The 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship is about to get extremely interesting.
With the quarter-finals taking place on Thursday in Espoo and Vantaa, the U.S. aims to take the first step toward becoming the first nation to repeat as champs since (wait for it) the U.S. achieved the feat in 2014 and 2015.
The other seven quarter-final participants all have some version of redemption or revenge on their minds. So let’s take a closer look at our four do-or-die matchups. All times are local.
United States – Switzerland (12:00, Espoo)
How do you stop James Hagens? That question looms large for Switzerland, which has scored just eight goals to the U.S.’s 33 so far. Hagens, a 17-year-old centre with magical hands, is shoring up his #1 overall draft ranking for 2025 with a tournament-high 16 points through four games. (By comparison, the entire Swiss team has totalled 18 points.)
“James is obviously an insanely skilled player,” said linemate Teddy Stiga, whose natural hat trick in the 9-4 shellacking of Finland featured three Hagens assists. “So it’s just about trying to find soft areas and places where he can get you the puck. You know he’ll find you when you’re open, so you’re just trusting that he’ll get it to you.”
Beyond Hagens, the Americans are getting elite tournaments out of forwards such as Cole Eiserman (6+2=8) and Trevor Connelly (4+4=8). The U.S. also effectively activates its defence, including talents like Cole Hutson (4+4=8) and Logan Hensler (1+3=4). Strong two-way play has the U.S. tied with Canada for fewest goals allowed (seven).
The Swiss must stay out of the box, as the U.S.’s power play (10-for-17, 58.8 percent) is far more lethal than that of their opponents (2-for-13, 15.3 percent). But even good discipline may not be a difference-maker. All-time, Switzerland has lost 10 of 11 U18 Worlds meetings with the Americans by an aggregate of 57-18. Expect that trend to continue.
Czechia – Slovakia (14:45, Vantaa)
To see this brotherly rivalry revived is a treat for hockey fans. Most recently, the Czechs were down in the dumps after an upset 4-3 overtime loss against Kazakhstan. The Slovaks, meanwhile, smashed their national team record for goals in a game in the 11-1 win over Norway that gave them third place in Group B. Who will bring the right mindset on Tuesday?
Five of the last six Czechia-Slovakia U18 Worlds games have been decided by just a goal. So prepare to witness a bit of a chess match. Both sides have been decidedly…
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