The rosters for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship have been announced, featuring top NHL prospects from 29 of 32 teams as the tournament begins December 26 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The United States aims for a third straight gold medal with eight returning players, while Canada is favored to reclaim the title after two fifth-place finishes. Highlighted prospects include Gavin McKenna for Canada and Anton Frondell for Sweden.
The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship kicks off on December 26, 2025, marking the 50th edition of the tournament and the first time it returns to the United States since 1982. Hosted at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis and Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, the event features 10 nations divided into two groups: Group A (United States, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland) and Group B (Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Latvia). The top four teams from each group advance to quarterfinals on January 2, with semifinals on January 4 and medal games on January 5.
Rosters include 29 of the NHL's 32 teams, with the Nashville Predators and Utah Mammoth leading with seven prospects each. The Predators' group features first-round picks Brady Martin, Cameron Reid, and Ryker Lee, plus returning forward Teddy Stiga, who scored the overtime winner in the 2025 gold-medal game for the U.S. Utah's prospects include Tij Iginla, Cole Beaudoin, and Caleb Desnoyers for Canada, alongside Czech forwards Stepan Hoch and Max Psenicka. The Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals each have six representatives.
The U.S. roster, announced December 24, includes eight players from the 2025 gold-medal team, such as forwards James Hagens (Boston Bruins) and Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders), and defensemen Cole Hutson (Washington Capitals) and Logan Hensler (Ottawa Senators). Coach Bob Motzko emphasized the expectation of gold: "Winning is the expectation." The team opens against Germany on December 26.
Canada boasts depth with 13 first-round NHL picks, led by projected 2026 No. 1 draft pick Gavin McKenna, who aims to help rebound from recent disappointments. NHL.com writers unanimously predict Canada to win gold, potentially defeating the U.S. or Sweden in the final. Sweden's Anton Frondell (Chicago Blackhawks) and Ivar Stenberg (2026 draft eligible) headline Group A favorites.
Finland returns silver-medal goalie Petteri Rimpinen (Los Angeles Kings), while Denmark features Florida Panthers prospect Mads Kongsbak Klyvo in their return to the top division. Switzerland has NHL draftees like Elijah Neuenschwander (Anaheim Ducks) and Christian Kirsch (San Jose Sharks). All games air on NHL Network in the U.S. and TSN in Canada.
