2024 World Junior Championship Preview: Team Norway
It’s always nice to see a fresh face at the top of the world junior ladder.
Norway will participate in the top world junior tournament for the first time since 2014 and just the third time ever. They did so with a whopping 14 players made available to return from their dominant run last year, when they won all five games and outscored their opponents 19-8.
Norway is bringing a surprisingly solid team this year, better than the average squad coming up from Division IA. They’re still expected to land at the bottom of Group B, but the fact they’re there is a good start. Anything can happen, right?
Goaltenders
Norway’s goaltenders will be busy, and, arguably, the most important position on the team. Markus Røhnebæk Stensrud was the hero from the 2023 Division IA tournament, and he’s set to enter his third tournament with the club. He had a perfect 5-0-0 record with a .928 save percentage a year ago while also putting up great numbers with Storhamar’s senior men’s team. He’s been given spot duty to alleviate Trym Gran this year but has still looked great when called upon. It’ll be interesting to see how the coaching staff uses him, especially since his 5-foot-9 frame will put him at a significant disadvantage against the highest-quality competition of his career.
There’s also Sebastian Hagen Aarsund, who could get the edge while playing in his third year of Swedish U-20 hockey, mostly to mixed results. Still, it’s a high level for a Norweigan goaltender to participate in, and he’s no stranger to high shot counts in a game – something he’ll have to deal with at the world juniors.
For the team’s third keeper, Martin Holtet Lundberg had some solid moments at the U-18 World Championship before heading over to join Mora’s U-20 program in Sweden. Lundberg likely won’t get the crease to himself until 2025 given he’s younger at 18, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a period or two to get the experience.
Defensemen
This might be a position of weakness for Norway, but if they can keep defenders to the outside, they’ll be in decent shape. They’re not going to dominate opponents with size, but skating won’t be an issue based on what we’ve seen in exhibition play.
Newcomer Stian Solberg will be relied on heavily to handle heavy minutes this year. He played more than 23 minutes a night throughout the U-18s and while he had just one assist to show for it, he was easily the most reliable defender in his own zone. He’ll be joined by Gabriel Koch, one of the oldest players in the tournament, who brings a mobile two-way game to the table.
The small but speedy Christopher Lie has put up good numbers with Malmo’s U-20 team in Sweden. He definitely has top-pairing potential and can run the power play if needed. Fellow Swedish U-20 defender Tobias Bjercke Larsen can help bring size and physicality to the back end while still being a capable skater.
Forwards
No question about it, all eyes will be on Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, the potential first-round pick in 2024. He had five points in five games last year in a season that saw him get 11 games of pro experience in the second-tier Swedish league. He’s back there now, and while his numbers are nothing special, Brandsegg-Nygård has had some decent looks and has proven he can handle the rigors of the pro game at a young age.
Petter Versterheim is the only player here with men’s World Championship experience, playing in all seven of Norway’s games last year. He had goose eggs on the scoresheet, but his work ethic didn’t go unnoticed. He’s having a good year with Mora in the Allsvenskan and was Norway’s top scorer at last year’s event. Norway will be counting on him in a big way again in Sweden.
We’ve seen some good hockey out of 19-year-old forward Mats Bakke Olsen the past few years, putting up a point-per-game on Norway’s top line last year. The playmaking forward hasn’t played any Swedish pro yet, but the fact he seems to always perform with Norway is a good sign.
In terms of extra scoring help, Noah Steen skated on Norway’s top line in November’s exhibition action. He also skated for Norway’s World Championship team in a depth role last year, mostly showing up for the experience. Steen has looked great against his own age group and even has a few goals against men in the Allsvenskan. He’s a quick skater, but his smaller 5-foot-8 frame can hold him back.
One center to watch is Felix Granath. He was one of Norway’s top players at the U-18s last year and could still get some significant opportunities this winter. The two-way forward has shown good speed in the Swedish U-20 league.
Norway will have a few North American-based players to choose from, too. Kasper Magnussen, a Bemidji State forward, hasn’t had much success just yet, but was a high-profile commit out of the Leksands minor system. Sander Wold has contributed a little bit offensively with the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL, too. While neither player is a worldbeater, that’s still valuable experience from two guys with close ties to Norway’s national junior team programs.
If the team needs some extra speed, Victoria Royals forward Casper Haugen Evensen will get the job done. He doesn’t produce a lot, but he’ll force turnovers and play a strong defensive game. Johannes Løkkeberg has looked good with Norway’s junior programs in the past, and he’s lighting it up with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors right now. We’ll see how important he is as a returning player.
2024 NHL Draft
Some scouts believe Brandsegg-Nygård could adjust to NHL action right now if given the chance. He’s a modern-day forward in nearly every aspect, and a team looking to add a hard-working, hard-hitting forward could do much worse this year. Not only is he Norway’s best player, but he’s one of the best NHL Draft prospects in the tournament, so there will be extra attention on him.
There’s also Elias Straume Vatne, who turned heads as a top-line winger at the U-18s last year. He’s had some mixed results in Sweden this year, but he’s a bulldog who never stops moving and isn’t afraid to throw hits despite his 5-foot-8 frame. He’s a bit of a longshot to get drafted, but he has performed every time he’s put the Norge’s red and blue on.
Projection
Given their solid top six and loads of speed, I do expect Norway to fight their way out of relegation. They’re still going to have a difficult time against teams like USA, Slovakia and Czechia, but they could give Switzerland some fits. The relegation round still looks most likely, but I’d bet money on them finding a way of beating Latvia when push comes to shove. If they avoid getting sent back to Division IA, it would mark the first time they have stayed in the top tournament for two years in a row. Hopefully, that’s enough motivation to make it happen.
Round-Robin Schedule
Local/ET Time
Dec. 26 vs. USA– 17:00 CET/11:00 AM ET
Dec. 27 vs. Czechia – 17:00 CET/11:00 AM ET
Dec. 29 vs. Slovakia – 12:00 CET/6:00 AM ET
Dec. 30 vs. Switzerland – 17:00 CET/11:00 AM ET
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