Vojtech Cihar (directly behind goalie Michael Hrabal #30) won a bronze medal with Czechia in January at the World Junior Championship.
photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
Most players at this year’s U18 will be playing their final event at this age level, hoping in the next year or two to take the next step and play at the more challenging World Junior Championship. But for some, that opportunity has already been offered and accepted. Indeed, 16 players in Frisco played at the U20 in Ottawa this past January, and two of that number, Czechia’s Vojtech Cihar and Adam Novotny, won a bronze medal.
Here's a look at this special group of players who are playing in their second junior level event of the season.
Jack Ivankovic, CAN
The goalie's stock has been on the rise over the last year. Last year he was the third goalie at the U18 and didn’t play. At the last World Juniors, he got into one game, losing to Latvia, 3-2, in an eight-shot shootout on 27 December. He has had an excellent season with the Brampton Steelheads in the OPHL and is here now as the likely number-one goalie for Canada.
Vojtech Cihar, CZE
Cihar had a goal and two points in Ottawa while averaging nearly seven minutes a game. The Czechs defeated Sweden, 3-2, in a shootout to take the bronze.
Adam Novotny, CZE
Ironically, Novotny and Cihar scored 30 seconds apart during Czechia’s dominant 14-2 win over Kazakhstan at the World Juniors, the only goals for both players during that tournament.
Carlos Handel, GER
Now 18, Handel not only played at the World Juniors in January—he led the team in ice time. The defender clocked an average of 22:41 a game, and although he was held without a point he proved to be one of the team’s bright spots and helped the team avoid demotion. He has been playing in the Q with the Halifax Mooseheads this season.
David Lewandowski, GER
Lewandowski scored two goals in Ottawa, one against the U.S. and the other against Latvia, late in the game to tie the score and send the game to overtime. As well, the left winger had an excellent rookie season with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL.
Maxim Schafer, GER
Schafer also had two goals, both coming in a crucial 4-3 win over Kazakhstan in the relegation game. As a result of Schafer’s contributions, the Germans will play in the top of the World Juniors next year and the Kazakhs in Division I-A.
Rudolfs Berzkalns, LAT
One of six Latvians who played up in January, Berzkalns is part of a young cohort of Latvians from whom big things can be expected in the coming years. The 17-year-old has been playing in for Muskegon in the USHL this year, with an eye on NCAA next season. Latvia finished a solid 7th in Ottawa.
Martins Klaucans, LAT
Klaucans won’t turn 17 until July, but he’s already played himself into the Latvian pipeline of talent. He didn’t get any points at the World Juniors, but he earned nearly ten minutes a game at age 16. He also played at last year’s U18 in Finland.
Olivers Murnieks, LAT
Murnieks tied for second in team scoring with four points and led the team with a +4 rating in Ottawa. He, too, has been in the USHL, and had a great year with Sioux City. This will be his second U18 as well.
Roberts Naudins, LAT
He won’t turn 17 until November, but Naudins has been taking the Sidney Crosby route, skating at Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school in Minnesota.
Krisjanis Sarts, LAT
Another reliable young blueliner, Sarts has been playing with Klaucans at St. Cloud in the NAHL. He also played at the 2024 WM18, helping the Latvians to a solid 8th-place finish.
Daniels Serkins, LAT
Serkins scored the lone goal against the U.S. at the 2024 U18s and again against Norway. Although he didn’t register a point in Ottawa, the 17-year-old must consider himself something of a leader this year.
Jan Chovan, SVK
Chovan helped the Slovaks advance to the bronze-medal game of the 2024 U18s, falling just short against Sweden. He scored only once at the World Juniors, but it was monumental, a third-period score that broke a 1-1 tie against Switzerland. That win gave the Slovaks a superior place in the final preliminary standings.
Luka Radivojevic, SVK
The only player in Frisco who is doing the double-double, Radivojevic played in both the U18 and World Juniors in 2024 as well, making this year’s U18 his fourth junior tournament by the age of 18.
Tobias Tomik, SVK
Tomik tied for second in team scoring at last year’s U18, although the 17-year-old had a limited role in Ottawa. Nevertheless, he is back for a second tour on a team happy to have his experience.
Jonah Neuenschwander, SUI
Neuenschwander played in three of the Swiss’s five games at the World Juniors, but he did so at age 15 years, 292 days, making him the third-youngest ever to play U20 (after Viktor Alexandrov and Konstantin Zakharov). It goes without saying his future is bright. He just turned 16 and could still play at the U18 in 2025 and 2026!
Here's a look at this special group of players who are playing in their second junior level event of the season.
Jack Ivankovic, CAN
The goalie's stock has been on the rise over the last year. Last year he was the third goalie at the U18 and didn’t play. At the last World Juniors, he got into one game, losing to Latvia, 3-2, in an eight-shot shootout on 27 December. He has had an excellent season with the Brampton Steelheads in the OPHL and is here now as the likely number-one goalie for Canada.
Vojtech Cihar, CZE
Cihar had a goal and two points in Ottawa while averaging nearly seven minutes a game. The Czechs defeated Sweden, 3-2, in a shootout to take the bronze.
Adam Novotny, CZE
Ironically, Novotny and Cihar scored 30 seconds apart during Czechia’s dominant 14-2 win over Kazakhstan at the World Juniors, the only goals for both players during that tournament.
Carlos Handel, GER
Now 18, Handel not only played at the World Juniors in January—he led the team in ice time. The defender clocked an average of 22:41 a game, and although he was held without a point he proved to be one of the team’s bright spots and helped the team avoid demotion. He has been playing in the Q with the Halifax Mooseheads this season.
David Lewandowski, GER
Lewandowski scored two goals in Ottawa, one against the U.S. and the other against Latvia, late in the game to tie the score and send the game to overtime. As well, the left winger had an excellent rookie season with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL.
Maxim Schafer, GER
Schafer also had two goals, both coming in a crucial 4-3 win over Kazakhstan in the relegation game. As a result of Schafer’s contributions, the Germans will play in the top of the World Juniors next year and the Kazakhs in Division I-A.
Rudolfs Berzkalns, LAT
One of six Latvians who played up in January, Berzkalns is part of a young cohort of Latvians from whom big things can be expected in the coming years. The 17-year-old has been playing in for Muskegon in the USHL this year, with an eye on NCAA next season. Latvia finished a solid 7th in Ottawa.
Martins Klaucans, LAT
Klaucans won’t turn 17 until July, but he’s already played himself into the Latvian pipeline of talent. He didn’t get any points at the World Juniors, but he earned nearly ten minutes a game at age 16. He also played at last year’s U18 in Finland.
Olivers Murnieks, LAT
Murnieks tied for second in team scoring with four points and led the team with a +4 rating in Ottawa. He, too, has been in the USHL, and had a great year with Sioux City. This will be his second U18 as well.
Roberts Naudins, LAT
He won’t turn 17 until November, but Naudins has been taking the Sidney Crosby route, skating at Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school in Minnesota.
Krisjanis Sarts, LAT
Another reliable young blueliner, Sarts has been playing with Klaucans at St. Cloud in the NAHL. He also played at the 2024 WM18, helping the Latvians to a solid 8th-place finish.
Daniels Serkins, LAT
Serkins scored the lone goal against the U.S. at the 2024 U18s and again against Norway. Although he didn’t register a point in Ottawa, the 17-year-old must consider himself something of a leader this year.
Jan Chovan, SVK
Chovan helped the Slovaks advance to the bronze-medal game of the 2024 U18s, falling just short against Sweden. He scored only once at the World Juniors, but it was monumental, a third-period score that broke a 1-1 tie against Switzerland. That win gave the Slovaks a superior place in the final preliminary standings.
Luka Radivojevic, SVK
The only player in Frisco who is doing the double-double, Radivojevic played in both the U18 and World Juniors in 2024 as well, making this year’s U18 his fourth junior tournament by the age of 18.
Tobias Tomik, SVK
Tomik tied for second in team scoring at last year’s U18, although the 17-year-old had a limited role in Ottawa. Nevertheless, he is back for a second tour on a team happy to have his experience.
Jonah Neuenschwander, SUI
Neuenschwander played in three of the Swiss’s five games at the World Juniors, but he did so at age 15 years, 292 days, making him the third-youngest ever to play U20 (after Viktor Alexandrov and Konstantin Zakharov). It goes without saying his future is bright. He just turned 16 and could still play at the U18 in 2025 and 2026!