Happy Holidays to everyone, and I hope you all have a chance to watch the World Junior Championships (WJC) over the next few weeks. The USA won in 2025 and will look to defend its title.

This week, we are going to break down any player in the tournament who is representing their NHL team that is in the Western Conference.

We did a similar article here last year.

Anaheim Ducks (5)

Eric Nilson (Center) – Sweden – 2025 2nd Round Pick (45th)

Nilson is in his first year at the University of Michigan and has struggled a bit with just three goals and three assists in 16 games.

Lucas Pettersson (Center) – Sweden – 2024 2nd Round Pick (35th)

In his second full SHL season, Pettersson has put up nine goals and four assists in 26 games with Brynas IF.

Lasse Boelius (LD) – Finland – 2025 2nd Round Pick (60th)

In his rookie campaign in the Finnish Liiga, Boelius has one goal and five assists in 30 games.

Elijah Neuenschwander (G) – Switzerland – 2025 4th Round Pick (104th)

Neuenschwander is in his second Swiss Elite League season and has played eight games with a save percentage of 90.4 and a goals against average of 2.66. This is his second WJC tournament.

Darels Uljanskis (LD) – Latvia – 2024 7th Round Pick (214th)

Uljanskis has made the way to North America for the 2025-26 campaign and is playing for Flint in the OHL, where he has produced three goals and 10 assists in 13 games. This will be his third WJC tournament with Latvia.

Calgary Flames (2)

Zayne Parekh (RD) – Canada – 2024 1st Round Pick (9th)

Parekh was a controversial cut for Team Canada in last year's WJC, but is a key member for the 2026 tournament. He has played just 11 NHL games with Calgary and had one assist, before missing some games due to injury.

Cole Reschny (Center) – Canada – 2025 1st Round Pick (18th)

Reschny transferred to the University of North Dakota for the 2025-26 season and has two goals and 16 assists in 16 games. In 2024-25, with Victoria of the WHL, he had 26 goals and 66 assists in 62 games.

Chicago Blackhawks (3)

A.J. Spellacy (RW) – USA – 2024 3rd Round Pick (72nd)

Spellacy plays for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL and has produced nine goals and eight assists in 27 games this season.

Anton Frondell (Center) – Sweden – 2025 1st Round Pick (3rd)

Frondell's team made the jump to the SHL in 2025-26, and he has produced 10 goals and five assists in 25 games.

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Vaclav Nestrasil (RW) – Czechia – 2025 1st Round Pick (25th)

Nestrasil is in his first year at the University of Massachusetts and has put up 10 goals and 10 assists in 18 games.

Colorado Avalanche (1)

Max Curran (Center) – Czechia – 2024 5th Round Pick (161st)

Curran plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL and has 11 goals and 24 assists in 28 games. He had 22 goals and 52 assists in 65 games in the WHL in 2024-25.

Dallas Stars (3)

Måns Goos (G) – Sweden – 2025 5th Round Pick (158th)

Goos has played 13 games in the Swedish U-20 league and has a save percentage of 90.6. He has played a part in one game in the SHL.

Emil Hemming (RW) – Finland – 2024 1st Round Pick (29th)

Hemming has had a productive start to 2025-26 with the Barrie Colts of the OHL, with eight goals and 20 assists in 17 games. He had 18 goals and 30 assists in 60 games in 2024-25.

Atte Joki (Center) – Finland – 2025 5th Round Pick (146th)

Joki has put up three goals and seven assists in 20 games with Lukko of the Finnish Liiga.

Edmonton Oilers (2)

Asher Barnett (LD) – USA – 2025 5th Round Pick (131st)

Barnett has eight assists in 20 games with the University of Michigan in his inaugural college season.

David Lewandowski (LW) – Germany 2025 4th Round Pick (117th)

Lewandowski has produced eight goals and 24 assists in 28 games with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL. This is his second WJC tournament.

Los Angeles Kings (7)

Brendan McMorrow (LW) – USA – 2025 7th Round Pick (196th)

McMorrow has two goals and five assists in 17 games with the University of Denver.

Henry Brzustewicz (RD) – USA – 2025 1st Round Pick (31st)

Brzustewicz has an impressive 10 goals and eight assists in 26 games with the London Knights of the OHL. He had 10 goals and 32 assists in 67 games in 2024-25.

Petteri Rimpinen (G) – Finland – 2025 5th Round Pick (152nd)

Rimpinen has a save percentage of 89.4 in 23 games with Kiekko-Espoo of the Finnish Liiga. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC and posted an impressive 93.3 save percentage in seven games.

Vojtech Cihar (LW) – Czechia – 2025 2nd Round Pick (59th)

Cihar has produced four goals and four assists in 27 games with HC Energie Karlovy Vary of the Czech Elite League. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC tournament and had a goal and an assist.

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Carter George (G) – Canada – 2024 2nd Round Pick (57th)

George has a save percentage of 89.9 in 22 games with the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL. He played four games in the 2025 WJC tournament and had a save percentage of 93.6.

Liam Greentree (RW) – Canada – 2024 1st Round Pick (26th)

Greentree has put up 16 goals and 16 assists in 23 games with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. He put up 49 goals and 70 assists in 63 games in 2024-25.

Jan Chovan (Center) – Slovakia – 2025 6th Round Pick (184th)

Chovan has seven goals and 11 assists in 29 games with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. He played five games in the 2025 WJC tournament and had a goal and an assist.

Minnesota Wild (2)

Aron Kiviharju (LD) – Finland – 2024 4th Round Pick (122nd)

Kiviharju has two goals and five assists in 24 games with HIFK in the Finnish Liiga. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC tournament and had three assists.

Adam Benák (Center) – Czechia – 2025 4th Round Pick (102nd)

Benak has put up an impressive 15 goals and 28 assists in 26 games with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL. He had 59 points in 56 games in the USHL in 2024-25.

Nashville Predators (7)

Ryker Lee (RW) – USA – 2025 1st Round Pick (26th)

Lee has played 16 games with Michigan State University and has six goals and seven assists.

Teddy Stiga (LW) – USA – 2024 2nd Round Pick (55th)

Stiga has three goals and eight assists in 15 games with Boston College. He played six games in the 2025 WJC tournament and had a goal and two assists.

Viggo Gustafsson (LD) – Sweden – 2024 3rd Round Pick (77th)

Gustafsson has produced six assists in 22 games with AIK of the HockeyAllsvenskan. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC tournament and had three assists.

Daniel Nieminen (LD) – Finland – 2025 6th Round Pick (163rd)

Nieminen has two goals and three assists in 27 games with Pelicans in the Finnish Liiga. He had two assists in seven games in the 2025 WJC.

Jack Ivankovic (G) – Canada – 2025 2nd Round Pick (58th)

Ivankovic has a save percentage of 92.7 in 20 games with the University of Michigan. He played one game in the 2025 WJC tournament and had a 92.3 save percentage.

Cameron Reid (LD) – Canada – 2025 1st Round Pick (21st)

Reid has nine goals and 20 assists in 28 games with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. He had 14 goals and 40 assists in 67 games in 2024-25.

Brady Martin (Center) – Canada – 2025 1st Round Pick (5th)

Martin has five goals and 11 assists in 13 games with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. He had 33 goals and 39 assists in 57 games in 2024-25.

San Jose Sharks (4)

Cole McKinney (Center) – USA – 2025 2nd Round Pick (53rd)

McKinney has five goals and six assists in 20 games with the University of Michigan.

Leo Sahlin Wallenius (LD) – Sweden – 2024 2nd Round Pick (53rd)

Sahlin Wallenius has two goals and two assists in 16 games with the Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC tournament and had two assists.

Michael Misa (Center) – Canada – 2025 1st Round Pick (2nd)

Misa played seven games in the NHL with the Sharks and had a goal and two assists. He played two games in the AHL and had one assist. In 2024-25, he had 62 goals and 72 assists in 65 games with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL.

Christian Kirsch (G) – Switzerland – 2024 4th Round Pick (116th)

Kirsch has a save percentage of 90.1 in 21 games with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. He played four games in the 2025 WJC with a save percentage of 87.8.

Seattle Kraken (5)

Blake Fiddler (RD) – USA – 2025 2nd Round Pick (36th)

Fiddler has five goals and 13 assists in 28 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. He had 10 goals and 23 assists in 64 games in 2024-25.

Loke Krantz (RW) – Sweden – 2025 7th Round Pick (218th)

Krantz has 11 goals and seven assists in 14 games with Linkoping HC of the Swedish U-20 league. He has played 13 games in the SHL with one goal and one assist.

Kim Saarinen (G) – Finland – 2024 3rd Round Pick (88th)

Saarinen has a save percentage of 90.4 in 18 games with HPK of the Finnish Liiga. He was a member of Finland in 2025 in the WJC but didn't get into a game.

Julius Mietinen (Center) – Finland – 2024 2nd Round Pick (40th)

Mietinen has 18 goals and 24 assists in 27 games with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC tournament and had a goal and an assist.

Jakub Fibigr (LD) – Czechia – 2024 7th Round Pick (202nd)

Fibigr has eight goals and 16 assists in 27 games with the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC and had a goal and three assists.

St. Louis Blues (3)

Love Härenstam (G) – Sweden – 2025 6th Round Pick (179th)

Harenstam has a save percentage of 91.8 in 19 games with Sodertalje SK of the HockeyAllsvenskan.

Adam Jiřiček (RD) – Czechia – 2024 1st Round Pick (16th)

Jiricek has 10 goals and 19 assists in 25 games with the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL. He played one game in the 2024 WJC and seven games in the 2025 tournament, where he had five assists.

Adam Jecho (Center) – Czechia – 2024 3rd Round Pick (95th)

Jecho has six goals and 16 assists in 27 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC, where he had two goals and five assists.

Utah Mammoth (7)

Veeti Väisänen (LD) – Finland – 2024 3rd Round Pick (96th)

Vaisanen has four goals and 14 assists in 29 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. He played seven games in the WJC tournament and had one assist.

Max Psenicka (RD) – Czechia – 2025 2nd Round Pick (46th)

Psenicka has two goals and 10 assists in 24 games with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.

Stepan Hoch (LW) – Czechia – 2025 3rd Round Pick (78th)

Hoch has two goals and one assist in 22 games with HC Motor Ceske Budejovice of the Czech Elite League.

Cole Beaudoin (Center) – Canada – 2024 1st Round Pick (24th)

Beaudoin has 14 goals and 27 assists in 25 games with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. He played five games in the 2025 WJC and had one assist.

Caleb Desnoyers (Center) – Canada – 2025 1st Round Pick (4th)

Desnoyers has six goals and 19 assists in 17 games with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. He had 35 goals and 49 assists in 56 games in 2024-25.

Tij Iginla (LW) – Canada – 2024 1st Round Pick (6th)

Iginla has 13 goals and 14 assists in 17 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. He had 14 goals and 18 assists in 21 games in an injury-riddled 2024-25.

Ludvig Johnson (LD) – Switzerland – 2025 6th Round Pick (174th)

Johnson has two goals and nine assists in 30 games with HC Fribourg-Gotteron of the NL in Switzerland. He played five games in the 2025 WJC and had a goal and one assist.

Vancouver Canucks (3)

Wilson Bjorck (LW) – Sweden – 2025 5th Round Pick (143rd)

Bjorck has five goals and three assists in 15 games with Colorado College.

Braeden Cootes (Center) – Canada – 2025 1st Round Pick (15th)

Cootes has 10 goals and 13 assists in 17 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. He played three games in the NHL at the start of 2025-26.

Basile Sansonnens (LD) – Switzerland – 2024 7th Round Pick (221st)

Sansonnens has three assists in 31 games with Lausanne HC of the NL in Switzerland. He played five games in the 2025 WJC tournament but was pointless.

Vegas Golden Knights (1)

Trevor Connelly (LW) – USA – 2024 1st Round Pick (19th)

Connelly has played 11 games in the AHL and has had three goals and four assists. He played seven games in the 2025 WJC with one goal and three assists.

Winnipeg Jets (2)