U18: U18 2025 WJC predictions

[Eye of Ra]

1: Sweden
2: USA
3: Latvia
4: Slovakia

That is my take. Sweden actually wins gold in this tournament unlike in the u20. We have 2 gold in the last 5 years in this tournament and once again we have a great roster.

Usa is always good.

Hockey Professor Namejs says Latvia will take the Bronze or even Gold, Silver. I trust him.

Slovakia has a good roster.

 

[erikhamren]

1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. USA
4. Czechia

I will do a part 2 later

 

[Eye of Ra]

1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. USA
4. Czechia

I will do a part 2 later

Canada!?!? Explain

 

[erikhamren]

Canada!?!? Explain

Reverse jinx

 

[Czechboy]

Latvia
Latvia
Latvia

 

[ijuka]

Finland will probably get relegated to B-division, what a roster.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

Canada!?!? Explain

Why not? They are the returning champs.
The roster is missing some key guys that are still in playoffs, but it's still a roster that could repeat.
I do think Sweden could be a fav though.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Sweden or USA. Canada will have a chance, but they always underperform at this tournament and didn’t choose that strong of a roster.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Why not? They are the returning champs.
The roster is missing some key guys that are still in playoffs, but it's still a roster that could repeat.
I do think Sweden could be a fav though.

Because Canada often dont make the finals in this tournament.

 

[Lumber]

Not sure how anyone can predict where Canada places, we don't have a roster yet.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

Because Canada often dont make the finals in this tournament.

2 golds last 4 years

 

[FLAMESFAN]

Not sure how anyone can predict where Canada places, we don't have a roster yet.

We know the main guys

 

[Lumber]

We know the main guys

By numbers, 1 more D and 4 F unless they want to exchange a few players from the original roster after the first round.

 

[Namejs]

1. Sweden
2. US
3. Canada
4. Finland
5. Czechia
6. Latvia
7. Slovakia
8. Germany
9. Switzerland
10. Norway

 

[kudla]

1. Sweden
2. Czechia
3. Canada
4. USA
5. Finland
6. Slovakia
7. Latvia
8. Germany
9. Switzerland
10. Norway

Weak year for USA and Finland. Sweden and Czechia will thrive

 

[Eye of Ra]

1. Sweden
2. US
3. Canada
4. Finland
5. Czechia
6. Latvia
7. Slovakia
8. Germany
9. Switzerland
10. Norway

What is this. You told me Latvia will take medal.

 

[Namejs]

What is this. You told me Latvia will take medal.

No, I said we have a realistic chance of medaling. You're clearly not working for FOI or Säpo.

A realistic chance is >25% and <50%. So we're significantly more likely not to medal.

 

[Pazucha]

Germany and Switzerland are probably not happy with that Group B. From what I have read this is one of the strongest Czech and Swedish U18 teams in maybe a decade? On top of that the third team is USA.

And if one of them finishes 4th in the group stage they will have to play Canada (most likely).

And for Group A the fun quickly ends in the playoff matches.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I know the narrative is that this US team is weak, and I’m not going to say it’s like a vintage age group, but since January they’ve pretty much gotten as good of results as you can. They’ve won 17 of 22 games they’ve played.

And this team should only be adding to that group in the form of probably a 2025 first rounder (Fiddler), a 2025 second rounder (Kevan), a 2025 third rounder (Mutryn), and likely the highest drafted American for 2026 (Reid).

They definitely are no lock to win, but I would not overlook this team at all to win.

 

[Czechboy]

I went to bed and we didn't have our starting G (Stebatak), our 2 top D (Psnecka and Mrtka), our top 2 USHL guys in Benak and Nestrasil. Pekar was not on roster either.

Then I woke up and we got everyone but Nestrasil (which is a shame but holy hell what a 24 hours).

I'll go:

Sweden
USA
Canada
Czechs
Finns
Slovaks
Latvia

 

[Czechboy]

One thing against Canada is the crossover:

Sweden and US are lurking in that crossover. I always prefer being the pool of death because the crossover is potentially nicer. No guarantee of course but Czechs are guaranteed no Sweden or US in quarter and that helps our chances of semi's.

Thank god Kazakh's didn't qualify... they beat us last year!

 

[erikhamren]

I know the narrative is that this US team is weak, and I’m not going to say it’s like a vintage age group, but since January they’ve pretty much gotten as good of results as you can. They’ve won 17 of 22 games they’ve played.

And this team should only be adding to that group in the form of probably a 2025 first rounder (Fiddler), a 2025 second rounder (Kevan), a 2025 third rounder (Mutryn), and likely the highest drafted American for 2026 (Reid).

They definitely are no lock to win, but I would not overlook this team at all to win.

Yeah, definitely. This US team won over us with 4-2 if i remember correctly, last november tourney. And i think we had our full team except Boumedienne. The SOG statistics were shocking for Swedens part.

Not in order but this is the teams i believe are in the mix to win the tournament: Sweden, Czechia, Usa, Finland, Canada. Finland have a down year but they are well coached and have some great talents.