U-18 Men’s World Championship: Who stood out on Day 1

Credit: Cole Hutson (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

ESPOO, Finland – Let the games begin.

The U-18 Men’s World Hockey Championship begun in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland, showcasing some of the best talent that the 2024 NHL Draft has to offer.

The opening game saw USA cruise to a 9-0 victory over Slovakia, showing the reigning champions were hungry to repeat. Czechia shut out Switzerland in the second game, with Finland exciting the home crowd with a 3-1 victory over Latvia. Canada capped things off with a big 6-3 win over Sweden, a game that could prove important at the end of the round-robin.

Here’s a look at the top players for the eight teams that kicked off play on Thursday, with Steven Ellis focusing on the USA/SVK and FIN/LAT games, while Colton Davies followed the CZE/SUI and CAN/SWE games:

USA

#34 Cole Eiserman, LW: The goal watch is on, folks. After buzzing around with a few good early looks, he scored his first of the tournament just past the halfway point of the opening frame, putting him within seven goals of catching Cole Caufield for the all-time USNTDP scoring lead. Eiserman then scored another two goals for good measure, marking one of his best games of the international calendar this year. He made a few errand passes along the way but with the puck, nobody was as dangerous as he was today.

#23 Cole Hutson, D: Clearly, any pre-tournament injury wasn’t bothering Hutson. He scored less than three minutes into the game on a great wrister, weaving through traffic before letting the shot go. Like his brother, Lane, Cole can steal the show with the way he transports the puck, and he’s typically a better passer than a shooter. But one thing I’ve noticed throughout the season, especially since my last viewing in February, is that he likes to travel with the puck more and take his own shots instead of just unloading it to someone else. Still lacks power on the shot, but the confidence is growing.

#10 James Hagens, C (2025): A standout game from a standout player. The top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft right now, Hagens took the puck from his own zone and scored on an individual effort to make it a 3-0 game, only to then set up Teddy Stiga with a beautiful pass early in the second to make it 4-0. Hagens scored another to help earn player of the game honors, showing the same confidence that made him USA’s top player all season long. He reminds me a lot of Jack Hughes at the same age – someone with so much skill and confidence, and never has to overdo anything. It’s all calculated.

#6 EJ Emery, D: Emery made himself difficult to play against, using his body along the boards and doing an excellent job of distributing the puck with patience. He wasn’t overly physical in this game, but he took space away and looked great in his own zone alongside Hutson. That’s what you get from Emery – stability.

#24 Christian Humphreys, C: This was one of the better games I saw from Humphreys. He scored a goal to help spark USA’s third line, a group that looked great but just couldn’t get on its scoresheet in the first half. With two skilled wingers at his side, Humphreys played more of a two-way game, helping out defensively in a big way. He’s not flashy, but he does enough small things right to be happy about it.

#17 Trevor Connelly, LW: It wasn’t Connelly’s hands that I liked the most today – he gave away the puck a few times blindly – but it was his physicality. He wasn’t afraid to go up against anyone, including 6-foot-7 Miroslav Satan. It’s an element of his game that has always been there, but I hadn’t seen as much of that in person. Given his track record internationally today, it won’t be long until he’s putting up pretty solid numbers.

Slovakia

#13 Tobias Tomik, LW (2026): As one of the youngest players in the tournament, it was nice to see Tomik have such a great game on the top line. He was feisty, moved well, and made some of Slovakia’s best plays. At 6 feet, he already has a solid frame. From talking to a few Slovakian scouts, they seem to love his game.

#18 Miroslav Satan Jr., C: I’m not sure if he’ll get drafted – some scouts think he won’t – but if he can harness his size, he’ll be such a difficult player to contain. He’s 6-foot-7 and moves fast, although his edge work needs a bit of help. I liked a few of the passes he made through traffic while under attack. I’ll keep a closer eye on him over the next week and a half.

Canada

#9 Gavin McKenna C (2026): What can you even say about this kid anymore? The 16-year-old notched two goals in Canada’s victory and boy was the second one a beauty as he received a pass from Roger McQueen and then toe-dragged the Swedish defender rifling the puck past Harenstam. McKenna’s elite skating, puck handling and shot were on full display, taking home top player honors. McKenna had a chance to notch a hat trick on a breakaway but Harenstam was dialed in and ready. A lot of eyes will be on him this tournament.

#22 Porter Martone RW (2025): Martone had himself a great night as the 2025 eligible prospect notched two big assists and helped set up McKenna for a big goal and created the play on Matt Schaefer’s goal that made it 5-3. Martone’s size played a role as he outmuscled the Swedes in a couple of scenarios helping create offensive rushes for Canada. Martone’s 200-foot game played a big role as he was quick to get back and swat the puck away from Viggo Nordlund on the breakaway.

#3 Matt Schaefer D (2025): Schaefer had a wonderful game, playing a pivotal role both offensively and defensively for the Canadians. Schaefer notched a big goal to give Canada the lead after burying a loose rebound. In the third period, he was quick to get back to help break a play by Linus Eriksson and keep Canada ahead by two.

#5 Henry Mews D: Mews was among Canada’s ice time leaders, and he definitely deserved it. The Ottawa 67s defenseman had one assist and two shots on goal. His assist came when he flung the puck from below his blueline up the ice feeding Jett Luchanko who was quick to bury the shot. He and fellow 67’s defender Frankie Marrelli were able to shut down the Swedes throughout the game while working together on a pairing. Mews had a big chance to find the back of the net in the final minutes of the third after a shot from Tij Iginla was blocked and Mews jumped on the loose puck.

Sweden

#24 Linus Eriksson C (2025): Eriksson played well for Sweden, notching an assist and creating offensive plays which resulted in him getting a breakaway. Eriksson took six faceoffs and was 40% in the circle. Eriksson pickpocketed Canadian defender Harrison Brunicke and set up a big goal for Zetterberg. The 18-year-old played a full 200-foot game but was not enough for Sweden to get past Canada.

#26 Alexander Zetterberg C: Zetterberg was all over the ice and contributed for all three of Swedens’ goals. He notched two himself and picked up an assist on Melvin Fernstrom’s first goal of the tournament. Zetterberg was named Sweden’s player of the game. The 17-year-old won both of his faceoffs and registered five shots on goal in a losing effort. Zetterberg’s offensive creativity was a big factor for Sweden, as it typically has been this year.

#20 Alfons Freij D: Arguably Sweden’s best defender all night, Freij notched an assist on Fernstrom’s and logged 26-plus minutes of ice time, second among Swedish defenders behind Leo Sahlin Wallenius, who logged 29-plus minutes. The 18-year-old was pressed hard by Canada and was on the ice for a goal against after getting beat, but managed to make up for that play with an assist.

Finland

#24 Joona Saarelainen, LW: Saarelainen was one of my favorites at the U-18 Five Nations in Michigan earlier this year, buzzing around and putting on one of the strongest performances of anyone. At 5-foot-9, Saarelainen is small, but it doesn’t seem to slow him down. He’s strong for his size, wins faceoffs, battles hard and moves well, using that combination to create a few scoring chances early.

#32 Emil Hemming, RW: This was the tournament for Hemming to cement himself as a first-round talent, and he started off great. He scored the opening goal on the man advantage early on to get the home crowd into the game and nearly scored on an individual effort a few minutes later. Having someone like Hemming, who looked good against older competition, helping to play big minutes on this team is a huge boost.

#1 Petteri Rimpinen, G: Rimpinen REALLY wanted the puck on his stick. He skated out every time he possibly could and even made a great stretch pass early in the game. Latvia pushed a bit harder in the second period, but Rimpinen looked strong. The Finns have two good goaltenders here in Rimpinen and Kim Saarinen, who should be the No. 1. Compared to last year, where goaltending hurt them, Rimpinen was a difference-maker to kick things off in Espoo.

#12 Aron Kiviharju, D: It was good to see Kiviharju back, who only played two exhibition games after coming back from injury that knocked him out at the end of September. His confidence was there; he was moving well, and he controlled the puck like he usually did, and he helped pace the game from the blue line. Oh, he also took a skate to the face.

#33 Tuomas Suoniemi, LW: One of Finland’s best players at the Hlinka Gretzky last summer, Suoniemi had an excellent opening night today. He made a great pass to set up Joona Saarelainen and then scored one of his own to put things out of reach at 3-0 late in the third. He was buzzing, and his puck work was among the best for the Finns.

Latvia

#30 Nils Maurins, G: With 31 saves, Maurins kept Latvia in it, big time. The Finns controlled the pace of play, taking 17 shots in the second. Maurins stood tall on nearly all of them, with none of the goals being his fault. Latvia will need some crucial goaltending down the line, and taking some of the steam away from the home team didn’t hurt.

#14 Olivers Murnieks, C (2026): Just 16, Murnieks didn’t look like an underaged player by any means. He made an especially impressive play late in the game, breaking up a Finnish empty-net chance with a great diving play. He reads the game so quickly, allowing him to make plays faster than most of his teammates. He’s one of Latvia’s brightest young stars, and my first live viewing of him today was impressive with just how often he had the puck in an otherwise one-sided affair.

Czechia

#22 Maxmilian Curran, C: Curran had a solid opening game, buzzing at both ends while generating chances in close. His resilience and determination to battle and get the puck was on full display as he helped set up Marek Danicek for a goal. Curran’s tenacity and ability to forecheck are tools Czechia will rely on throughout the tournament.

#16 Marek Danicek, RW: Danicek opened the scoring for Czechia off a great play from Curran. In the third period, Danicek found the back of the net once again on a beautiful 2-on-1 with Curran to beat Kirsch. The 17-year-old was named the player of the game for Czechia after being Czechia’s most dangerous puck-carrier.

#1 Jakub Milota, G: Milota was rock solid between the pipes, stopping all 17 shots and securing the shutout. The Cape Breton Eagles netminder made multiple stops to keep the game at 1-0 throughout the second period. Milota was a standout at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and will be counted on to keep things going again here as he shows his cool, calm demeanor and ability to manage traffic sight lines well.

Switzerland

#23 Leon Muggli, D: While Switzerland dropped the game 3-0, Muggli had a couple of nice sequences to help set up Swiss players, but ultimately, Milota was unbeatable. Muggli will have to tighten up a few spots on defense as Switzerland battles through the tourney, but you can tell playing at the World Juniors helped him learn how to be more meticulous with the puck.

#1 Christian Kirsch, G: Some nods could be given to Kirsch, he stopped 22 out of 25 shots and came up big with a few saves that easily could have been goals. Ultimately, the Swiss’ penalties cost them the game and something they will need to tighten up. Kirsch will be heavily relied upon after some rough moments at this tournament last year – he’s their best hope to go far.

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