The Calgary Flames do not have many prospects competing at the 2025 World Junior Championship tournament. However, there’s still a lot of things for Flames fans to pay attention to at this event – in addition to anticipating Axel Hurtig’s star-making performance at the event.

With that in mind, we decided to put together a handy preview of the event, breaking down each team in each group based on how many Flames prospects they have (oof), how many other NHL prospects they have, and perhaps most importantly, how many first-time 2025 NHL Draft eligible prospects they have.

Let’s dive in!

Group A teams

Group A features Canada, Finland, Germany, Latvia and the United States.

Canada

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: G Carson Bjarnason (PHI), G Carter George (LAK), D Beau Akey (EDM), D Oliver Bonk (PHI), D Sam Dickinson (SJS), D Andrew Gibson (NSH), D Tanner Molendyk (NSH), D Sawyer Mynio (VAN), D Caden Price (SEA), F Cole Beaudoin (UTA), F Mathieu Cataford (VGK), F Berkly Catton (SEA), F Easton Cowen (TOR), F Ethan Gauthier (TBL), F Tanner Howe (PIT), F Jett Luchanko (PHI), F Bradly Nadeau (CAR), F Luca Pinelli (CBJ), F Carson Rehkopf (SEA), F Calum Ritchie (COL) & F Brayden Yager (WPG)
2025 Draft prospects: G Jack Ivankovic, D Matthew Schaefer, F Porter Martone

Canada did not medal in 2024, finishing fifth. If you want a local reason to cheer for Canada, Tanner Howe plays for the Hitmen. If you want a reason to perhaps doubt Canada, they cut Flames first-rounder Zayne Parekh at the end of selection camp. Canada has a ton of high-end talent to choose from, but you have to imagine there will be roster criticism if they do anything but win gold. (Keep an eye on Schaefer and Martone, who have worked their way into first-overall territory for 2025 with their seasons thus far.)

Finland

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: G Kim Saarinen (SEA), D Kalle Kangus (PIT), D Aron Kiviharju (MIN), D Emil Pieniniemi (PIT), D Sebastian Soini (MIN), D Veeti Vaisanen (UTA), F Kasper Halttunen (SJS), F Konsta Helenius (BUF), F Emil Hemming (DAL), F Jesse Kiiskinen (DET), F Rasmus Kumpulainen (MIN), F Julius Miettinen (SEA), F Jesse Nurmi (NYI), F Heikki Ruohonen (PHI), F Joona Saarelainen (TBL) & F Tuomas Uronen (VGK)
2025 Draft prospects: none

Finland finished fourth in 2024, losing in the bronze medal game to Czechia. They’re bringing an older group, skewing towards 19-year-olds, but they have a pretty balanced roster overall.

Germany

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: D Norwin Panocha (BUF)
2025 Draft prospects: D Carlos Handel, D Rio Kaiser, F Maxim Schafer, F David Lewandowski, F Lenny Boos

Germany finished ninth in 2024, beating Norway in overtime in the relegation playoff to remain in this year’s tournament. They’ll probably in the relegation mix again.

Latvia

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: D Darels Uljanskis (ANA), F Eriks Mateiko (WSH)
2025 Draft prospects: D Krisjanis Sarts, F Daniels Serkins, F Bruno Osmanis, F Dmitrijs Dilevka

Latvia finished eighth in 2024. They’ll probably be battling it out with Germany (a) for the last quarterfinal spot in their group and (b) to avoid going to the relegation playoff.

United States

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: G Trey Augustine (DET), G Hampton Slukynsky (LAK), D Zeev Buium (MIN), D Paul Fischer (EDM), D Drew Fortescue (NYR), D Cole Hutson (WSH), D Adam Kleber (BUF), D Aram Minnetian (DAL), D Colin Ralph (STL), F Austin Burnevik (ANA), F Trevor Connelly (VGK), F Cole Eiserman (NYI), F Ryan Leonard (WSH), F Oliver Moore (CHI), F Danny Nelson (NYI), F Gabe Perreault (NYR), F Max Plante (DET), F Teddy Stiga (NSH), F Brandon Svoboda (SJS), F Carey Terrance (ANA), F Joey Willis (NSH) & F Brodie Ziemer (BUF)
2025 Draft prospects: D Logan Hensler, F James Hagens

The Americans won gold last year and are bringing nine players from the gold medal team to Ottawa. They have a strong, deep team. Draft fans will want to get a look at Hensler and Hagens against high-end competition.

Group B teams

Group B features Czechia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Czechia

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: G Michael Hrabal (UTA), G Jakub Milota (NSH), D Jakub Dvorak (LAK), D Jakub Fibigr (SEA), F Adam Jiricek (STL), D Vojtech Port (ANA), F Jiri Felcman (CHI), F Miroslav Holinka (TOR), F Vojtech Hradec (UTA), F Adam Jecho (STL), F Ondrej Kos (STL), F Eduard Sale (SEA), F Petr Sikora (WSH) & F Jakub Stancl (STL)
2025 Draft prospects: F Vojtech Cihar

Czechia captured bronze in 2024. They’re bringing a fairly veteran group, including many, many NHL-drafted players.

Kazakhstan

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: G Vladimir Nikitin (OTT)
2025 Draft prospects: G Danil Lytkin, D Sanzhar Ibragim

Kazkahstan won the Division 1A World Juniors last year to win promotion to this year’s tournament, replacing Norway. They’ll be in tough to remain in the top division.

Slovakia

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: D Maxim Strbak (BUF), F Dalibor Dvorsky (STL), F Juraj Pekarcik (STL), F Miroslav Satan (WSH)
2025 Draft prospects: G Michal Pradel, D Luka Radivojevic, F Jan Chovan, F Tomas Pobezal

Slovakia finished sixth in 2024. They’re likely going to be competitive, but they could struggle against deeper teams like Czechia and Sweden.

Sweden

Flames prospects: D Axel Hurtig
NHL prospects: G Marcus Gidlof (NYI), G Melvin Strahl (CBJ), G Melker Thelin (UTA), D Rasmus Bergqvist (MTL), D Viggo Gustafsson (NSH), D Theo Lindstein (STL), D Axel Sandin-Pellikka (DET), D Tom Willander (VAN), F David Edstrom (NSH), F Linus Eriksson (FLA), F Zeb Forsfjall (SEA), F Felix Nilsson (NSH), F Otto Stenberg (STL), F Herman Traff (NJD), F Felix Unger Sorum (CAR), F Oskar Vuollet (CAR) & F Anton Wahlberg (BUF)
2025 Draft prospects: F Victor Eklund

Sweden lost to the Americans in the final last year, earning a silver medal on home ice. They’ll be looking for revenge, and their roster is pretty deep. Hurtig looks to be starting as Sweden’s seventh defender. Keep an eye on Eklund, who’s highly-regarded by draft experts.

Switzerland

Flames prospects: none
NHL prospects: G Christian Kirsch (SJS), D Leon Muggli (WSH), D Basile Sansonnens (VAN) & F Rico Gredig (NYR)
2025 Draft prospects: G Elijah Neuenschwander

The Swiss finished seventh a year ago. They have a pretty good team, but arguably lack the depth to make a big splash at this event.

The schedule

All times are Mountain:

Dec. 26: Slovakia vs. Sweden (10 a.m., TSN1/5), United States vs. Germany (12:30 p.m., TSN1/4), Czechia vs. Switzerland (3 p.m., TSN1/5), Finland vs. Canada (5:30 p.m., TSN1/4/5)
Dec. 27: Switzerland vs. Slovakia (11 a.m., TSN1/5), Germany vs. Finland (1:30 p.m., TSN4), Sweden vs. Kazakhstan (3 p.m., TSN1/5), Latvia vs. Canada (5:30 p.m., TSN1/4/5)
Dec. 28: Kazakhstan vs. Czechia (11 a.m., TSN1), Latvia vs. United States (1:30 p.m., TSN1/5)
Dec. 29: Switzerland vs. Sweden (10 a.m., TSN1), United States vs. Finland (12:30 p.m., TSN4), Czechia vs. Slovakia (3 p.m., TSN1), Canada vs. Germany (5:30 p.m., TSN1/4)
Dec. 30: Slovakia vs. Kazakhstan (11 a.m., TSN1/4), Germany vs. Latvia (1:30 p.m., TSN1/5)
Dec. 31: Kazakhstan vs. Switzerland (10 a.m., TSN1/5), Finland vs. Latvia (12:30 p.m., TSN1/4), Sweden vs. Czechia (3 p.m., TSN1/5), Canada vs. United States (6 p.m., TSN1/4/5/CTV)
Jan. 2: Relegation game (9 a.m., TSN4), Quarter finals (10 a.m., 12:30 a.m., 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m.; various TSN channels)
Jan. 4: Semi-finals (1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., TSN1/4/5)
Jan. 5: Bronze medal game (1:30 p.m., TSN1/4), gold medal game (5:30 p.m., TSN1/4/5)

Which country are you rooting for at the 2025 World Juniors? Which player are you most excited to see at this event? Let us know in the comments!

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