As fall turns to winter and the feeling of Christmas starts to come upon us, hockey fans begin to look towards the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship. This year, the tournament will take place in Ottawa and surrounding areas. It promises a great tournament, one that will finally be closer to many of our waking hours.
For Flames fans, this promises to be a great year to watch. Last year, the Flames had just Samuel Honzek in the tournament for Team Slovakia, but this year they should have at least a couple on team rosters and a few more on the shortlist.
Here’s who to watch for.
World Junior locks
Zayne Parekh – Team Canada
The Flames will almost certainly have their 2024 first-round pick on Team Canada this year and he should have a big role to play on the team. Parekh will likely play a top-four role alongside one of Sam Dickinson, Tanner Molendyk, or Sawyer Mynio.
So far this season, Parekh has 18 points in 16 games for the Saginaw Spirit, which is good for fifth in the league among defencemen. Perhaps more important than his numbers, Parekh looks far more solid defensively than he did last season. This is what the Flames were really looking to see this season from the blueliner, and bodes well for a big role with Team Canada. Barring an injury, he should be a lock for Team Canada.
Very likely to make a WJC roster
Axel Hurtig – Team Sweden
Sweden is going to be a stacked roster in this year’s tournament, and their defence is where the team shines. Headlined by Axel Sandin Pellikka and Leo Sahlin Wallenius, this is going to be a tough team to beat at the tournament. However, the one thing that this blueline lacks is size, with both players just around the six-foot mark.
This is one of the big (pun intended) reasons that Axel Hurtig could be in line for a role with Team Sweden. The 6’5″ defensive defenceman won’t light it up on the scoresheet, but with the team needing to get through the superstar offensive power of Team Canada and Team USA, he would be a strong addition to this roster.
Sweden does have a number of defencemen to pick from and it will be up to their team’s management to determine whether or not they want to have a big defensive blueliner on the team, but it seems likely that they opt for him. While Hurtig won’t play a big role likely for the team, just being in the lineup is massive.
Possible shortlist
Etienne Morin – Team Canada
Similar to Hurtig, Morin brings a defensive edge to the Team Canada roster, but his offense is still strong with 19 points in 18 games for the Moncton Wildcats. This is good for sixth among blueliners in the QMJHL this season.
The challenge for Morin mirrors the same one as Hurtig—Canada has an enormous number of defencemen to pick from. I would imagine Morin is on the outside looking in right now. Oliver Bonk and Carter Yakemchuk are probably locks for the other two open spots on the blueline. This leaves just one spot open on the team, and it’s probably Andrew Gibson’s spot to lose, but with just five points in 19 games, there’s a chance that Morin sneaks into that spot.
It will likely be a smaller role if he makes the team, but it would be great experience for Morin if he were to make the roster.
Outside chance
Jacob Battaglia – Team Canada
Team Canada is going to be a juggernaut this year, with 2026 projected first-overall pick Gavin McKenna and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Easton Cowan highlighting the forward group. There are only a couple of potentially open spots on the roster given the talent in this nation, but there is a very small chance that Jacob Battaglia could earn a look.
The Flames’ second-round pick is off to an outstanding start to the season, with 28 points in 20 games for the Kingston Frontenacs. He plays both wings and brings incredible scoring and playmaking to whatever team he is on. The only downside to his game, and what may end up being the biggest knock on him being on Team Canada, is his skating. He’s not the smoothest of skaters, and this hinders his defensive play. This, along with the number of options Team Canada has to pick from, makes it a small chance that he will be on the team this year unfortunately.
What could have been
Team Russia will not be at the tournament this year, and it is a shame for Matvei Gridin, who would likely have been on the shortlist for that team this season. Gridin is off to a great start this year in the QMJHL, with 18 points in 18 games after joining the team after starting in the AHL this season. He is still getting his feet wet on the very weak Shawinigan Cataraques, and should be a force this season. It’s a shame for him that he won’t be at the tournament this year.
What to watch for at the tournament
As with every year, the tournament starts on Boxing Day, with Canada, The United States, and Sweden all starting that day. Canada faces off against the Americans on New Year’s Eve, which is the final game of the round-robin.
The final will take place on January 5 at 530 p.m. MST in Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre.
After a couple of years with minimal participation at the World Juniors, the Flames should have a big year at the tournament. While it’s always fun to cheer on Team Canada and to watch young talent, it’s going to be a little more special this year for Flames fans.
