The Under-17 World Hockey Challenge is the introduction for these young players to international competitions. Most of these players will not be eligible for the NHL Entry Draft until 2027 or 2028. There have been hundreds of young men who have gone on from this tournament to the NHL, many top picks such as Alex Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon, Mats Sundin and Connor McDavid included. We saw some surprising performances and outcomes during the preliminary round of the U17 World Hockey Challenge. Team Czechia delivered a gritty and spirited performance and, along with the United States, finished at the top of their division, earning a bye into the semifinals. Canada White and Canada Red both finished second in their division and will face Finland and Sweden in the quarterfinals.
The 2025 Edition had several standouts.
I will provide some insight into two players per team
Czechia
Adam Nemec – Right Wing
Adam Nemec (no relation to the NHL Nemec brothers) was Czechia’s leading goal scorer with two goals at the tournament. While that may not seem like much, his entire team scored only seven goals total in this tournament.
Offensively:
Nemec used his speed along the outside to generate controlled zone entries, which allowed him to generate most of Czechia’s offensive chances. The first game of the tournament was when he did his best and scored two goals in the upset win against Canada White. He has good skating mechanics and a good first step, but it is his ability to glide with pace and to explode with speed changes that create separation from defenders, allowing him to either carry pucks into optimal lanes or to get into open space when playing off puck. He uses this skill to maintain a breakaway threat that is used to stretch defenders further from their positions than comfortable for them to support the offence.
He also handles the puck very well, demonstrating his ability to weave his way through traffic while maintaining control of the puck. This pairs well with his offensive vision, while he does identify shooting lanes quickly, despite not having any assists in the tournament, he can also thread passes to linemates in optimal scoring positions. But his play away from the puck needs work, as his hockey IQ does allow him to read developing plays in which he can then pounce onto loose pucks, or to cut off the breakout and reattack, but it is more often leaving him over committed to the attack when a better defensive position would allow him to take advantage of his strengths in transitional play.
Defensively:
While he is a breakaway threat and does well to stretch the defence, it’s a double-edged sword as he was regularly cheating on the offensive side of the puck by edging away from his best possible defensive position to try and gain a step on the defenceman. This would pay off with the breakaway if his team can win the puck battle happening lower in the zone, but if they don’t, it prevents him from defending against the opposition forward from circling over to the slot with control. He’s still a raw prospect defensively, but his scoring ability will make him a player to watch
He wasn’t as effective as a rush passenger forcing his way into the blue paint for a close-range deflection or rebound, working better as the offensive-zone entrant sniping a shot from the half-wall or weaving into the slot with skill. In cycle offence, he showed some flashy high-end passing, able to recover from movement and rotation to reliably land long passes across the zone.
Lukas Kachlir – Left Defence
With the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, there are few prospects in this age group who are as dynamic as him. Dynamic footwork paired with quick hands, good vision, and passing skill. A prototypical PP quarterback who will put up tons of points in his junior career before making the jump to the pro level sooner rather than later. However, he displayed the same concerns we’ve seen in the past again in this game, too. He knows what to do to defend the rush, but still frequently struggles against bigger, faster, skilled players, who often find ways around or through him. In-zone, his size limits him against bigger, stronger players protecting the puck. He also isn’t as quick and effective on retrievals or in open ice as some of his peers. Purely as an O-zone player, I think Kachlíř is more skilled than Tomáš Galvas was at the same age, so there’s still a lot that can happen in the next two years; but getting drafted, and especially getting drafted as high as his skill level suggests, will be an uphill battle just like it was for the undrafted Galvas.
In this game, Kachlíř was as offensive a defenseman as they come. Making a statement early on his first O-zone activation, he looped wide around the net to launch a shot saved only by a Swedish defender. He showed good puck-handling skills on zone entries in those frequent activations, although some flashier moves led to clean takeaways by competent defenders. He had a standout defensive moment in this game as well, getting away with some light hooking on a breakaway, which in turn highlights some defensive deficiencies. Kachlíř is a prolific offensive defenseman prospect who has often been playing beyond his age group, but even on a level playing field, the same habits and evaluations emerge. He’s on the long list of players to watch for the 2027 NHL Draft, but the pressure will soon be on to show more promising pro projectability via defence, strength, and details.
Finland
Lenni Kokkonen – Right Defence
Kokkonen is a promising puck-moving offensive defenceman. During the U17s, he was used heavily in all situations, especially on the power play. What stood out was the confidence he has with the puck and his mobility. He was able to walk the blue line using his edges, be deceptive in transition using hip mobility, and his ability to pivot to reverse was fluid, allowing him to keep his speed.
Offensively:
His puck-moving ability stood out thanks to his mobility, but also due to his above-average puck-handling skills, which he was able to use in conjunction with body positioning to protect the puck, to cut through traffic, and to set the table for a quick pass on either his forehand or backhand. He made good use of his mobility on the power play. He was able to walk the blue line to change angles, forcing defenders to reposition and open shooting/passing lanes. He would attack open space and smartly reload when those gaps closed. His vision was on display as he identified the most advantageous play, distributing pucks to teammates in high danger areas or taking the shot himself. He can be depended on to find lanes through traffic, getting shots on net through traffic from the point, but also make quick and accurate passes in the neutral and offensive zones.
He was the quarterback of the top PP unit, directing the movement of all his linemates. Also, he displayed an intense desire to make a difference in the outcome, consistently pushing the pace by jumping up on the rush, on the PP or at 5v5. His offensive game is still raw, and there is room for better attention to detail that would improve his offensive effectiveness.
Defensively:
Overall, he plays a solid, but not mistake-free, defensive game. This stems from his desire to get the offensive game moving, as he did have some turnovers on breakouts stemming from rushing the play. That said, it was clear he was purposefully trying to remain below the puck; one reason is to be able to hold good defensive positioning in the event he would need to shut down a rush attack in transition, but also to keep the play in front of him so as to better assess his offensive opportunities.
His mobility and good overall speed comes into play defensively as well, as he is a very capable rush defender, using stick and body positioning to maintain tight gap control and to funnel the attacking player towards the boards, where he can close him off along the wall or attempt to strip him of the puck. He did overcommit at times to lay a crushing hit on attackers who tried to outskate him wide, which caused him to miss or give them a lane to the middle of the ice. He needs to identify and communicate more with any backchecking teammate who could help him cut off his side of the ice without sacrificing a stronger defensive position.
His hockey IQ isn’t all offence-focused as he does identify the best method of attack, a board battle, to be the first on the puck, playing through the hands, or to simply pin the opponent and wait for support. His backtracking defensively does need work, as he wasn’t consistently chasing the puck into his zone and did have problems handling larger forwards in front of his net. He needs to add strength to handle those physical players, but also find ways of tying up their sticks, as there were rebounds and tipped pucks that were available that he couldn’t defend against.
He is most effective when he is using his edges to shake off forecheckers on puck retrievals and using deception with his punch turns to create lanes to let him carry pucks into transition. His overall game is very enticing, he has excellent offensive instincts, is coachable and at 6-foot-1 and 176 pounds at only 16 years old, has good size. Being a right-shot puck mover with potential to become a good two-way player, there is going to be interest in this player.
Luka Santala – Right Wing
Santala was not only one of the top Finns, but he was also one of the better players in this tournament. While his five points in four games didn’t get him into the top 10 in points, Finland only scored 11 goals total, and he factored into nearly half of their offence.
Offensively:
Santala is a big, 6-foot-2, 176-pound, right-handed centre, which immediately makes him a desirable prospect. His offensive game helps that as he is a consistent play driver. He is highly effective playing a no-nonsense style of two-way game. His skating is good for this level, but it is an area that will need improvement as he moves up. He tends to prefer slowing the pace of play to take control and will need to learn to play with more speed and pace.
Physically, he uses his frame well to protect the puck and to initiate contact when needed. He has a high IQ, which is evident when watching his off-puck play. When not directly involved in generating the cycle or in a board battle, he was quietly moving through the offensive zone, looking for any soft spot that he could exploit in a high-danger area. When that wasn’t the case, he showed he isn’t reliant on only one trick; he also consistently identified when he would need to drive to the net or look for rebounds.
He did well in the faceoff dot. If he didn’t win his matchup, he was quick to tie up his counterpart, using his frame to shield his area of responsibility and allow for a teammate to jump in and gain possession. Santala wasn’t a passive rider, looking to strike with an opportunistic play; instead, he was deliberate, showing an ability to read evolving plays and to choose the correct action to his and his team’s advantage.
As with most Finnish players, he isn’t a flashy offensive player, instead relying on a full set of tools. His size and physicality make him most effective when making plays off the cycle, using his good vision and passing skills to create offensive opportunities. He is consistently above the puck, rarely, if ever, cheating to the offensive side of the puck. His calm and calculated nature allows him to remain patient with the puck, even under pressure. Combine his size with his vision to let him absorb the contact, protect possession and complete a quick and accurate pass, or release a quick shot.
Defensively:
Santala was highly effective defensively. As in the offensive zone, his hockey IQ is an asset here, as his off-puck play is very strong. He showed consistency, pursuing attackers deep into his own zone, initiating contact or providing support to his defencemen. He was also quick to identify his best use defensively, as he also took care of net-front responsibilities when the defenders were engaged in one-on-one battles.
He continually scanned his surroundings, allowing him to be prepared to anticipate pressure and time to select the highest percentage play ready to be executed. This allowed him to identify when to release and find open ice and become a reliable outlet to receive a quick pass from his defenders, making the transition game smoother and more effective. He was also highly capable in transition, controlling zone exits and entries, helping to defend by moving the puck 200 feet from his own net.
Overall, he showed himself to be an effective two-way centre with some additional offensive potential to be unlocked, making him an interesting player to watch for 2027.
Canada Red
Alexis Joseph – Centre
Alexis Joseph, first overall in the QMJHL Draft in 2025, the Saint John Sea Dogs forward may be the best prospect coming out of the QMJHL in the last few years. He definitely has the highest potential at this point; he has top-line centre, possibly even franchise centreman potential. At the Under 17s, he was the player all of the media and scouts had their eyes on.
Offensively:
His long, smooth strides mean he can keep pace with the quickest skaters; despite that, he still has room to improve. He does have good edge work, which allows him to make quick direction changes, but he tends to glide instead, sometimes moving away from the puck. This is something he has identified as an issue in his game when I spoke with him, demonstrating a very mature and cerebral approach to his game. He is coachable, he can identify weaknesses in his own game and seek out help from the staff and accept critiques and direction as well. Joseph possesses a high hockey IQ, allowing him to anticipate plays and create opportunities for his teammates with precise and deceptive passes. He is also very effective in the faceoff circle, winning the majority of his faceoffs.
The 16-year-old is already 6-foot-5 and 201 pounds, making him very difficult to defend due to his leverage and reach. While he isn’t a player that will regularly initiate contact, he is one that can play through that side of the game, battling for positioning, playing a cycle, and winning his share of board battles.
Once he graduates to the professional levels, he will need to become a little more aggressive in order to keep his opponents honest and generate more space for himself. He is an offensively gifted player who has a powerful shot with a quick and deceptive release; however, even for a player scoring as much as he has, he needs to be more consistent in his use, as it would force defenders to stop cheating in covering the pass, opening more scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Especially with his high-end puck skills, which enable him to control the puck effectively even at high speeds and protect it from defenders. The coordination between his stick and feet stood out as he used his entire body to protect and handle the puck.
Defensively:
His size is an advantage defensively, yet as he himself identified, power and speed are areas he still wants to improve in, which would allow him to become even more effective defensively. Currently, he is consistent in his ability to provide support down low while also remaining a passing option, which helps the transition game, especially as he is highly capable of generating controlled zone exits. His skating skill set allows him to cover a lot of area in the defensive zone as well as cut off lanes. If he can improve his maneuverability in tight spaces (edge work), he would become even more effective in support of his defencemen. He is trusted by coaches to be used in all situations.
His faceoff ability makes him a logical choice to take important draws when his team is down by a goal late in periods, or to help defend. He is an obvious choice on any PP, but his defensive game is sound enough that he can be trusted on the PK as well. This means he will chew up a lot of ice time every game, and his consistent work ethic off the ice allows him to maintain and improve his cardio and strength in season.
Joseph was over a goal per game average with six goals in five games he played at the U17s on his way to leading Canada Red to a Gold medal. He also averaged nearly three points per game pace with 13 points. While he looked dominant offensively against players in his age group, when he returns to playing against older, more experienced defenders, he could work on varying his pace more frequently and attacking defensive structures more strategically. On the defensive side of the puck, that same approach would help him counter top offensive lines. While some see defenceman Landon DuPont as the current favourite to challenge for the top pick in 2027, however, Joseph is forcing his way into that discussion, especially as the 2026 draft class is seen as thin at centre.
Brock Cripps – Right Defence
Brock Cripps was the WHL’s 2nd overall pick in 2024 and was one of the biggest standouts in the U17 tournament as he was able to make an impact at both ends of the ice. The basis of his entire game is his skating ability. He is a quick, evasive skater who is highly mobile and uses speed changes and edgework to deceive defenders and attacking forwards. He has an ability to move laterally and change directions sharply. His use of stutter steps confuses his opponents; this makes him elusive and difficult to defend, allowing him to create separation from opponents in all three zones.
Offensively:
Cripps pairs his skating with a poised demeanour, especially under pressure. His excellent hockey IQ is aided by his habit of constantly scanning the ice, allowing him to read emerging plays and better anticipate where pressure will be applied. His transitional play stands out thanks to a good first step, allowing him to reach top speeds more quickly (which will improve as he gains strength). His edgework, coupled with his puck skills, is on full display when he is in the offensive zone, as he creates space for himself while walking the blueline, evading defenders and creating open spaces that teammates can exploit. Cripps also has a very hard and accurate point shot, which makes him a scoring threat at distance, and paired with his puck handling skills, a very strong PP quarterback as well.
His IQ also allows him to identify the best opportunities to pinch at the point, or to slide down the weakside to an open area I the slot where he can use that heavy shot to beat a goaltender clean. His offensive instincts and excellent skating allow him to be an effective puck mover who can confidently and effectively skate the puck out of danger and through the neutral zone.
Defensively:
At only 5-foot-10 and 161 pounds, the 16-year-old still has room to grow to be more durable once he reaches the professional ranks, but that doesn’t mean he was afraid of physical contact; quite the opposite, he relished it. Cripps is highly competitive, and this meant he initiated contact regularly, and did so to gain possession, not just to lay a big hit. Despite how often he initiated contact, he was rarely penalized, demonstrating his calculated and disciplined defensive style.
That defensive style stems from his skating and mobility, which he uses to gain positional advantages in open ice and along the boards. It allows him to break up plays, including using an active stick to take away lanes. Cripps displayed strong rush defence, using his mobility to help him keep tight gaps as he matched speed with the attacking player, and used his body and stick positioning to angle them to the boards, killing the rush.
While he was one of the top defencemen in points, he is capable of being even more impactful on that end, but it was his all-around performance, two-way style, that impressed and makes him a player to watch for the 2027 draft.
Canada West
Liam Pue – Centre
Liam Pue and linemate and Regina Pats teammate Maddox Schultz were the only two underage players at the tournament. Pue is a natural centreman, who displays intelligence, creativity and high-end skating ability to be an impact forward in all three zones. He is a really good skater with powerful strides to generate excellent speed in direct lines, but is also able to use his edges to make direction changes while maintaining speed. Standing at 6-foot-2, he has an NHL frame already, and weighing over about 154 pounds just means he will need time to add mass and strength, which is to be expected of a 15-year-old.
Offensively:
Pue plays with a physical edge and a sniper’s touch. Pue has an elite offensive hockey IQ. He uses it as he stalks the offensive zone like a hunter tracking his prey. His acute peripheral vision is a tool that helps to augment his excellent offensive IQ, letting him scan the zone and identify weaknesses and the best times to pounce onto loose pucks, but also when to jump into a battle and help gain possession. His puck protection is elite at this level. He uses a combination of patience, quick stops and starts, lower body strength, his close-quarter stickhandling, and vision to generate scoring opportunities. He handles the puck effectively and is deceptive with his movements.
He handles the puck quickly and does so with his head up at all times. This assists him in identifying opportunities, but it also helps him avoid being targeted physically. His shot is a weapon that he uses often and effectively. He is able to shoot at distance with a heavy and accurate shot, but also, he is effective in tight quarters, using his puck protection and handling skills to allow him to fire pucks with a quick release in tight to the net.
Defensively:
In his own zone, Pue is active and effective. He is already showing an ability to not rush the defenceman at the blue line, instead, skating in the same direction and angling them towards the boards while using his stick position to prevent them from backtracking with a tight punch turn. He is also consistently placing himself in a position to be an outlet for the transition game, but this, at times, does make him seem too passive in his own zone. That said, he doesn’t make low percentage plays in his own zone. He is still inconsistent with his neutral zone pressure; he lacks the experience to more consistently identify the times to meet attackers at centre to angle them off, helping his defencemen with funnelling pucks to more easily defensible positions.
He did have some defensive lapses, but that is expected of much younger players. Again, experience is all that is needed to clean this area of his game up, as his work ethic and competitive nature are not in question.
Pue is a prospect with an attractive blend of skills and physical attributes. He won’t be eligible for the NHL draft until 2028, which means junior hockey fans will get to see this player for a few more seasons, including this one. Normally, 15-year-old affiliate players would only be eligible to play up to 10 games with their WHL Club, but due to Pue being granted exceptional status by his provincial hockey body to play in a U18 league, he will be allowed to play 34 games in the WHL despite being only 15 years old.
Maddox Schultz – Left Wing/Centre
Maddox Schultz was a standout at the tournament, and being only 15 years old made his performance as a top five-point scorer at the U17s with 9 points in 5 games even more impressive. He and Pue were paired up and helped to lead Canada White to a Silver medal. At 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds, he is built like a tank, which helps translate to a player with incredible core strength and control. Especially in his elite skating, which is considered his best attribute, providing the foundation for his two-way potential. His exceptional ability on the ice is a direct result of his background in figure skating and focused edgework training with his parents, who are both skating instructors.
Schultz’s training provides him with excellent command of his edges, providing him with superior agility and the ability to execute precise turns even at high speeds. This makes him evasive and difficult for defenders to contain.
Offensively:
Schultz is a high-end playmaker and goal scorer with exceptional skating ability. This provides him with the time and space needed to use his ability to read the ice and anticipate plays, allowing him to create scoring chances for himself and his teammates. His vision, combined with his elite skating, allows him to find teammates in dangerous areas in the offensive zone. His evasiveness makes life hard for defenders trying to contain him; that and his puck skills draw in opponents, leaving large gaps in coverage that he then exploits by feeding pucks to open teammates.
His shot is another weapon he can use. It is hard and accurate, pair that with a quick and deceptive release, and it makes it difficult for goalies to track, especially when he uses the defenceman or net front traffic to act as a screen. His puck protection is another skill in his toolbox, as he is highly effective at moving the puck through traffic and controlling the play. Thanks to his control at top speeds, he is also able to play at a high pace, which is translatable to the next level.
Defensively:
His constant training on his skating techniques has given him an innate understanding of weight distribution and how to generate speed efficiently. That means he uses less energy, allowing him to maintain top speeds for longer periods. This skill contributes to his strong two-way game. His compete level adds to his skating, which makes his ability to track hard on the backcheck more effective. His off-puck play displays his high hockey IQ as he is rarely ever out of an optimal defensive position. He is unafraid of physicality; instead, he prefers to play a more physical brand of hockey. He can mark his man in the defensive zone, even when teams are trying to play the cycle.
He wins most of his puck battles as well, and, while he is highly responsible in his own zone, his biggest value is in transition. His speed and puck possession ability mean he generates controlled zone exits and entries, which in turn help to keep the puck 200 feet from his own goal. His defensive play is used to transition into generating offence, and his offensive game is a tool he uses to defend by keeping the puck away from his own goal.
Sweden
Loui Karlsson – Left Wing/Centre
Loui Karlsson brings clear offensive upside, especially with his shot execution. The 5-foot-9, 168-pound forward was the offensive lynchpin for the Swedish team, scoring six goals, tied for first at the tournament with Joseph and Schultz, and eight points in 4 games.
Offensively:
This is the strength of his game; he provides his club with an offensive weapon, especially on the PP. His shot can be lethal; if he finds any space in the offensive zone, his release is quick and accurate. Despite his size, he generates surprising power on his wrist shot and one-timer. He’s especially dangerous in high-tempo, quick-transition plays. His offensive hockey IQ is high; he has the ability to find soft ice in the offensive zone, reading plays quickly and positioning himself to capitalize on rebounds or passing lanes.
Unfortunately, he can be physically outmatched along the boards or net-front against larger defenders. While his best attribute is as a shooter, his playmaking skills are also advanced; however, he doesn’t utilize them as often, making it easier for defenders to anticipate his next move.
Defensively:
Karlsson can play a two-way game, staying on the right side of the puck and tracking back quickly after turnovers, but it is still inconsistent. His size is an issue as he can be outmuscled in front of the net and along the boards, especially in the defensive zone. Despite his size, he’s willing to battle in his own zone. He is able to use quick reads to disrupt passes and force turnovers. When he does, he turns them into counterattacks. If he misses, it provides his opponent with a more advantageous scoring position. He will need to become better at his positioning to avoid this happening. For long-term success, being reliable without the puck (back checking, positioning, defensive reads) will matter, especially in his draft year.
His skating is a strength at this stage of his development, and if he can work on his consistency, improve his skating mechanics to keep pace with his age group, he has top-six upside.
Douglas Johnsson -Right Defence
Douglas Johnsson plays in the Skellefteå system and fits into the mould of a prototypical Swedish puck-moving, offensive-minded blue-liner and power-play quarterback.
Offensively:
Johnsson is a smooth, confident skater with solid edgework and mobility. This mobility allows him to join the attack and to recover defensively if there is a turnover. He is a good passing option, making a quick first pass and shows a willingness to use his shot from the point, which is used to generate tip-ins and rebounds that increase scoring chances. He excels on the PP, using his mobility to effortlessly walk the blue line and look for seam passes. He is also effective when using the give and go, stepping into open space to release a one-timer and remain a shooting threat.
Defensively:
He competes and is willing to engage in traffic, but added strength will be needed if he hopes to consistently win battles along the boards and in front of his net at the next level. Through the neutral zone and against a rush offence, he uses positioning, tight gaps and an active stick to guide forwards to the outside and to cut off passing lanes. This pressure has forced turnovers that turn into a quick transition offence. Continued refinement of angling and timing will increase his defensive reliability.
Johnsson is consistently looking to generate offence on the transition by moving the puck up from the defensive zone with a quick pass or to take possession and jump up on the rush. This desire means he must work to gain possession. At 154 pounds, he can’t rely on physicality to make that happen; instead, he is highly capable of maintaining tight gaps, remaining between the puck and his goal, and playing through the hands of the attackers, making it difficult for them to complete plays around him.
As a mobile, puck-first defenseman who defends with skating and anticipation rather than physical dominance, he fits in with the prototypical offensive defenceman seen in the NHL today