The World Junior Championships are in the books now, and players have returned to action for their respective club teams. The trade deadline has passed across the CHL which puts the push for the postseason front and center for some teams, while others prepare for the future. As teams gear up for playoff races in the second half of the season, NHL staff and countless other draft observers will be eyeing talent for the 2026 NHL Draft. This week in the three stars, a Swedish forward gets some recognition for his strong work this season, a Finn has returned to the OHL with new life after his trip to Minnesota, and a Canadian center is already adjusting to new surroundings after being dealt.
Wiggo Sörensson | C/LW | Boro/Vetlanda HC (SWE-DIV2)
Swedish forward Wiggo Sörensson is having a very productive season, splitting his games between the U20 level and Division 2 hockey. He’s amassed 52 points (30 goals, 22 assists) in 12 games with the Boro/Vetlanda HC U20 program and another 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 20 Division 2 games. Sörenssen may lack a little in physical tools at just 5 feet 11 inches and 181 pounds, but the rest of his game more than makes up for it. When playing at the U20 junior level, the April 2008 born skater has dominated the competition and showcased his offensive gifts over the last two seasons.
Splitting time between Division 2 hockey and U20 Division 1, Sörensson led all draft eligibles last week with six points in three games. After not registering a point in his first game of the week, the Vetlanda, Sweden, native had six goals in the next two games. His biggest performance of the week was scoring all four goals in a 5-4 loss to the U20 Division 1 Alvesta SK club.
Jasper Kuhta | C | Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
After missing out on being selected in the 2025 NHL Draft, Finnish center Jasper Kuhta is putting together a case to be drafted in 2026. The 6-foot-2, 198 pound forward was impressive with Finland, finishing second in team scoring with eight points at his first world junior tournament despite a disappointing finish for his country.
He returned to Ottawa after his sojourn in Minnesota and hasn’t missed a beat. On a Northern Ontario road trip against the North Bay Battalion, Soo Greyhounds, and Sudbury Wolves, the Helsinki native had five points in three games.
Kuhta capitalized on the power play against the Wolves with just over three minutes remaining in the second period. After finding some open space in the right-side faceoff circle, he took a pass from Carolina Hurricanes prospect Filip Ekberg and buried a wrist shot. With 1:45 remaining in the second period, Kuhta doubled up. After the newly acquired David Bedkowski fired a shot, Kuhta quickly flipped the rebound in past the keeper on the backhand.
Jean-Cristoph Lemieux | C | Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
17-year-old Jean-Cristoph Lemieux’s week started with a big change. The 2025 U17 World Hockey Challenge gold medalist was dealt from the Windsor Spitfires along with a package of eight draft picks to the Sudbury Wolves for Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Alex Pharand and Seattle Kraken prospect Nathan Villeneuve. Lemieux has had a pretty seamless transition after moving from the team at the most Southern point of the province to one of the furthest north, with five points (three goals, two assists) in three games.
He opened the week with a goal and an assist against the Greyhounds in a 6-2 loss for the Wolves. He picked up another helper for his lone point in a 4-2 loss to the Niagara IceDogs.
He saved his best for last with a two-goal outing against the high-flying Ottawa 67’s. With the Wolves on the power play in the first period, Lemieux wound up a one-timer to put the Wolves ahead by one. With just over three and a half minutes left in the second period, Lemieux went streaking down the left wing and took a breakaway pass to send him in alone. He made no mistake one-on-one with Ottawa goalie Jaeden Nelson, faking a shot and then flipping a backhand over the keeper.