David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
While much of the hockey world is taking in summer, the World Junior Summer Showcase is the unofficial kickoff to the 2024-25 season for prospects.
USA Hockey hosts the event annually in Plymouth, Mich., at USA Hockey Arena, where the USA Hockey National Team Development Program is based. They’re bringing together some of the best under-20 talent in the world from July 26 to Aug. 3. The games start on Sunday, July 28.
The 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase kicks off this week! #WJSS
Watch future NHL stars from the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden in action live on USAHockeyTV or in person at @USAHockeyArena ⤵️
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) July 24, 2024
The last few years have featured the USA, Sweden and Finland, with the Americans splitting into two squads. This year’s showcase features the return of Team Canada for the first time since before COVID-19.
Part of the Canadian showcase occurs in Windsor, Ont., where the OHL Spitfires play. Canada will play an intrasquad game on Tuesday and then face off against Sweden on Wednesday before heading over to Plymouth for the remainder of the tournament.
Every player at the showcase will try to put their best foot forward to impress their respective national programs. This will give them a leg up on the competition when they select the national U-20 squad for the World Junior Championship in December.
Let’s look at a few notable things to watch as the WJSS begins.
Team Canada Returns to the Showcase
Not only has Canada rejoined the action at the WJSS, but they’ve added a twist to the festivities by hosting the start of their camp and their game against Sweden on home soil.
It will be a welcome return to the event as it’s historically been a great first look at how many players progressed since last season, and it gives a gauge for how a player performs heading into the upcoming campaign.
Canada has no shortage of names, but as with every team, a few players are missing who are focusing on the upcoming season. They’re looking to push for an NHL roster spot in camp or dealing with an injury.
First-overall pick Macklin Celebrini (SJ) will not be at the event, but it will feature the other eight Canadians drafted in the top 15 from Beckett Sennecke (ANA) and Cayden Lindstrom (CLB) to Zayne Parekh (CGY) and Sam Dickinson (SJ).
Beckett Sennecke highlights #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/rXQ933B6xi
— Dalton Keys (@DucksKeys) June 28, 2024
There are also a number of players who were on last year’s world juniors squad at the event, including Easton Cowan (TOR), Oliver Bonk (PHI), Carson Rehkopf (SEA) and Brayden Yager (PIT).
It will be interesting to see how things shake out in the net as only Scott Ratzlaff (BUF) returns from last year, but he didn’t see a minute of action. With the first half of their camp in Windsor, they will focus on trying to build some chemistry and find some players that fit together on home ice.
Related: The Top Standouts at Canada’s Under-17 Summer Camp
USA Begins Quest for Back-to-Back Gold Medals
After a dominating performance last year at the world juniors, Team USA is looking to repeat as champions. The USA Hockey development model has continued to produce an incredible amount of talent as of late.
Closing the chapter on Team USA's 2024 World Juniors gold medal campaign with some bling 💍
Now it's time to chase our first-ever back-to-back titles, starting this week at the World Junior Summer Showcase! pic.twitter.com/7miShxePOY
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) July 26, 2024
In net, they will return starter Trey Augustine (DET), who was nearly unbeatable at times for the American squad. Sam Hillebrandt will also be back, likely forming a solid tandem for the Americans in net.
On the back end, they have three returnees, with Zeev Buium (MIN) leading the way, along with Drew Fortescue (NYR) and Aram Minnetian (DAL).
It’s as wide open of a group as the Americans have, with plenty of talent. If you want a heavy defensive stopper, you can look to EJ Emery (NYR) or Colin Ralph (STL). If you want a silky puck-mover, Cole Hutson (WSH) or Andrew Strathmann (CLB) might be your guy. Logan Hensler (2025) or John Whipple (DET) could be the American’s do-it-all unsung heroes.
Zeev Buium says BOO-YEAH!
DU 2 | UND 2 | 8:55 3rd pic.twitter.com/ZFo7TG0Pjs
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) December 3, 2023
Up front, they have five returnees with Ryan Leonard (WSH) and Gabe Perreault (NYR) leading the way. They will be without longtime linemate Will Smith (SJS), who is looking to make the Sharks this fall, but the tandem should do just fine in what will be their final year of U-20 eligibility.
Cole Eiserman (NYI) and James Hagens (2025) will be offensive forces once again for the USA, as they have been at the U-18 and with the NTDP before this. Both are nearly locks to make the team.
Sorting out who will be with the team at the World Juniors will be a task, but it’s more a problem of too many good players than anything. The Americans should be among the favorites when the real U-20 tournament goes down in the winter.
Related: NHL Prospect Pool Overview 2024-25: The New York Islanders Got Much-Needed Help in Vegas
Who Takes the Lead for Sweden?
The Swedish entry into the WJSS is missing a few key names. Axel Sandin Pellikka (DET) and Tom Willander (VAN) recently pulled out of the event. It will be intriguing to see who emerges as a leader.
Otto Stenberg (STL) instantly jumps out as a player who has always stepped up his game in his national team colors. He is an electric forward with some jam in his game as well, loving to get under his opponents’ skin.
Been catching up on watching the Allsvenskan playoffs from the spring. Here's a mix of Otto Stenberg (28 in blue/white) in the play-in round for BIK Karlskoga.
He's around the puck, getting inside and setting up teammates consistently in the slot. (Peep the kick pass.) pic.twitter.com/UYgHLuGWxg
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) July 25, 2024
Melvin Fernstrom (VAN) and Lucas Pettersson (ANA) have been key cogs in the Swedish team at the U-18 level. They could now be leaned on at the U-20 level as well.
On the back end, Theo Lindstein (STL) and Leo Sahlin Wallenius (SJS) will likely be asked to play big roles for the squad. Lindstein has been excellent internationally in the past, and they will look to him as a leader on and off the ice.
Related: NHL Prospect Pool Overview 2024-25: What Makes the Detroit Red Wings’ Pool So Deep
Plenty of Opportunity on the Finnish Roster
Konsta Helenius (BUF) and Aron Kiviharju (MIN) have been fixtures for Finland with this age group, but both will miss the showcase after being among the youngest and best players at the event last year. That leaves plenty of ice time for other players.
Emil Pieniniemi (PIT) and Kalle Kangas (PIT) could be asked to take on big roles for the Finns on the back end. Sebastian Soini (MIN) was just drafted, but he’s seen his stock rise in a big way over the last year and could find himself in a large role for Finland at the world junior showcase without their top names.
Sebastian Soini (#6) made his Liiga debut for Ilves on Saturday where he recorded his first ever point on the assist below.
He played 7:18 in the game, looked a bit shaky at first but he got much more confident as the game progressed.
Could be a sleeper this year! pic.twitter.com/ztZfthRobK
— Steven Graves (@German_Spitfire) September 18, 2023
Up front, Jesse Nurmi (NYI) and Jesse Kiiskinen (NSH) will look to continue their success with the national team. Emil Hemming (DAL) was arguably better than Helenius at international competition last year, and he will look to take on a leading role with the U-20 squad this summer.
Aatos Koivu (MTL), Rasmus Kumpulainen (MIN), and Topias Hynninen (undrafted) will all look to assert themselves and secure a spot at the World Junior Championship.
Related: NHL Prospect Pool Overview 2024-25: Do the Dallas Stars Have It All?
2025 NHL Draft Class
This is the kickoff of the 2025 NHL draft season for many scouts.
The Finns will be the only team to not feature any new 2025 draft talent besides their undrafted players who will still be eligible, but they’ve always leaned on having an older roster.
Sweden will have exciting forward Victor Eklund, the brother of San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund, on the squad. This is his chance to get off on the right foot and showcase his skill at the summer U-20 event.
Canada will bring a couple of 2025 draft eligibles in Porter Martone and Malcolm Spence. Both have had some great moments internationally over the last year.
MALCOLM SPENCE WITH THE OVERTIME WINNER FOR GOLD❗️🥇 #HlinkaGretzkyCup
SPENCE AVEC LE BUT GAGNANT EN PROLONGATION❗️🥇 #CoupeHlinkaGretzky pic.twitter.com/F1Rr6cgyka
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) August 5, 2023
Spence scored an electric game-winning goal at the Hlinka last year to give Canada the gold medal, and Martone was one of the best players at the U-18s, sitting near the top of the scoring leaderboard all tournament long and bringing his blend of power and skill to the ice every chance he had.
Team USA will have three players looking to start their draft year strong.
James Hagens is the pre-season favorite to go first overall, and the dynamic playmaker could be the Americans’ most effective offensive producer at the world juniors.
James Hagens (2025) can do no wrong. He completes the hat trick with a puck off Rimpinen's mask and in. Hagens has six points in this game, 16 overall, and sits just five points back of Nikita Kucherov's all-time tournament record set back in 2011.#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/yYN74uOTV8
— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) April 30, 2024
Logan Hensler is a smart, effective, toolsy defender who can play any style of game needed from him, and he could be a top-10 pick next June.
A late addition, the 5-foot-6 LJ Mooney will look to show size is just a number and that his game can keep up with the best in the nation. All three will be exciting to watch as the team looks to find the right mix for December.
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News Summary:
- Key Topics to Watch at the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.