Sweden has claimed World Junior hockey gold for the first time in 14 years, with several young stars making unforgettable impressions along the way.
Ivar Stenberg turned heads with a performance that might just land him the top spot in this summer’s NHL draft. The Swedish right wing put up 10 points in seven games, saving his best for when it mattered most.
In the gold medal game, Stenberg was unstoppable. He netted a goal and added two assists, proving he’s got what it takes to shine under pressure.
That wasn’t his only clutch performance. He also came up big in Sweden’s nail-biting semifinal shootout win against Finland, scoring once and setting up another goal.
Meanwhile, Latvia’s Alberts Smits showed you don’t need to play for a powerhouse to get noticed.
The 6-foot-3 defenseman was a force on a team with just two NHL-drafted players. He logged nearly 22 minutes of ice time in Latvia’s quarterfinal battle against Sweden, picking up an assist along the way.
Smits finished with five points in five games – pretty impressive for a defenseman on an underdog team. He’s making a strong case to be the first defender picked in the draft.
For Team USA, things didn’t go as planned. The defending champs finished a disappointing fifth, but Chase Reid gave American fans something to cheer about.
The smooth-skating defenseman showed he’s got serious offensive skills, running the power play like a veteran and collecting four points in five games.
These performances at the World Juniors have definitely shaken up draft rankings. With the NHL draft just months away, scouts will be taking a long, hard look at how these young stars handled the pressure of international competition.
