Some of the best 16-, 17- and 18-year-old hockey players from around the world are set to meet in Germany this weekend for the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship.
Eight countries are battling for a gold medal at this year’s tournament. It’s one of the last opportunities for draft eligible players to showcase their skills on the international level before the NHL Draft this summer.
Players such as Jack Hughes, Cole Caufield, Miro Heiskanen and Jesperi Kotkaniemi have lit up the tournament in recent years, using it to further gain the attention of NHL scouts.
These teenagers competing for nine days represent not just their countries, but the future of the NHL as well.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship.
Who is playing in the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship?
This year, only eight teams are participating in the U18 tournament.
It typically has 10 teams, but the IIHF has suspended all Russia and Belarus national teams from competing in international tournaments.
As a result, only eight teams are in the top tournament. All eight teams will make the playoffs and no team will be relegated. The two top teams from the Division I tournament, Slovakia and Norway will be promoted next year to the top division.
| GROUP A | GROUP B |
|---|---|
| Canada | Sweden |
| United States | Finland |
| Czechia | Switzerland |
| Germany | Latvia |
When is the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship?
- Start: Saturday, April 23
- End: Sunday, May 1
The tournament begins with group play on April 23, 24 and 26.
The playoffs begin on April 28 with the four quarterfinal matchups, then the semifinals on April 30 and, finally, the bronze medal and gold medal games on May 1.
| DATE | TIME (ET) | MATCHUP |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., April 23 | 8:30 a.m. | Finland vs. Switzerland |
| Sat., April 23 | 9:30 a.m. | Czechia vs. Germany |
| Sat., April 23 | 12:30 p.m. | Latvia vs. Sweden |
| Sat., April 23 | 1:30 p.m. | Canada vs. United States |
| Sun., April 24 | 8:30 a.m. | Finland vs. Latvia |
| Sun., April 24 | 9:30 a.m. | United States vs. Czechia |
| Sun., April 24 | 12:30 p.m. | Sweden vs. Switzerland |
| Sun., April 24 | 1:30 p.m. | Germany vs. Canada |
| Tues., April 26 | 8:30 a.m. | Switzerland vs. Latvia |
| Tues., April 26 | 9:30 a.m. | Canada vs. Czechia |
| Tues., April 26 | 12:30 p.m. | Sweden vs. Finland |
| Tues., April 26 | 1:30 p.m. | United States vs. Germany |
| Thurs., April 28 | 8:30 a.m. | Quarterfinals |
| Thurs., April 28 | 9:30 a.m. | Quarterfinals |
| Thurs., April 28 | 12:30 p.m. | Quarterfinals |
| Thurs., April 28 | 1:30 p.m. | Quarterfinals |
| Sat., April 30 | 8:30 a.m. | Semifinals |
| Sat., April 30 | 12:30 p.m. | Semifinals |
| Sun., May 1 | 8:30 a.m. | Bronze Medal Game |
| Sun., May 1 | 12:30 p.m. | Gold Medal Game |
How to watch the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship?
All the games involving the United States will be broadcast on NHL Network, in addition to two of the quarterfinal matchups, both semifinals and the championship game.
You can stream the NHL Network on Sling TV, Fubo TV or DIRECTV STREAM.
- Canada TV: TSN
- Canada Stream: TSN.ca, TSN app
The games involving Team Canada will be broadcast on TSN, in addition to two of the quarterfinal matchups, both semifinals and the championship game.
You can stream TSN on TSN.ca or through the TSN app.
Where is the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship?
This year’s U18 World Championship is taking place in Germany. There are two host cities for the 2022 tournament, Landshut and Kaufbeuren.
Landshut will host the Group A games, two of the quarterfinals, both semifinals and the bronze and gold medal games at Fanatec Arena. Group B will play in Kaufbeuren at Erdgas Schwaben Arena, in addition to the other two quarterfinal contests.
Who are the past winners of the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship?
No one has dominated on the international U18 stage quite like the U.S. has. The country has 10 gold medals in the event, six more than the next-closest country. However, the U.S. has not won the tournament since 2017. In total, the Americans lead with 17 medals.
| YEAR | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Canada | Russia | Sweden |
| 2020 | N/A* | N/A* | N/A* |
| 2019 | Sweden | Russia | United States |
| 2018 | Finland | United States | Sweden |
| 2017 | United States | Finland | Russia |
| 2016 | Finland | Sweden | United States |
| 2015 | United States | Finland | Canada |
| 2014 | United States | Czech Republic | Canada |
| 2013 | Canada | United States | Finland |
| 2012 | United States | Sweden | Canada |
| 2011 | United States | Sweden | Russia |
| 2010 | United States | Sweden | Finland |
| 2009 | United States | Russia | Finland |
| 2008 | Canada | Russia | United States |
| 2007 | Russia | United States | Sweden |
| 2006 | United States | Finland | Czech Republic |
| 2005 | United States | Canada | Sweden |
| 2004 | Russia | United States | Czech Republic |
| 2003 | Canada | Slovakia | Russia |
| 2002 | United States | Russia | Czech Republic |
| 2001 | Russia | Switzerland | Finland |
| 2000 | Finland | Russia | Sweden |
| 1999 | Finland | Sweden | Slovakia |
* = 2020 tournament canceled due to COVID-19
Which players will be drafted in the 2022 NHL Draft?
Not every competitor in the tournament is draft eligible this season. For example, one of the top players in the tournament will be Canada’s Connor Bedard. However, he is not eligible to be drafted until 2023.
But there are a number of players participating who are expected to get their name called at the 2022 NHL Draft. This tournament is a prime opportunity for their draft stock to rise with a solid performance.
Logan Cooley of the United States will be one of the first names called during the 2022 NHL Draft. He’s a projected top-3 pick this summer and committed to the University of Minnesota. The center has 63 points in 44 games this season with the national team.
Other Americans to watch are projected first-round picks Cutter Gauthier, Jimmy Snuggerud, Seamus Casey and Rutger McGroarty.
Joakim Kemell of Finland should be the country’s best player and one of the top performers in the tournament. He’s projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2022 draft and has 23 points in 29 games with JYP of Finland’s Liiga. Kemell registered five goals in as many games last summer with Finland’s U18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
While Canada will be relying on 2023 draft eligible prospects such as Bedard, Adam Fantilli and Matt Wood, Owen Pickering and David Goyette are two players expected to be taken in the 2022 draft who are on the roster. Pickering is a towering blue liner, standing at 6-5, who is expected to be a late first-round selection. Goyette is a fringe first-round player who can push himself into Day 1 of the draft with a solid showing.
Sweden has a plethora of anticipated first-round talent on its team, including the foursome of Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Liam Ohgren, Noah Ostlund and Calle Odelius, who all play for Djugardens IF J20 of the J20 Nationell. Lekkerimaki is the one to watch out of the group. He had five goals in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2021 and 35 points in 26 games at the J20 Nationell level this season.