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Can Zayne Parekh and Cole Reschny lead Canada to gold at the 2026 World Juniors?
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Dec 25, 2025, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 24, 2025, 20:29 EST
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It’s the holiday season, friends, and when it comes to the world of hockey, that means one of the best tournaments in sports: the IIHF’s World Junior Championship!
Held every year, the World Juniors pit the 10 top under-20 national teams head-to-head for supremacy, glory, and medals. If you want a preview of the upcoming NHL Draft, or a snapshot of the quality and quantity of prospects on their way to the NHL, the World Junior is a tremendous event. Plus, the hockey is fantastic.
The Calgary Flames will be represented by 2024 first-round pick Zayne Parekh and 2025 first-round pick Cole Reschny, who are both suiting up with Team Canada at this year’s event. But we ran through the rosters and schedule to provide a quick rundown of this year’s festivities.
For a more detailed snapshot, head over to Daily Faceoff, where our pal Steven Ellis is on the ground in Minnesota for the whole tournament! We also recommend Steven’s recent Top 50 ranking for the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft, as many of the top prospects are in action at the World Juniors.

The teams

Generally-speaking, the teams with more NHL prospects on them are more competitive at the World Juniors. But there are always exceptions, and those exceptions can lead to chaos in a short tournament like this.
Canada
  • NHL Prospects: G Carter George (LAK), G Jack Ivankovic (NSH), G Joshua Ravensbergen (SJS), D Kashawn Aitcheson (NYI), D Harrison Brunicke (PIT), D Ben Danford (TOR), D Zayne Parekh (CGY), D Cameron Reid (NSH), F Carter Bear (DET), F Cole Beaudoin (UTA), F Braeden Cootes (VAN), F Caleb Desnoyers (UTA), F Liam Greentree (LAK), F Michael Hage (MTL), F Tij Iginla (UTA), F Jett Luchanko (PHI), F Brady Martin (NSH), F Porter Martone (PHI), F Michael Misa (SJS), F Sam O’Reilly (TBL) and F Cole Reschny (CGY)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: D Carson Carels (7th, DFO), D Keaton Verhoeff (2nd, DFO), F Gavin McKenna (1st, DFO)
Czechia
  • NHL Prospects: D Vashek Blanar (BOS), D Jakub Fibigr (SEA), D Adam Jiricek (STL), D Radim Mrtka (BUF), D Max Psenicka (UTA), F Adam Benak (MIN), F Vojtech Cihar (LAK), F Max Curran (COL), F Stepan Hoch (UTA), F Adam Jecho (STL), F Vaclav Nestracik (CHI), F Tomas Poletin (NYI) and F Petr Sikora (WSH)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: D Vladimir Dravecky (40th, DFO), F Adam Novotny (15th, DFO)
Denmark
  • NHL Prospects: F Mads Kongsbak Klyvo (FLA)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: none
Finland
  • NHL Prospects: G Petteri Rimpinen (LAK), G Kim Saarinen (SEA), D Lasse Boelius (ANA), D Aron Kiviharju (MIN), D Daniel Nieminen (NSH), D Veeti Vaisanen (UTA), F Emil Hemming (DAL), F Atte Joki (DAL), F Aatos Koivu (MTL), F Julius Miettinen (SEA), F Kasper Pikkarinen (NJD), F Heikki Ruohonen (PHI), F Joona Saarelainen (TBL) and F Max Westergard (PHI)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: D Juho Piiparinen (20th, DFO), F Oliver Suvanto (16th, DFO)
Germany
  • NHL Prospects: D Carlos Handel (MTL), F David Lewandowski (EDM), F Maxim Schafer (WSH)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: none
Latvia
  • NHL Prospects: G Mikus Vecvanags (MTL), D Darels Ujanskis (ANA)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: F Alberts Smits (8th, DFO)
Slovakia
  • NHL Prospects: G Michal Pradel (DET), F Jan Chovan (LAK), F Michal Svrcek (DET)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: D Adam Goljer (34th, DFO), F Tomas Chrenko (23rd, DFO)
Sweden
  • NHL Prospects: G Mans Goos (DAL), G Love Harenstam (STL), D Sasha Boumedienne (WPG), D Alfons Freij (WPG), D Viggo Gustafsson (NSH), D Victor Johansson (TOR), D Leo Sahlin Wallenius (SJS), F Jack Berglund (PHI), F Wilson Bjorck (VAN), F Victor Eklund (NYI), F Linus Eriksson (FLA), F Anton Frondell (CHI), F Eddie Genborg (DET), F Milton Gastrin (WSH), F Loke Krantz (SEA), F Eric Nilson (ANA) and F Lucas Pettersson (ANA)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: D William Hakansson (29th, DFO), F Viggo Bjorck (24th, DFO), F Ivar Stenberg (3rd, DFO)
Switzerland
  • NHL Prospects: G Christian Kirsch (SJS), G Elijah Neuenschwander (ANA), D Ludwig Johnson (UTA), D Leon Muggli (WSH), D Basile Sansonnens (VAN)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: F Lars Steiner (35th, DFO)
United States
  • NHL Prospects: G Caleb Heil (TBL), G Nicholas Kempf (WSH), D Asher Barnett (EDM), D E.J. Emery (NYR), D Logan Hensler (OTT), D Cole Hutson (WSH), D Adam Kleber (BUF), D Luke Osburn (BUF), F Kamil Bednarek (NYI), F Cole Eiserman (NYI), F James Hagens (BOS), F Will Horcoff (PIT), F Ryker Lee (NSH), F Cole McKinney (SJS), F Brendan McMorrow (LAK), F L.J. Mooney (MTL), F Max Plante (DET), F A.J. Spellacy (CHI), F Teddy Stiga (NSH), F Shane Vansaghi (NSH), F Will Zellers (BOS), F Brodie Ziemer (BUF)
  • 2026 NHL Draft Prospects: D Chase Reid (6th, DFO), D Dakota Rheaume-Mullen

The schedule

Dec. 26 (Friday):
  • 11 a.m. MT: Slovakia vs. Sweden (TSN1/3)
  • 1:30 p.m. MT: Denmark vs. Finland (TSN1/4)
  • 4 p.m. MT: Germany vs. United States (TSN1/3)
  • 6:30 p.m. MT: Canada vs. Czechia (TSN2/3/4/5)
Dec. 27 (Saturday):
  • Noon MT: Germany vs. Slovakia (TSN3)
  • 2:30 p.m. MT: Latvia vs. Canada (TSN1/4)
  • 4 p.m. MT: United States vs. Switzerland (TSN3)
  • 6:30 p.m. MT: Czechia vs. Denmark (TSN1/3)
Dec. 28 (Sunday):
  • Noon MT: Switzerland vs. Sweden (TSN1)
  • 2:30 p.m. MT: Finland vs. Latvia (TSN1/3/5)
Dec. 29 (Monday):
  • 11 a.m. MT: Germany vs. Sweden (TSN1)
  • 1:30 p.m. MT: Czechia vs. Finland (TSN1/4)
  • 4 p.m. MT: United States vs. Slovakia (TSN1/2)
  • 6:30 p.m. MT: Denmark vs. Canada (TSN1/4)
Dec. 30 (Tuesday):
  • Noon MT: Switzerland vs. Germany (TSN1)
  • 2:30 p.m. MT: Denmark vs. Latvia (TSN1/3)
Dec. 31 (Wednesday):
  • 11 a.m. MT: Switzerland vs. Slovakia (TSN1/5)
  • 1:30 p.m. MT: Latvia vs. Czechia (TSN1/4)
  • 4 p.m. MT: Sweden vs. United States (TSN1/5)
  • 6:30 p.m. MT: Canada vs. Finland (TSN1/2/5, CTV)
Medal round:
  • Quarterfinals are on Jan. 2 (Friday).
  • Semi-finals are on Jan. 4 (Sunday).
  • Gold and bronze medal games are on Jan. 5 (Monday).
Which team or players are you most excited to see at the World Juniors? Let us know in the comments!

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