Twenty games have been played at the 2025 IIHF World Men's Under-18 Championship, and it's time to check in with the two men who have been watching the action closely in Allen and Frisco, Texas. Andrew Podnieks and Chris Jurewicz of IIHF.com have been asked to break down the tournament with the quarter-finals looming.
What team has impressed you the most through the preliminary round?
CJ: Team USA. The squad is just loaded with goal scorers, puck movers, and playmakers. This is an incredibly fun team to watch.
There has been a lot of talk about the bloodlines of this American team. LJ Mooney is a cousin of Logan Cooley; Will Horcoff is the son of former NHLer Shawn; Cullen Potter is the son of Jenny Potter, an American female hockey legend; Blake Fiddler is the son of former NHLer Vern.
But skill and bloodlines aren’t enough unless you have a coach that can bring it all together. And it seems like Greg Moore has this group rolling.
AP: For me, it’s been Sweden. They had a tough time against the U.S., but besides that they have scored seemingly as will and have been super fun to watch. Filip Ekberg leads the tournament in goals (7) and points (13), and six of the top 13 scorers are Swedish. And many of their gaols have come off nice passes. Not too many ugly goals. The power play has been incredible. It could be a difference maker in the playoffs.
What about the most impressive player so far?
AP: I like the way Sascha Boumedienne has played. He’s a defender, tall and lanky with lots of body to fill out in the coming years. But he’s a great skater, and when he gets into trouble—and he does sometimes; he’s 18, after all—he can use his footspeed to solve the problem. You can tell he will be a player to watch for many years to come.
CJ: Smaller defencemen are making waves in the NHL these days, with much of the current playoff focus on Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens. Hutson, a 5-foot-9 American d-man who played in the World Under-18 Championships in 2021 and 2022, has become a fan favourite in Montreal, with his skating and puck-handling ability rivalling that of Quinn Hughes.
Xavier Villeneuve is turning a lot of heads in Texas with similar ability and has become a player to watch each time he steps on the ice with Team Canada. Villeneuve posted 62 points, including 12 goals, in 61 games with Blainville-Boisbriand of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League this season and isn’t eligible until the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. It’s the most productive season for a defenseman in their 17-year-old season in the league over the past 35 years. A star in the making.
“He’s got some crazy moves, it’s impressive to watch in the o-zone,” said Jackson Smith, one of Villeneuve’s teammates.
Any standout plays/goals/saves through the first six days of action in Texas?
CJ: The LJ Mooney Savardian Spin was my favourite. I have to admit I felt a bit bad for the Swiss player trying to cover Mooney on that play, but LJ pulled the ol’ ankle-breaker on him. Hey, it happens.
The spinorama alone is worth the watch, but Mooney’s bar-down finish makes it even better. A thing of beauty.
AP: There have been plenty of goals, so there is no great save that sticks out in my mind, the kind where you crane your neck to look at the scoreboard for the replay.
But for goals, one that stands out is Germany’s Dustin Willhoft’s goal against the Swiss. It came on a penalty shot late in the second period. First, he made a great play to break free and draw the penalty. And then, when coach Patrick Reimer tapped him to take it, he made no mistake. Perfect delay and then shot. That gave the Germans a 4-2 lead, and they won the game, 5-4. It put them in the playoffs and the Swiss in the relegation game, so it was a huge goal.
Who are your picks to play for gold and bronze on 3 May?
CJ: How does anyone bet against the defending champions from Canada? I’ve got three reasons. Michael Misa, Matthew Schafer, and Landon DuPont. Those three players were all eligible to play for Team Canada but aren’t in Texas. That said, Canada still has Jack Ivankovic in net and his great play at the 2025 World Juniors and current run at the U18s convinces me that it’s enough to put Canada in the gold-medal game. Ivankovic also has a balanced team in front of him that is getting goals from up and down the lineup.
Their opponent? It has to be Team USA. Fans will be treated to a rematch of the 2024 final, which saw Canada overcome a 3-2 deficit in the third period to beat the United States 6-4 for gold.
For bronze, I’m taking Sweden and Slovakia.
AP: Well, if you look at the QF matchups, I think the favourites will win. That means Canada (1), United States (2), Sweden (3), and Slovakia (4). After re-seeding, this will produce semi-finals games of Canada-Slovakia and United States-Sweden. Canada will take care of Slovakia, I think, and despite Sweden’s firepower I just can’t see the U.S. losing. That will set up a re-match from last year for gold! Too close to call. Sweden takes the bronze.
Who will be relegated to WMU18 Division 1 in 2026?
AP: The Swiss haven’t been demoted since 2006, and even though they haven’t had a great tournament, I just can’t see them going down. Norway has been up three years now, but before that were in I-A for the better part of a decade. The Norwegians have scored just four goals (Switzerland, nine).
CJ: I agree--it will be Norway. I was impressed with their showing against Canada, especially the first and most of the second periods. Norway was able to generate some chances in that game, but it’s been the same story for the team at this event. It can’t score goals. The Swiss haven’t been on fire either, but I give them the advantage.