2026 U18 World Championship updates
May 2
Sweden won the third gold medal in their U18 program history after a 4-2 victory over hosts Slovakia.
In defeat, Filip Kovalcik (Drummondville / QMJHL) played 15:07 and tallied four shots on goal as Slovakia won just its third ever medal at the event and first in 23 years.
Czechia won its first medal at the U18 World Championships since 2014 after a 4-1 win over Latvia to win bronze.
Ondrej Ruml (Ottawa / OHL) and Jakub Vanecek (Tri-City / WHL) each registered an assist in the win as Czechia secured its fifth ever medal at the event. In goal, Marek Sklenicka (Seattle / WHL) stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced.
As for Latvia, Martins Klaucans (Sherbrooke / QMJHL) scored as they recorded their best ever finish at the U18’s.
7⃣ CHLers have claimed 🥉 at the 2026 #U18MensWorlds!
Jan Larys (@VoltigeursDRU)
Marek Sklenicka (@SeattleTbirds)
Jiri Kamas (@Rebelshockey)
Ondrej Ruml (@Ottawa67sHockey)
Jakub Vanecek (@TCAmericans)
Adam Klaus (@CBEHockey)
Jan Trefny (@MJWARRIORS) pic.twitter.com/3xxIFEu2AZ— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 2, 2026
May 1
Hosts Slovakia have reached the final of the U18 World Championships after a 1-0 shutout win over Latvia. Filip Kovalcik (Drummondville / QMJHL) played 21:25 and recorded two shots in the win.
They will meet Sweden who defeated Czechia 4-3 in overtime. Jakub Vanecek (Tri-City / WHL) had a goal and an assist for the Czechs in defeat as Sweden scored three unanswered to secure a spot in Saturday’s final at 1pm ET / 10am PT.
Saturday’s bronze medal game – that gets underway at 9am ET / 6am PT – features seven CHL players on the Czechia roster and two on Latvia’s.
April 29
Two-time defending champion Canada fell in the quarterfinals after a 4-2 loss to Sweden.
Maddox Dagenais (Quebec / QMJHL) and Callum Croskery (Soo / OHL) each had goals while Gavin Betts (Kingston / OHL) stopped 23 shots. It marks the first time since 2022 that Canada will not medal at the tournament.
Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw / OHL) – who had seven points in five games – as well as Ryan Lin (Vancouver / WHL) were named as two of Canada’s best players at the tournament.
Maddox Dagenais on the odd-man rush! 😱
The @quebec_remparts star and highest rated @QMJHL prospect for the 2026 #NHLDraft gets 🇨🇦 on the board in their #U18MensWorlds quarterfinal! pic.twitter.com/QAKVvHeBLW
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 29, 2026
In other quarterfinal action, Adam Klaus (Cape Breton / QMJHL) had a goal and an assist as Czechia slipped past Finland 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals.
Martins Klaucans (Sherbrooke / QMJHL) had a pair of goals while Olivers Murnieks (Saint John / QMJHL) added two helpers as Latvia stunned the USA 5-2 to reach the semis for the first time in program history.
Finally, hosts Slovakia took out Denmark 7-1 where Filip Kovalcik (Drummondville / QMJHL) had an assist.
It means that Czechia will face Sweden and Latvia meet Slovakia in Friday’s semi-finals.
Ricards Rutkis with a drop pass to Martins Klaucans 🤩#WorldJuniors #IIHF @lhf_lv pic.twitter.com/FOvy006rnz
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 29, 2026
April 27
Canada concluded the round-robin with a dominant 7-0 win over Finland.
Both Mathis Preston (Vancouver / WHL) and Beckett Hamilton (Red Deer / WHL) each scored twice while Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw / OHL) and Ryan Lin (Vancouver / WHL) also found the back of the net. Callum Croskery (Soo / OHL) and Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria / WHL) each had two assists while Gavin Betts (Kingston / OHL) stopped all 18 shots he faced for his second shutout of the tournament.
This is why Ryan Lin will be one of the first defencemen selected at the 2026 #NHDraft! 🤩
The @WHLGiants star wraps home his first of the #U18MensWorlds! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/eq9XS8WEub
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 27, 2026
Slovakia beat Latvia 5-2 in the other Group A contest to wind up top of the group. In defeat, Olivers Murnieks (Saint John / QMJHL) had an assist.
In Group B action, Sweden took down Denmark 10-1 for its second win of the tournament while the USA romped to an 11-2 decision over Germany where Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa / OHL) recorded an assist.
The tournament quarterfinals take place Wednesday where Canada will now face Sweden at 8am ET / 5am PT. The other quarterfinals see hosts Slovakia face Denmark, Finland battle Czechia and USA tackle Latvia.
April 26
Sunday’s action saw both Latvia and Czechia collect decisive victories.
In Group A, Latvia trounced Norway 8-1 for its first win of the season as Martins Klaucans (Sherbrooke / QMJHL) scored twice and Olivers Murnieks (Saint John / QMJHL) also buried his first of the tournament.
Over in Group B, Czechia defeated Denmark 9-1 where Ondrej Ruml (Ottawa / OHL) had a pair of assists.
April 25
Canada made it two straight wins after they blanked Norway 8-0 on Day 4 of the tournament.
Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw / OHL) led the offensive charge with a hat-trick and assist while Jaxon Jacobson (Brandon / WHL) – in his tournament debut – had a pair of goals. Zach Olsen (Saskatoon / WHL) and Beckett Hamilton (Red Deer / WHL) also found the back of the net while Vancouver pair Ryan Lin and Mathis Preston each added two assists. Gavin Betts (Kingston / OHL) turned aside all 12 shots he faced.
Zhilkin’s six points and four goals are currently tied for the tournament lead.
DOMINANT DIMA❗️
The @SpiritHockey's 2027 #NHLDraft prospect had a hat-trick earlier today to power 🇨🇦 to an 8-0 win over 🇳🇴 at the #U18MensWorlds! pic.twitter.com/8GsFF6GpaT
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 25, 2026
In the other Group A game, Finland nudged past hosts Slovakia 5-4 in overtime to take top spot in the pool with one game to play. Slovakia – who beat Canada on the opening day of the event – sits second with the two-time defending champions third.
Over in Group B, the USA secured a second straight win after they thumped Sweden 9-1 where Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa / OHL) had an assist. Finally, Jakub Vanecek (Tri-City / WHL) had a goal in Czechia’s 3-2 overtime loss to Germany.
April 24
On a two-game Friday schedule, it was the USA and Finland who prevailed.
Despite firing 52 shots on net, the USA only defeated Denmark 2-0 as they collected their first win of the tournament in Group B action. Levi Harper (Saginaw / OHL) logged 13:19 and five shots on goal in the win.
In Group A, Finland also claimed a 2-0 victory after they defeated Latvia.
Canada is back in action Saturday when they face Norway in their third game of the round-robin at 8am ET / 5am PT.
April 23
Canada got its first win of the tournament after a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Latvia.
Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw / OHL) had a goal and an assist while the Ottawa 67’s’ Thomas Vandenberg and Kohyn Eshkawkogan each scored. Zach Olsen (Saskatoon / WHL) completed the scoring with 14.8 seconds left in regulation while Carter Esler (Spokane / WHL) stopped all 18 shots he faced.
The @BladesHockey's Zach Olsen with the exclamation mark❗️
The 36th ranked North American skater for the 2026 #NHLDraft completes a dominant display with 🇨🇦's sixth of the day! #U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/CRzBDP10CF
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 23, 2026
In other action, Denmark opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Germany in Group B action while Czechia nudged past Sweden 2-1 thanks to goals from Adam Klaus (Cape Breton / QMJHL) and Jakub Vanecek (Tri-City / WHL) who scored the game-winner with 21 seconds left in regulation.
In Group A action, hosts Slovakia made it two wins from two after a comfortable 6-1 decision over Norway.
April 22
The quest for gold at the 2026 U18 World Championships has begun with 36 players developed in the CHL in Slovakia for this year’s tournament.
Two-time defending champions Canada struggled in their campaign opener as they fell 2-1 to hosts Slovakia. Mathis Preston (Vancouver / WHL) had Canada’s only goal while Gavin Betts (Kingston / OHL) made 13 saves before he exited in the third period through injury. Carter Esler (Spokane / WHL) stopped two shots in relief.
Mathis Preston strikes on the 🅿️🅿️!
The @WHLGiants' 2026 #NHLDraft prospect gets 🇨🇦's first of the #U18MensWorlds! pic.twitter.com/RhYBo56qYL
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 22, 2026
Earlier in the day, Sweden beat Germany 7-2 and Czechia defeated USA 3-2 in overtime in Group B action. Adam Klaus (Cape Breton / QMJHL) had an assist for the Czechs in the victory while Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa / OHL) added a helper for the USA.
The day’s other Group A contest saw Finland beat Norway 6-1.
