The 2025 World Junior Championship is set to begin in under a week and I can hardly wait for the games to start on December 26. This tournament is a bright spot in the hockey world’s calendar each year as the best U20 players from around the world come together and give us nearly two weeks of exciting hockey, back-to-back-to-back.
There are always some great storylines to monitor such as Connor Bedard’s emergence as a borderline generational talent or the dominant play of Adam Gajan out of seemingly nowhere like we saw back at the 2023 tournament.
Today I’m going to be outlining 10 storylines to keep an eye on as the tournament gets set to start next week, from a returning star that could lead Sweden to the Gold to the 2025 draft eligible players most likely to have significant impacts for their nations this year. Let’s jump right in with number one.
1. Trey Augustine Hunts for Top Goalie Honors
If Trey Augustine hadn’t been battling for Team USA’s crease with Jacob Fowler at last year’s tournament, I believe he would have run away with the award for the tournament’s best goaltender. Despite playing just four of a possible seven games last year, I still think Augustine would’ve been a justified winner, with tournament-leading .936% save percentage and a perfect 4-0 record.
Related: Guide to the 2025 World Junior Championship
Augustine has been one of the best goaltending prospects in the world over the past few years, but he has always elevated his game when he plays internationally, winning four medals between two U18 World Championships and two U20 World Championships. He’s back for a third consecutive year, and is the clear favourite to be the top goalie this year, with a great chance to win back-to-back gold medals with a strong American team in front of him.
Augustine also has a chance to become the all-time leader in World Junior Championship wins, either by winning six of a possible seven games (which has been done 13 times before) to tie the record of 14 career wins, or by winning seven of seven (only done once before) to lead all goalies to ever compete in this tourney outright. Just three wins would make him USA Hockey’s all time leader in wins at this tournament, and four would put him in second place all time.
2. Gavin McKenna Debuts at U20 WJC
Ever since his 4-point WHL debut as a 14-year-old, it has been clear…
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