2025 U18 World Championships updates
Photo credit: Tim Austen/IIHF
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May 3
For the first time in program history, Canada are back-to-back champions at the U18 World Championships.
Canada shutout Sweden 7-0 behind a 28-save performance from Brampton’s Jack Ivankovic while the Soo’s Brady Martin scored twice. Windsor’s Jack Nesbitt, Blainville-Boisbriand’s Xavier Villeneuve, Niagara’s Ethan Czata, Tri-City’s Jackson Smith and Seattle’s Braeden Cootes also found the back of the net as Canada took home its sixth U18’s title.
CHAMPIONS AGAIN❗️🥇🏆 #U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/a4lyd2UbeO
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 4, 2025
Ivankovic and Martin were named to the tournament’s All-Star team while the Steelheads netminder was also named the tournament’s top goaltender.
Earlier in the day, the USA claimed bronze after a 4-3 overtime victory against Slovakia. Edmonton’s Blake Fiddler scored the opening goal of the game and in his hometown of Frisco, TX., secured a bronze medal.
May 2
Canada booked its spot in the final of the U18’s World Championships after a 4-0 win over Slovakia.
Brampton’s Jack Ivankovic stopped all 24 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the tournament. Blainville-Boisbriand’s Xavier Villeneuve had a goal and an assist while Victoria’s Cole Reschny, Windsor’s Jack Nesbitt and Niagara’s Ryan Roobroeck each scored.
Post-game, Ivankovic, Reschny and Seattle’s Braeden Cootes were named as Canada’s three best players of the tournament.
Jack Nesbitt gets his first of the tournament! 🚨
The @SpitsHockey's #NHLDraft prospect buries a rebound to become the 16th different 🇨🇦 CHL player to score at the #U18MensWorlds! pic.twitter.com/cW5B76BuD7
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 2, 2025
In the other semi-final, Ottawa’s Filip Ekberg had a goal and an assist as Sweden beat hosts USA 4-3. In the process, Ekberg set a new Swedish record for the most points (18) in a single U18’s tournament.
USA and Slovakia will meet at 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT in the bronze medal game while Canada and Sweden meet at 8pm ET / 5pm PT with gold on the line. Both games can be seen live on TSN 1.
History for @Ottawa67sHockey's #NHLDraft prospect Filip Ekberg! 👏
In addition to his now 10 goals, his 17 points are also the most ever by a 🇸🇪 player at a single #U18MensWorlds! pic.twitter.com/cYgkNsD2Pn
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 3, 2025
April 30
Victoria’s Cole Reschny was the hero for Canada as he scored the overtime winner in a 3-2 win over Czechia in Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
Reschny had also scored earlier in the game while Tri-City’s Jackson Smith also found the back of the net for Canada who trailed on two separate occasions. Brampton’s Jack Ivankovic was stellar again as he made 22 saves.
COLE RESCHNY CALLS GAME IN OT😤
The @victoriaroyals’ star #NHLDraft prospect sends 🇨🇦 to the semis❗️ #U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/OdSlJr93gD
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 30, 2025
In the day’s first semi-final, Quebec’s Andreas Straka helped Slovakia take out Germany 3-2. In defeat, Owen Sound’s Max Bleicher scored for Germany who maintained their status for 2026 in their season back in the top flight.
Sweden reached the semis too after another outstanding performance from Ottawa’s Filip Ekberg who recorded three points (2G, 1A) in the win. Ekberg continues to lead the tournament with nine goals and 16 points in just five games. The tournament record for points in a single event is 22.
Finally, hosts USA doubled up Latvia 6-3. Edmonton’s Blake Fiddler was a +3 in 21:35 of ice time as he once again led the team.
Canada will face Slovakia in Friday’s first semi-final while the USA will take on Sweden.
April 28
Seattle’s Braeden Cootes and Guelph’s Lev Katzin each scored twice as Canada completed a perfect round-robin at the 2025 U18 World Championships with an 8-1 win over Norway.
Niagara’s Ryan Roobroeck added four points (1G, 3A) while Victoria’s Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff, as well as Sarnia’s Alessandro Di Ioiro, also scored while Brampton’s Jack Ivankovic and Baie-Comeau’s Lucas Beckman combined to make 17 saves. Canada had already locked up top spot in Group A and will now face Czechia in Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
A perfect pass … to himself! @Storm_City's Lev Katzin has second of the night courtesy of a fantastic assist! 😉 #U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/u9fOWfULUL
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 28, 2025
Earlier in the day, Ottawa’s Filip Ekberg had four points (2G, 2A) in Sweden’s 7-3 win against Czechia. Ekberg leads the tournament in goals (7) and points (13). In defeat, Kamloops’ Vit Zahejsky scored for the fourth straight game.
Wednesday’s other quarterfinals will see the USA face Latvia, Sweden battle Finland and Germany takes on Slovakia.
April 27
Canada kept its perfect round-robin intact after a 5-1 win over Finland to move to 3-0-0. In his tournament debut, Calgary’s Ben Kindel had a goal and an assist as did Blainville-Boisbriand’s Xavier Villeneuve. Soo’s Brady Martin, Seattle’s Braeden Cootes and Victoria’s Cole Reschny also found the back of the net while Brampton’s Jack Ivankovic made 38 saves. The victory ensured Canada took top spot in Group A.
In the day’s other game, Germany beat Switzerland 5-4 where Halifax’s Carlos Handel had three points (2G / 1A) and Saskatoon’s David Lewandowski also scored.
April 26
Quebec’s Andreas Straka – the fourth overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft – had a goal and an assist as Slovakia defeated Norway 9-1.
Kamloops’ Vit Zahejsky continued his impressive tournament as he scored for the third straight game as Czechia doubled up Switzerland 4-2. The Seattle duo of Radim Mrtka and Matej Pekar also added two assists each in the win.
Hosts USA moved to 3-0-0 after a 6-3 win over Sweden. Edmonton’s Blake Fiddler led all U.S. skaters with 22:22 of ice time.
April 25
Canada collected its second straight win after a 7-1 victory against Latvia.
Niagara’s Ryan Roobroeck scored twice while Blainville-Boisbriand’s Xavier Villeneuve, Sarnia’s Alessandro Di Iorio and Guelph’s Lev Katzin all had a goal and assist. Tri-City’s Jackson Smith scored for the second straight game while Prince George’s Carson Carels also found the back of the net. Baie-Comeau’s Lucas Beckman made 16 saves to secure the win.
An impressive rookie season for @StingHockey's Alessandro Di Iorio continues! 🐝
The 2026 #NHLDraft prospect steals the puck shorthanded and adds 🇨🇦's fifth of the night! #U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/abvIW3ZUGe
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 26, 2025
Earlier in the day, Ottawa’s Filip Ekberg had three assists as Sweden beat Germany 9-4. Ekberg – who had five points (4G/1A) in their first game of the tournament – leads all skaters with eight points.
April 24
Defending champions Canada got off to a blistering start with a 9-2 win over Slovakia in their tournament opener.
Seattle’s Braeden Cootes had five points (2G, 3A) while Vancouver’s Cameron Schmidt had two goals and an assist. Guelph’s Lev Katzin and Quinn Beauchesne, Red Deer’s Matthew Gard, Tri-City’s Jackson Smith and Vancouver’s Ryan Lin also scored in the win. Brampton’s Jack Ivankovic – who won gold last year – made 22 saves.
WHAT A GOAL CAMERON SCHMIDT‼️#U18MensWorlds | @WHLGiants pic.twitter.com/kD20WpgbtP
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 24, 2025
Earlier in the day, Kamloops’ Vit Zahejsky scored for the second straight night as Czechia lost 4-3 in overtime to Germany. The USA also moved to 2-0-0 after a 10-0 win against Switzerland; Edmonton’s Blake Fiddler – who scored Wednesday – was a +1 in 16:11 of ice time.
April 23
The opening day of the 2025 tournament saw Ottawa’s Filip Ekberg explode for five points (4G, 1A) as Sweden beat Switzerland 10-3 in their tournament opener.
Hosts USA also got their campaign off to a perfect start with a 4-2 victory over Czechia where Edmonton’s Blake Fiddler scored the game-tying goal in the third period. Seattle’s Radim Mrtka and Kamloops’ Vit Zahejsky scored for Czechia in defeat.
Canada gets its campaign underway this evening when they face Slovakia at 5pm ET.
Blake Fiddler homecoming! 🇺🇸
The Frisco, TX native scores in his hometown at the #U18MensWorlds! @EdmOilKings | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/1BCn45kmFR
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 24, 2025
