Expect some surprises in the preliminary round of play at the World Under-18 Championship as Czechia and Sweden look to upend the favoured Americans. And don’t sleep on the Germans or Swiss as both teams have plenty of firepower.

Czechia

Many eyes will be on Radim Mrtka during the World U18s. One reason is he’s really good at hockey. But, maybe more of a factor, is simply the space he takes on the ice. It’s hard not to look at this kid, who stands 6-foot-6, weighs over 200 pounds and is a force on the ice.

Team Czechia will go as far as Mrtka can take them. Following two seasons with Trinec Ocelari HC, the right-shot defenceman spent the 2024-25 season in Canada’s Western Hockey League with the Regina Pats, posting impressive totals of three goals and 35 points in 43 games.

No surprise that the towering D is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. All the tools are there.

The Czechs are trying to return to the podium at U18s for the first time since 2014, when they won silver. Surprisingly, Czechia has own but four medals all-time at U18s, one silver and three bronze.

Germany

The Germans moved into this year’s main event by winning gold at the 2024 U18 World Championship Division 1A. Seven players from that team are back this year as Germany attempts to surprise some opponents and pundits by making noise on the main stage.

For Germany to be able to make it to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament, they’ll need strong performances from three leaders – defenceman Carlos Händel and forwards David Lewandowski and Maxim Schäfer. The trio represented its country at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and helped Germany stave off relegation with a 4-3 win over Kazakhstan. Lewandowski and Schäfer each scored two goals in that tournament and all three players are 2007-borns who competed in a tournament heavily populated by players two years older.

One other Germany to watch at U18s is Max Penkin, a double-underager at this event who will likely hear his name called at the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.

Sweden

Team Sweden has been a model of consistency and you can look at that in one of two ways.

Glass half full – the Swedes consistently earn medals at U18s, reaching the podium at each of the past six events and 10 of the last 14 World U18s.

Glass half empty – only one of those medals is gold, that win coming for the Swedes at the 2022 tournament in Germany.

The 2025 edition of Team Sweden is expected to have three returning players from last year’s squad that won bronze in Finland. Goaltender Love Harenstam (Skelleftea AIK), defenceman Karl Annborn (HV71) and forward Jakob Ihs Wozniak, who was born in Adelaide, Australia and plays in Sweden’s Lulea program, are back for another shot at gold.

Switzerland

The Swiss earned three top-four finishes in the first three years the World U18s was held, including its lone medal at this tournament – bronze in 2001. It would take 14 years for Switzerland to get back amongst the top four when the nation finished fourth in 2015 on home soil.

So, while the country has consistently competed in this event year to year, the Swiss haven’t had much medal success.

Switzerland reached the quarterfinals at last year’s tournament before bowing out with a 4-0 loss to the United States. This year’s team is completely different, with no returnees from the 2024 squad.

Defenceman Finn Bichsel is expected to carry a heavy load. The brother of Dallas Stars prospect Lian, Finn had three goals and 13 points in 45 games in his rookie season with EHC Biel-Bienne U20. Two other players to watch are forwards Mike Aeschlimann (SCL Tigers) and goaltender Matia Birchler (EV Zug), both of whom could be taken in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

United States

Last year’s silver medalists are always one of the teams to watch and often a favourite at the U18s. This year is no different, especially as the team tries to win gold on home soil in front of its fans.

The Americans will try to add to their medal haul which totals 20 in the 25-year history of this tournament. That includes 11 gold medals, by far the most of any country.

It won’t be easy. Maybe a wakeup call already occurred with Team USA, as it dropped its first exhibition game, 4-3 in overtime to underdog Norway on April 16.

“That was a reminder that any team can win on any given day at this tournament,” said Greg Moore, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team. “We are fortunate this was a pre-tournament game.”

Alas, the Americans should be just fine when the real bullets fly. The team will feature a lot of skill, perhaps led by forwards Cullen Potter (Arizona State University) and Jack Murtagh (Boston University), along with defenceman Blake Fiddler (Edmonton Oil Kings), three players who should be taken in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

The United States leads the tournament with 11 championships followed by Canada with five championships, Finland with four, Russia with three, and Sweden with two. Team USA also has six silver medals and three bronze. That’s 20 medals in 25 events for the Red, White and Blue, the most of any country.