saves in a 4-3 overtime win against the United States in preliminary-round action Dec. 29. Rimpinen was named the tournament’s Best Goaltender, boasting a save percentage of 93.33% over 436 minutes of play. His consistent and reliable goaltending provided Finland with a strong defensive backbone throughout the championship. He stood on his head during the Gold medal game against Team USA, made several grade-A saves in the Overtime, but the US proved to be too much to overcome. After a terrific World Juniors tournament, Rimpinen will re-enter the NHL draft in 2025, and could be one of the top goalies off the board.
Jakub Štancl (Czechia)
The St. Louis Blues have nine players at the 2025 World Junior Championship (WJC), the most of any NHL team, and one player who has made a big impression is Jakub Stancl. Stancl was drafted in 2023 in the third round (106th overall) by the Blues and is back for his final year of eligibility in the tournament with Team Czechia. Stancl debuted with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season, with 32 points in 29 games before the tournament, showing his potential offensive talent well before reaching the international stage. Moving from the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) to the WHL has helped him improve his offensive game and compete with the red-hot Canadian and American talent that has dominated the game lately. Jakub Štancl was a standout forward for Czechia, tallying 7 goals and 3 assists, placing him among the top scorers of the tournament. His scoring touch and offensive contributions were crucial for his team’s performance. Stancl was named to the WJC Media All Star team. Fellow Czechia teammate, forward Adam Jecho (No. 95; 2024) had seven points (two goals, five assists), Defenseman Adam Jiricek (No. 16; 2024) had five assists, Stancl (No. 106; 2023 Draft) led the team with 10 points (seven goals, three assists) and Forward Ondrej Kos (No. 81; 2024) had one goal in seven games. Jecho scored a power-play goal at 19:20 of the third period to give Czechia a 4-3 win against Canada in the quarterfinals. The Blues can take pride in the fact they had six prospects participating in the bronze medal game and United States defenseman Colin Ralph in the gold medal game. Sweden forward Otto Stenberg (No. 25, 2023 draft) tied for ninth with eight points (three goals, five assists). Defenseman Theo Lindstein (No. 29, 2023), who turned 20 on Sunday, had four assists and averaged 22:12 of ice time in seven games.
Axel Sandin Pellikka (Sweden)
Sandin-Pellikka was drafted 17th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2023 NHL Draft and is playing for Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League, captained Sweden at the 2025 WJC. Sandin-Pellika has eight goals and 22 points in 25 games in the SHL this season. Axel Sandin Pellikka was recognized as the tournament’s Best Defenseman. He contributed significantly on both ends of the ice, recording 4 goals and 6 assists, and was a stabilizing presence on Sweden’s blue line. In Sweden’s first game against Slovakia, Sandin-Pellikka led the attack, scoring 3 goals and assisted an another, helping Sweden top a 5-2 win. He looks to be a stud and could be a gamechanger from the backend for the Detroit Red Wings, a team that is in dire need of an offensive defenseman like that.
Latvian pride
The Latvia National Junior Team did the impossible in its tournament opener, stunning host Canada 3-2 in a shootout at Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 27. Eriks Mateiko (Capitals) scored in the eighth round of the shootout to give his country its third preliminary-round win in 39 games at the top level of the tournament. Canada entered having outscored Latvia 41-4 in four straight wins at World Juniors, including 10-0 in the preliminary round in 2024. Latvia reached the quarterfinal round for the third time in its history, losing 3-2 to Sweden. Speaking of Mateiko, another Washington Capitals prospect, he scored 5 goals in 5 games and was their best forward in the tournament. Linards Feldbergs (2025 draft eligible) made 55 saves, plus eight in the shootout against Canada. His resilience and outstanding goaltending were instrumental in Latvia’s memorable moments during the tournament. Despite only recording 1 Win in the tournament and having 3.13 GAA, he faced the 2nd most shots against in the tournament behind only Petteri Rimpinen and recorded a .929 SV%.
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