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2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

Axel Sandin Pellikka, Cole Hutson Lead Top Players At World Juniors So Far

Axel Sandin Pellikka, Cole Hutson Lead Top Players At World Juniors So Far

Axel Sandin Pellikka and Cole Hutson are among the top 10 players of the World Juniors so far as picked by veteran WJC analyst Chris Peters.

Jan 1, 2025 by Chris Peters
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OTTAWA – The preliminary round is over and the quarterfinals are set. Team USA and Team Sweden have won their respective groups, earning the top seeds as the elimination round has begun.

This year’s preliminary round offered a ton of twists, turns and surprises, making it one of the more chaotic opening rounds we’ve seen. Absolutely no one had Latvia pulling off a win over Canada. Kazakhstan pushed Slovakia to OT, Germany put a scare in a few of the big teams and Finland finished second in a group that included the U.S. and Canada.

We’ve also seen a number of great individual performances so far in this tournament. To get you caught up on what we’ve seen, here’s a look at some of the top players so far at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Top 10 Players Of The Preliminary Round

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D, Sweden (DET)

Last year’s defenseman of the tournament looks like he wants to defend the title. The Swedish blueliner is in his third World Junior Championship and is tied for the tournament lead in scoring with eight points. He had a hat trick in Sweden’s opener against Slovakia and has poured an astonishing 25 shots on goal in this tournament. He’s Sweden’s captain and their most experienced player and has looked every bit of it. His skill, his decision-making and his ability to play at both ends has really shone in this tournament.

Cole Hutson, D, USA (WSH)

Hutson is tied with Sandin Pellikka for the scoring lead with eight points, including a five-assist effort against Germany. He also made an impact in USA’s games against tougher opponents, scoring the opening goal against Canada and adding an assist. He also scored a pretty goal in the loss to Finland. Hutson is getting good ice time with Team USA and has been the engine of their second power play unit, which has had a lot of success in this tournament. It's been a real breakout tournament for the second-rounder.

Eduard Sale, LW, Czechia (SEA)

Sale has had a lot to prove this season after a so-so draft-plus-one last year. He’s delivering in the AHL and now he’s delivering at the World Juniors. Sale has points in every game while averaging about 18 minutes per game as Czechia’s captain. He’s among the tournament goal-scoring leaders with four and has been a go-to source of offense for a Czech team that now has to take on Canada in the quarterfinal.

Dalibor Dvorsky, C, Slovakia (STL)

Slovakia’s captain has been among the tournament scoring leaders with seven points so far. He has at least one point in every game and has been a consistent source of dangerous plays for his team in this tournament. Dvorsky is playing in his FOURTH World Juniors and is not satisfied with just getting to the quarterfinal. Slovakia ends up getting Finland, which is a good matchup in the QF. If they’re going to win, Dvorsky has to drive it.

Eriks Mateiko, C, Latvia (WSH)

The story of the tournament has been Latvia and their most experienced and highest-drafted player has been delivering. Mateiko has three goals in the tournament and scored the shootout winner for Latvia against Canada and the OT game-winner against Germany. Mateiko is a big man who has shown good touch and the ability to play with some power. He’s been a solid contributor overall for his team and a clear leader for the youngest team in the tournament. Can they slay another giant? They’ll play Sweden in the quarterfinal.

Tom Willander, D, Sweden (VAN)

Steady, consistent and playing massive minutes, Sweden is leaning on the Boston University blueliner heavily in this tournament. He played 25-plus minutes against Czechia in a game Sweden needed to clinch first in their group. He’s also scoring. Willander has five points including a three-point effort against Switzerland. 

Felix Unger Sorum, RW, Sweden (CAR)

Unger Sorum is the kind of player that helps you win hockey games. He plays at both ends of the ice, brings a consistent effort and now has six points to show for it in this tournament. He played big minutes in Sweden’s toughest games and has delivered with scoring. His all-around game is making him one of Sweden’s most relied-upon forwards in this tournament.

Petteri Rimpinen, G, Finland

“Mr. Showtime” as he is called by his teammates has been just that. Rimpinen has a .947 save percentage, earned a win over Team USA and kept Finland in their game against Canada, but go no goal support. He has played every minute of every game and earned a shutout in his final preliminary-round appearance. He is second, only behind Feldbergs for most saves in the tournament and has made it look easy. This really has been a continuation of how the 18-year-old has played all year, even putting up respectable numbers in Liiga.

Carter George, G, Canada (LAK)

Though he took the loss to USA, prior to that, George had back-to-back shutouts. He still owns the best save percentage in the tournament with a sterling .964 mark. What strikes me about George is how he carries himself. There’s that even-keel you need from a goalie, but he also has spectacular hockey sense and reads plays very well. He has not allowed a single goal at even strength in this tournament and I don’t think you can solely put that on Canada’s strong team defense. George is a difference-maker.

Linards Feldbergs, G, Latvia

The hero of the win against Canada after making 55 saves in regulation and overtime before turning aside all eight Canadian shooters, Feldbergs was going to be on this list no matter what. The other reason he’s on here is because he is an absolute warrior. Every minute Latvia has had a goalie in their net has been played by him. That includes going back-to-back against Canada and USA. He has allowed 13 goals in the tournament, but only six of those have come at even-strength. He still has a .926 save percentage and helped Latvia win two games at the World Juniors for the first time ever.

World Juniors Quarterfinal Schedule

Thursday, Jan. 2

  • Sweden vs. Latvia, noon ET at TD Place
  • USA vs. Switzerland, 2:30 p.m. ET at Canadian Tire Centre
  • Finland vs. Slovakia, 5 p.m. ET at TD Place
  • Czechia vs. Canada, 7:30 p.m. ET at Canadian Tire Centre 

How To Watch The 2025 World Junior Championship

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will air on TSN and RDS on television in Canada. The tournament will be streamed on TSN+ in Canada, as well. 

In the United States, NHL Network will be the television home of the World Junior Championship. 

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