With the World Junior Championship less than three weeks away from kicking off, all teams involved will be producing rosters. Countries like the United States have published a preliminary roster, while other countries like Sweden have posted formal rosters.
Team USA produced their preliminary roster last week, which included Philadelphia Flyers prospect, Shane Vansaghi. One of 4 second round picks from this summer’s draft, Vansaghi seemingly edged out Carter Amico and Jack Murtagh for a chance at cracking the World Junior roster.
It’s been a slow start for the Flyers product as Vansaghi has a goal and 6 points in 16 games for Michigan State University in the Big 10, but it’s still a good sign that he’s being recognized by USA Hockey. However, it will be a tough roster to crack with the likes of Cole Eiserman, James Hagens, Ryker Lee, Will Horcoff, and Cole McKinney making noise.
Nevertheless, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler does believe that Vansaghi has a chance of securing a 4th line spot as a rookie.
The United States will be entering as one of the tournament’s favourites, having won the last 2 tournaments in 2024 and 2025. Going for a three-peat will be difficult, but it certainly helps that they will be hosting the event, which will take centre stage in Minnesota.
However, they will be in for some stiff competition against their rivals to the north, as Canada is expected to house a very deep and loaded roster, which should include top Flyers prospect Porter Martone, as well as potential 2026 first overall pick Gavin McKenna, among others.
Canada posted their training camp roster, which featured a star-studded array of talent, as they look to avenge last year’s 5th place finish on home soil.
Hockey Canada pulled no punches with a roster that includes the likes of McKenna, Martone, Caleb Desnoyers, Tij Iginla, Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin, Kashawn Aitcheson, Keaton Verhoeff, and Cameron Reid amongst others.
Additionally, the Flyers will have one more representative in Jett Luchanko, as he will be a returning member from last year’s disappointing tournament.
He was recently traded from the Guelph Storm to the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL and has had a solid start with the league’s best team, as he’s collected 5 points in 5 games as he continues to get acclimated.
As for the European nations, the Flyers will have a representative from Team Sweden in prospect Jack Berglund, as he joins a stacked offensive unit that also comprises Anton Frondell, Victor Eklund, and draft eligible Viggo Björck and Ivar Stenberg.
Berglund has started out his 2025-26 season in the SHL with Färjestad BK, where he has tallied 3 goals and 5 points in 22 games. He is coming off a 2024-25 campaign, whereupon he produced 22 points in 15 games for Färjestad BK J20 in the J20 Nationell, as well as 3 points in 17 games in the SHL. At just 19-years-old, Berglund already has 47 games of experience in the top-flight league, which should bode well for his development.
Team Finland has yet to provide their roster, preliminary or otherwise, but it expected that Flyers prospect Heikki Ruohonen should make the roster. The 2024 fourth round pick has 5 points in 11 games for Harvard University, but really stood out during the World Junior Summer Showcase, and should feature prominently.
Max Westergård is another option for Finland, the 18-year-old has produced 21 points in 12 games for Frolunda HC U20 in the U20 Nationell, but has gone pointless in 15 appearances for Frolunda in the SHL. Nevertheless, his early surge in the U20 Nationell is a great improvement from last year’s 19 goals and 50 points that he tallied in 41 games.
This year’s tournament will run from the 26th of December through to the 5th of January in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The hosts will be in Group A with Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Germany, whereas Finland headlines Group B with Czechia, Canada, Latvia, and Denmark. The groups were seeded from last year’s finishes where the United States came first, Finland were the runner-ups, and Canada finished 5th.
The tournament kicks off on the 26th of December with 4 games in. total, which includes all the teams that should feature Flyers prospects. Sweden will start off the festivities against Slovakia, followed by Denmark against the Finns, then Germany versus the Americans, and then Canada against Czechia.
