Staff predictions for the 2025 world juniors
The 2025 World Junior Championship begins Thursday in Ottawa, and theScore is ready to weigh in on how the holiday tournament will play out.
Our team of hockey editors - Kyle Cushman, Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman - took a crack at predicting the medalists and which players will stand out individually.
Podium
| Editor | Gold๐ฅ | Silver๐ฅ | Bronze๐ฅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushman | ๐จ๐ฆ | ๐บ๐ธ | ๐ธ๐ช |
| Douglas | ๐บ๐ธ | ๐จ๐ฆ | ๐ธ๐ช |
| Gold-Smith | ๐บ๐ธ | ๐จ๐ฆ | ๐ธ๐ช |
| O'Leary | ๐บ๐ธ | ๐ธ๐ช | ๐จ๐ฆ |
| Wegman | ๐บ๐ธ | ๐จ๐ฆ | ๐ธ๐ช |
Our panel is convinced the champions will be from North America for the sixth consecutive year. Canada has won three times over that span, while the USA has captured gold twice. The Americans have never won back-to-back golds at the event but are in tremendous shape to do so with a strong cast of returnees and a boatload of talent at each position.
Sweden is the X-factor here, but no one on our team picked the Swedes to end their agonizing 12-year gold medal drought. Tre Kronor has reached the podium six times - including a silver last year - but haven't reached the pinnacle since 2012.
Tournament MVP
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Cushman | Ryan Leonardย ๐บ๐ธ |
| Douglas | Ryan Leonardย ๐บ๐ธ |
| Gold-Smith | Ryan Leonardย ๐บ๐ธ |
| O'Leary | Ryan Leonard ๐บ๐ธ |
| Wegman | Ryan Leonard ๐บ๐ธ |
Pressure's on, Ryan. The American forward, Boston College standout, and Washington Capitals prospect is expected to have a huge tournament after playing a key role in winning gold last time around. He chipped in six points in seven games at the 2024 tournament and is tied for the NCAA lead in goals this season with 12.
Leading scorer
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Cushman | Gabe Perreault ๐บ๐ธย |
| Douglas | Ryan Leonard ๐บ๐ธ |
| Gold-Smith | Gabe Perreault ๐บ๐ธย |
| O'Leary | Brayden Yagerย ๐จ๐ฆ |
| Wegman | Gabe Perreault ๐บ๐ธย |
We have some more variety for who might be the top point producer at the tournament, but Leonard and Boston College teammate Gabe Perreault are rather academic picks in this department. Perreault, a first-round pick of the New York Rangers in 2023, is tied for second in the NCAA this season with 1.44 points per game.
Canadian players aren't overly represented in our predictions, but Yager deserves some recognition as a returnee and a prolific scorer in the WHL with 34 points (including 12 goals) in 23 games this season.
Top forward
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Cushman | Calum Ritchie ๐จ๐ฆ |
| Douglas | Ryan Leonard ๐บ๐ธ |
| Gold-Smith | Ryan Leonard ๐บ๐ธ |
| O'Leary | Ryan Leonard ๐บ๐ธ |
| Wegman | Ryan Leonard ๐บ๐ธ |
If Leonard is the top scorer or tournament MVP, it only makes sense he's recognized as the top forward as well. Ritchie is our panel's lone wild-card pick, and the Colorado Avalanche prospect is expected to play a big role in helping Canada avenge last tournament's disappointing fifth-place finish.
Ritchie notched 34 points (including 26 assists) in 18 games for the OHL's Oshawa Generals before heading to Canada's selection camp.
Top defenseman
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Cushman | Zeev Buium ๐บ๐ธ |
| Douglas | Matthew Schaeferย ๐จ๐ฆ |
| Gold-Smith | Zeev Buium ๐บ๐ธ |
| O'Leary | Zeev Buium ๐บ๐ธ |
| Wegman | Axel Sandin-Pellikka ๐ธ๐ช |
We have three different nationalities represented in this category, more than any other spot. However, Buium has the clear edge here, and the Minnesota Wild blue-chip prospect will be counted on to chip in at both ends of the ice. The dynamic rearguard's posted 70 points in his last 60 collegiate games with Denver.
Schaefer is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2025 draft, and he has the talent to stand out on Canada's blue line at only 17 years old. Sandin-Pellikka will be suiting up in his third world junior tourney for Sweden after winning Best Defenseman honors last year. He's on the older end of players in the tournament and should be able to dominate his minutes.
Top goaltender
| Editor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Cushman | Trey Augustine ๐บ๐ธ |
| Douglas | Trey Augustine ๐บ๐ธ |
| Gold-Smith | Trey Augustine ๐บ๐ธ |
| O'Leary | Trey Augustine ๐บ๐ธ |
| Wegman | Carson Bjarnasonย ๐จ๐ฆ |
Augustine posted a .936 save percentage in four appearances at last year's tournament and is having another dominant season at Michigan State. He even shined at the senior level on the World Championship squad to help build his case as one of the world's top netminding prospects. There's no reason to suspect he won't be at the top of his game as he seeks to backstop the United States to another gold.