photo: USA Hockey
The 2025 edition of the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship gets underway tomorrow with four games, two at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, and two at Credit Union of Texas Event Center (CUTX) in nearby Allen, Texas.
For now, we can look back at what the teams have been doing on ice to prepare for the tournament. All teams played at least one exhibition game.
16 April/Finland 6-Switzerland 2
The Finns fell behind 2-0 early and then rattled off six goals the rest of the way to start their tournament in impressive fashion. Jonah Neuenschwander and Fabrice Bouvard scored in the first eleven minutes for the Swiss, but shortly after Suomi scored twice in 21 seconds to tie the game. Scorers were Matias Vanhanen and Aapo Katavisto.
The Finns got two more in the second, including another from Vanhanen, and added another in the third. Both goalies went the distance, Patrik Kerkkola for Finland and Jovin Trachsel for the Swiss.
16 April/Norway 4-United States 3 (OT)
It was only an exhibition game, but it was a big win for Norway all the same. They fell behind 3-0 early, but fought their way back and defeated the heavy favourites.
“Today was a reminder that any team can win on any given day at this tournament," said U.S. head coach Greg Moore. "We are fortunate this was a pre-tournament game. Norway played hard and made it difficult on us. We will get to work tomorrow in practice and address the areas in which we need to improve.”
The Norwegians made it 3-1 before the end of the first, and that’s the way the game went until the final 90 seconds when the underdogs scored twice with their net empty and an extra attacker. Then, midway through the short fourth period, the Norwegians scored again to win, 4-3.
19 April/Sweden 6-Latvia 1
Eddie Genborg scored two goals late in the second period to send Sweden on its way to a solid victory over Latvia. Although Sweden held a 1-0 lead after the first, Latvia tied the game early in the second on a Karlis Flugnins goal. But Genborg got his first goal three minutes later to restore the Sweden lead and added his second with only 38 seconds left in the period to make it 4-1.
The Swedes counted two late goals in the third to close out the scoring. Love Harenstam stopped 17 of 18 shots for the winners while Ivans Kufterins played the full game for Latvia in defeat.
19 April/Canada 12-Germany 4
Some 14 players had at least one point in Canada’s impressive victory. Ryan Roobroeck, Ethan Czata, and Pierce Mbuyi all had two goals while Jack Ivankovic and Burke Hood shared the goaltending duties.
“When we had the opportunity to score, we took advantage, had some great shots and we moved the puck around the offensive zone quite well,” said head coach Cory Stillman. “There are some things to clean up for sure, especially right after scoring a goal. We can’t allow them to come right back the next shift. Overall, a good start, but as a coach you don’t always want to get into those high-scoring games.”
21 April/United States 4-Finland 1
The hosts skated to a convincing 4-0 lead before allowing a power-play goal midway through the third period. Will Horcoff scored twice for the winners, while Patrick Quinlan (two periods) and Joey Slavick (third period) shared the crease duties.
“I liked our energy to start the game," said coach Moore. "We had great puck pressure with guys using their speed and being physical. Today’s game was a good step in our process and how we want to play going into the tournament.”
21 April/Slovakia 2-Switzerland 1
Slovakia dominated this game despite the close score, outshooting the Swiss 29-15 and losing the shutout with only three minutes left in the game. Alex Misiak got the Slovaks on the board early and Kristian Kriska added a second goal late in the second.
Michal Pradel and Samuel Hrenak split the crease time for Slovakia while Matia Birchler played the whole game for the Swiss, which lost for the second time.
21 April/Sweden 8-Canada 3
Canada had a 2-1 lead after the first period, but then the Swedes scored five unanswered goals in the second to take control. Viktor Klingsell had a hat trick for the winners and teammate Milton Gastrin had a goal and three assists. Jack Ivankovic allowed six of the goals, and at the other end Mans Goos stopped 19 of 20 shots in half a game. The ending was a little chippy and there were ten power plays in all.
For now, we can look back at what the teams have been doing on ice to prepare for the tournament. All teams played at least one exhibition game.
16 April/Finland 6-Switzerland 2
The Finns fell behind 2-0 early and then rattled off six goals the rest of the way to start their tournament in impressive fashion. Jonah Neuenschwander and Fabrice Bouvard scored in the first eleven minutes for the Swiss, but shortly after Suomi scored twice in 21 seconds to tie the game. Scorers were Matias Vanhanen and Aapo Katavisto.
The Finns got two more in the second, including another from Vanhanen, and added another in the third. Both goalies went the distance, Patrik Kerkkola for Finland and Jovin Trachsel for the Swiss.
16 April/Norway 4-United States 3 (OT)
It was only an exhibition game, but it was a big win for Norway all the same. They fell behind 3-0 early, but fought their way back and defeated the heavy favourites.
“Today was a reminder that any team can win on any given day at this tournament," said U.S. head coach Greg Moore. "We are fortunate this was a pre-tournament game. Norway played hard and made it difficult on us. We will get to work tomorrow in practice and address the areas in which we need to improve.”
The Norwegians made it 3-1 before the end of the first, and that’s the way the game went until the final 90 seconds when the underdogs scored twice with their net empty and an extra attacker. Then, midway through the short fourth period, the Norwegians scored again to win, 4-3.
19 April/Sweden 6-Latvia 1
Eddie Genborg scored two goals late in the second period to send Sweden on its way to a solid victory over Latvia. Although Sweden held a 1-0 lead after the first, Latvia tied the game early in the second on a Karlis Flugnins goal. But Genborg got his first goal three minutes later to restore the Sweden lead and added his second with only 38 seconds left in the period to make it 4-1.
The Swedes counted two late goals in the third to close out the scoring. Love Harenstam stopped 17 of 18 shots for the winners while Ivans Kufterins played the full game for Latvia in defeat.
19 April/Canada 12-Germany 4
Some 14 players had at least one point in Canada’s impressive victory. Ryan Roobroeck, Ethan Czata, and Pierce Mbuyi all had two goals while Jack Ivankovic and Burke Hood shared the goaltending duties.
“When we had the opportunity to score, we took advantage, had some great shots and we moved the puck around the offensive zone quite well,” said head coach Cory Stillman. “There are some things to clean up for sure, especially right after scoring a goal. We can’t allow them to come right back the next shift. Overall, a good start, but as a coach you don’t always want to get into those high-scoring games.”
21 April/United States 4-Finland 1
The hosts skated to a convincing 4-0 lead before allowing a power-play goal midway through the third period. Will Horcoff scored twice for the winners, while Patrick Quinlan (two periods) and Joey Slavick (third period) shared the crease duties.
“I liked our energy to start the game," said coach Moore. "We had great puck pressure with guys using their speed and being physical. Today’s game was a good step in our process and how we want to play going into the tournament.”
21 April/Slovakia 2-Switzerland 1
Slovakia dominated this game despite the close score, outshooting the Swiss 29-15 and losing the shutout with only three minutes left in the game. Alex Misiak got the Slovaks on the board early and Kristian Kriska added a second goal late in the second.
Michal Pradel and Samuel Hrenak split the crease time for Slovakia while Matia Birchler played the whole game for the Swiss, which lost for the second time.
21 April/Sweden 8-Canada 3
Canada had a 2-1 lead after the first period, but then the Swedes scored five unanswered goals in the second to take control. Viktor Klingsell had a hat trick for the winners and teammate Milton Gastrin had a goal and three assists. Jack Ivankovic allowed six of the goals, and at the other end Mans Goos stopped 19 of 20 shots in half a game. The ending was a little chippy and there were ten power plays in all.