U20: Team Norway 2025, Div 1A roster talk

[Fjorden]

Having started to take a look at the potential norwegian roster this year. The tournament u20 Div 1A, world junior will be played in Bled Slovenia from 9-15 December, the winner will be promoted and the loser demoted, six teams tournament. I think we can build a team that will compete for promotion around Stian Solberg and Michael Brandsegg Nygård.

Here is a list of potential players in the roster. Stian Solberg and Michael Brandsegg Nygård, my guess is that they'll play if they are in SHL and injury free. The team looks deeper on backs than last years team with two drafted backs and a good group from the swedish j20 and a player in USHL.

Forwards not as many goalscorers as last years team, but with two young potential picks in the draft with Mikkel Eriksen and Niklas Aaram Olsen(Aaaram Olsen is listed top prospect on eliteprospec, 2026 draft.)


Goalkeepers:

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Name[/TD]
[TD]Club[/TD]
[TD]League[/TD]
[TD]Eliteprospect[/TD]
[TD]Birth year[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Martin Holtet Lundberg[/TD]
[TD]Ferris State Uni[/TD]
[TD]NCAA[/TD]
[TD]Martin Holtet Lundberg - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Marius Bjørnsgård[/TD]
[TD]Stavanger u20[/TD]
[TD]Norway u20[/TD]
[TD]Marius Bjørnsgaard - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Backs:
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Name[/TD]
[TD]Club[/TD]
[TD]League[/TD]
[TD]Eliteprospect[/TD]
[TD]Birth Year[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stian Solberg[/TD]
[TD]Färjestad[/TD]
[TD]SHL[/TD]
[TD]Stian Solberg - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Philip Mønnich Hagen[/TD]
[TD]Des Moines
Buccaneers[/TD]
[TD]USHL
(NCAA from 25/26)[/TD]
[TD]Philip Mønnich Hagen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Ludvig Lafton[/TD]
[TD]Färjestad j20[/TD]
[TD]J20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Ludvig Lafton - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Peder K. Øversveen[/TD]
[TD]Modo J20[/TD]
[TD]J20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Peder Kyrkjeeide Øversveen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Christopher Lie[/TD]
[TD]Ferris state university[/TD]
[TD]NCAA[/TD]
[TD]Christopher Lie - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sander Gjørvad Molde[/TD]
[TD]Malmö j20[/TD]
[TD]J20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Sander Gjørvad-Molde - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Andreas Syversen Pettersen[/TD]
[TD]Lørenskog[/TD]
[TD]EHL[/TD]
[TD]Andreas Syversen Pettersen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Aleksander Bjørck[/TD]
[TD]Islanders Hockey club[/TD]
[TD]NCDC[/TD]
[TD]Aleksander Björck - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Bård Valstad
Solheim[/TD]
[TD]Nidaros[/TD]
[TD]Norway, division 1.[/TD]
[TD]Bård Valstad Solheim - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Forwards:
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Michael Brandsegg Nygård[/TD]
[TD]Skellefteaå[/TD]
[TD]SHL[/TD]
[TD]Michael Brandsegg-Nygård - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Felix Granath[/TD]
[TD]Linkøping j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Felix Granath - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Elias Straume Vatne[/TD]
[TD]Färjestad j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Elias Straume Vatne - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Jørgen Nyhus Myhre[/TD]
[TD]Vålerenga[/TD]
[TD]EHL[/TD]
[TD]Jørgen Nyhus Myhre - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mikkel Eriksen[/TD]
[TD]Färjestad j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Mikkel Eriksen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ole Indergaard[/TD]
[TD]MoDo j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Ole Indergaard - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Alieu Moldahl Bah[/TD]
[TD]Brynäs j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Alieu Moldal Bah - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mathias Dehli[/TD]
[TD]Mora j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Mathias Dehli - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Niklas Aaram Olsen[/TD]
[TD]Ørebro j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]

Niklas Aaram-Olsen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Niklas Aaram-Olsen, 2008-04-19 Oslo, NOR Norway. Most recently in the J20 Nationell with Örebro HK J20. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

[/TD]
[TD]2008[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Lukas Finckenhagen[/TD]
[TD]Mora j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Lukas Nikolaj Pettersen-Finckenhagen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Casper Haugen Evensen[/TD]
[TD]BIK Karlskoga[/TD]
[TD]HockeyAllsvsenskan[/TD]
[TD]Casper Haugen Evensen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tinus Luc Koblar[/TD]
[TD]Leksand j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Tinus Luc Koblar - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Rasmus Brekke Olsen[/TD]
[TD]Skellefteå j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Rasmus Olsen Brekke - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mats Theodor Kokkim[/TD]
[TD]Malmø j20[/TD]
[TD]j20 Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Mats Theodor Skjellum Kokkim - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oliver Tufte Langland[/TD]
[TD]Kenai River Brown bears[/TD]
[TD]NAHL[/TD]
[TD]Oliver Tufte Langland - Stats, Contract, Salary & More[/TD]
[TD]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Click to read more...

 

[Fjorden]

Still an open question if Michael Brandsegg Nygård will be in the roster though. It will be either NHL, AHL or SHL for him. If he stays in America he want play for us. He is close to Detroit's final roster, only one cut left and the last pre season game this weekend against Toronto Maple Leafs. Steve Yzerman will take the decision soon.

Scored a fine goal against Buffalo. It has gone better than many excpected in the pre-season.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840892663433728374

If he is this close to the final Detroit roster, it might be America for him being just a phone call away from NHL.

 

[Fjorden]

Michael Brandsegg Nygård loaned out to Skellefteå in SHL.
Then it is very likely he'll be in our u20 roster in December for Team Norway.

Red Wings trim 2024 preseason roster to 28 | Detroit Red Wings

 

[Fjorden]

U20-Team Norway, 4-nations tournamaent, St.Pölten, AUT, 5.-10.November, 2024.
Playing against Latvia, Denmark and Austria.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Stian Solberg not in the roster, they'll be focusing on SHL, and will join the final u20 roster in December.

Our USA based players are also not in this roster. Christopher Lie(back) and Philip Mønnich Hagen backs in NCAA and USHL. And Martin Holtet Lundberg (goalkeeper) in NCAA. Aleksander Bjørck who plays in NCDC could also have a chanche.

I think those five mentioned over will be in the final roster.

Roster St.Pölten, AUT, 5.-10.November, 2024. vs. Denmark, Austria and Latvia.

Player, club

Goalkeeper (2):

Marcus Dehn Vålerenga
Markus Walberg IHK Stavanger

Backs (8):

Sander Gjørvad-Molde Malmö (SWE)
Ludvig Lafton Färjestad (SWE)
Marius Määttänen Vålerenga
Lucas Øvrebø Ondrcka Lillehammer
Andreas Syversen Pettersen Lørenskog
Erlend Sletmoe-Kjærnet Vålerenga
Eskil Stene Stjernen
Peder Kyrkjeeidet Øversveen MODO (SWE)

Forwards (14):

Alieu Bah Brynäs (SWE)
Rasmus Olsen Brekke Skellefteå (SWE)
Mikkel Eriksen Färjestad (SWE)
Casper Haugen Evensen BIK Karlskoga (SWE)
Felix Granath Linköping (SWE)
Ole Indergaard MODO (SWE)
Iver Wick Karlsen Ringerike
Tinus Luc Koblar Leksand (SWE)
Jørgen Nyhus Myhre Vålerenga
Niklas Aaram Olsen Örebro (SWE)
Axel Sandnes Storhamar
Alex Sjøthun Vålerenga
Liam Sætre Lillehammer
Elias Straume Vatne Färjestad (SWE)

 

[Fjorden]

Second place in the pre tournament. 4-4 against Denmark and a loss in OT in the final game. 5-3 win against Latvia. 3-2 loss against Austria in shootout. Latvia will have tough task in the elite wjc, being the weakest team here against div 1a teams.

Table St Pölten tournament Austria.

Denmark 5 points.
Norway 5 points.
Austria 4 points
Latvia 4 points.

I think Norway will have more reinforcements to bring in to the WC div 1a in Slovenia than Denmark, our two "stars" Stian Solberg and Michael Brandsegg Nygård will hopefully be there. Same thing with our three to four players based in USA in USHL and NCAA. The danes will have Fisker Mølgaard in.

Alieu Bah had a fine tournament, nice to see that we develop good hockey players with immigrant background, Felix Granath also played well. I'd expected more production from Vatne and Eriksen, hopefully they can step up in the tournament div 1a in December,

 

[Heia Norge]

Second place in the pre tournament. 4-4 against Denmark and a loss in OT in the final game. 5-3 win against Latvia. 3-2 loss against Austria in shootout. Latvia will have tough task in the elite wjc, being the weakest team here against div 1a teams.

Table St Pölten tournament Austria.

Denmark 5 points.
Norway 5 points.
Austria 4 points
Latvia 4 points.

I think Norway will have more reinforcements to bring in to the WC div 1a in Slovenia than Denmark, our two "stars" Stian Solberg and Michael Brandsegg Nygård will hopefully be there. Same thing with our three to four players based in USA in USHL and NCAA. The danes will have Fisker Mølgaard in.

Alieu Bah had a fine tournament, nice to see that we develop good hockey players with immigrant background, Felix Granath also played well. I'd expected more production from Vatne and Eriksen, hopefully they can step up in the tournament div 1a in December,

Interesting prospect for sure. In his second year for Brynäs U20. Maybe Allsvenskan chould be an alternative for him next season? Alternative: play one or two years in EHL and then head back to Sweden.

He will be in the final roster for our team in U20 Div1A in December.

 

[Fjorden]

Norway's roster for the pre-camp in Budapest, Hungary. 2nd to 7 th December.

U20-VM nærmer seg

Two pre camp games are planned in Budapest.

4.12: Hungary-Norway.
6.12: Slovenia-Norway.

Our #1 round drafts from 2024 are in the roster. Stian Solberg and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. We also note that three players from North American leagues are in the roster since the last tournament in Austria without NA based players and SHL players.

They'll likely cut one back and one forward for the final Tournament team in Bled, Slovenia. WC junior div 1A will be played from 9th to 15th December.

 

[Fjorden]

Pre tournament has started.
The first game: Hungary-Norway, Norway won 5-1. Mikkel Eriksen with 1 goal and 1 assist.

MJSZ - Magyar Jégkorong Szövetség

Stian Solberg(Färjestad) and Michael Brandsegg Nygård(Skellefteå) didn't play. They were not released by their clubs for the pre-tournament. Brandsegg-Nygård and Solberg will play against each other in SHL next Saturday 7th December.
They will arrive directly in Bled for the World Championship div 1A next Sunday.

 

[Fjorden]

Then the final WjC div1A roster for Team Norway is presented.

Mandag starter U20-VM

Two cuts:
One back: Sander Gjørvad Molde(Malmö j20)
One forward: Jørgen Nyhus Myhre(Vålerenga)

In:
Stian Solberg(Färjestad)
Michael Brandsegg Nygård(Skellefteå)

The final WJC roster under.

A win in the last pre tournament game today: 6-0 against Slovenia.
The first game in the wjc will be 9th of December: Slovenia-Norway.

Casper Haugen Evensen 5-0 goal today against Slovenia.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Strong showing in the friendlies without two top-tier players.. Goaltending or no goaltending, Norway has to be the favorites.

 

[Namejs]

I love to see Norway crawling back from what seemed like a bit of a hole in their development. Clearly on the way to overtake Denmark at the senior level.

Lykke til!

 

[Fjorden]

Strong showing in the friendlies without two top-tier players.. Goaltending or no goaltending, Norway has to be the favorites.

Denmark look better this year. They've got Oskar Fikser Mølgård and a couple of players doing well in the swedish j20, and a good goalie that can win games for them. Austria also has a competitive team. Norway lost in OT against both Denmark and Austria last month, but without Solberg and Nygård and north america based players.

Denmark, Norway and Austria will compete for the promotion is my predicition

France I don't know much about.

Hungary and Slovenia are a step behind the rest of the teams.

 

[SoundAndFury]

In my view, Norway has the strongest team. Denmark is definitely better than usual recently but clearly worse than Norway. Austria lacks the top-end talent to contend. France is pretty weak (compared to their usual level) and only has strong goaltending going for them. Slovenia meanwhile has excellent top players so they definitely do not look weaker than France or Hungary to me, on paper. Hungary, unless I'm missing something, just have nothing going for them. A competitive team that will be able to give a fight but really the only way they can win is by wanting it more and all those cliches.

 

[Fjorden]

In my view, Norway has the strongest team. Denmark is definitely better than usual recently but clearly worse than Norway. Austria lacks the top-end talent to contend. France is pretty weak (compared to their usual level) and only has strong goaltending going for them. Slovenia meanwhile has excellent top players so they definitely do not look weaker than France or Hungary to me, on paper. Hungary, unless I'm missing something, just have nothing going for them. A competitive team that will be able to give a fight but really the only way they can win is by wanting it more and all those cliches.

Slovenia do have a couple of good players, but they lack depth.

In a tournament like this in this format, one game can decide who gets promoted or not, so it is relatively open. The Head to head games Norway-Austria-Denmark will decide this.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Slovenia do have a couple of good players, but they lack depth.

Against top teams, for sure but against their peers I don't think they do.

For example, Anze Zezelj is a middle-six forward for Slovenia and plays, conveniently for our purposes, in the Hungarian Erste Liga. He is far and away the best U20 scorer there with 0,92 PPG. Hungarian first-liners (in today's friendly game against Austria, can see TOI in the game ticker linked in the D1A thread), Maxim Szabó Rácz and Ferenc Laskawy somewhat naturally also play in the same league. They score at 0,23 and 0,59 (which is 2nd best after Zezelj) PPG respectively.

I think this illustrates quite clearly Slovenians do have an edge in quality, at least when it comes to the relegation game.

Or really any other direct comparison would do, I don't even know why I went for this one Guess this was the best reflection of depth in my mind.

 

[Fjorden]

Lines against Slovenia.

IIHF - SLO - NOR 09.12.2024 - 2025 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Division I, Group A - Game Centre Lineup

That norwegian 2nd line will be intersting to see in action with Brandsegg Nygård and Vatne. Solberg in 2nd backpair. 3rd line as youth line with Aaram Olsen and Eriksen paired both u18 and Aaram Olsen U17.

GK: Lundberg

1.
D:Lafton-Øversveen
F: Bah- Granath-Haugen Evensen

2.
D:Solberg-Lie
F:Vatne-Wick Karlsen-Brandsegg Nygård

3.
D:Hagen- Mättänen
F:Aaram Olsen-Indergaard-Eriksen

4.
D: Syversen Pettersen
F: Sandnes- Koblar, Brekke Olsen-Dehli.