Top players so far at the U18 world championship 

TRENCIN, Slovakia — The 2026 men’s U18 hockey championship is providing some eye-opening results as it enters its third day of competition in Bratislava and Trencin, Slovakia. 

Team Canada rebounded Thursday to defeat Latvia after falling to the undefeated hosts from Slovakia in their first game. Meanwhile, Czechia, after its win over Sweden, is also unbeaten and sits atop Group B after a win over Sweden on Thursday. 

Some of my scouting observations from the tournament:

Adam Valentini: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, left-shot winger

Valentini was excellent versus Latvia on Thursday. He made plays in small areas, escaped pressure with his ability to make tight turns before exploding to open space, and contributed a goal and assist while logging nearly 17 minutes of ice time. 

Valentini is being deployed in all situations for Team Canada and part of its leadership group as an assistant captain. The University of Michigan forward is sturdy/strong, providing plenty of pushback physically. Valentini provides more than just offence. His detail and competitive approach to every shift, has stood out. 

Keaton Verhoeff: 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, right-shot defenceman

Verhoeff is Team Canada’s captain and logging the most ice time on the team through the first two games. He’s averaging over 23 minutes per game and being deployed at even strength and the penalty kill. Verhoeff is being tasked with shutting down top opponents. Every shift has been a high-leverage challenge, matching up against the top two lines and power play. 

Verhoeff has yet to register a point, but he’s been aggressive directing pucks on net. He’s been credited with nine shots on goal. His presence has been obvious. Verhoeff has also competed consistently and worked to kill plays along the boards and box out opponents in front of Canada’s net. Having said that, I’m looking for him to take charge even more offensively as the tournament progresses. His execution with the puck hasn’t been poor but he has another level to get to with his overall playmaking. 

Tynan Lawrence: 6-foot, 185 pounds, left-shot centre

Lawrence has registered one goal and one assist. He’s averaging 17 minutes of ice time and being deployed at even strength and on the first power-play unit. Lawrence has handled the puck for long stretches of, seemingly, every shift. He’s driving play and attempting to get to the crease off the rush and half-wall cycle. Lawrence is clearly working to be a difference-maker offensively but he’s also been pressing a bit at times. There’s room for Lawrence to use his linemates more often by distributing the puck and moving to open space to get it back in high-danger areas. 

Maddox Dagenais: 6-foot-4, 196 pounds, left-shot forward

Dagenais has been one of the most-often used forwards for Team Canada, averaging over 18 minutes per game. Although Dagenais has produced only one assist in Canada’s first two games, he’s been noticeable almost every shift. His combination of size, physicality and aggressiveness attempting to get the puck on net stands out. A power forward who makes life miserable for opponents with his style of play, Dagenais can play both the wing and centre.  

Sweden defeated Germany 7-2 in its first game, on Wednesday, but fell to Czechia 2-1 in its second game, on Thursday. 

Alexander Command: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, left-shot forward

Command has contributed only one assist but he’s capable of providing more and continues to display the consistent three-zone detail I value from his game. His relentless, energetic and physical approach projects well for the NHL, and he has the hockey sense and commitment to be used in a variety of roles. Sweden has been rolling its forward lines in the tournament, which is one reason Command is averaging only 13 minutes ice time; he could be deployed much more than he has been. 

Markus Nordmark: 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, left-shot forward

Nordmark sat out the first game but entered the lineup Thursday against Czechia. He scored Sweden’s lone goal on the power play from the left slot and logged just over 15 minutes of ice time. Nordmark has good speed, skill size. I will continue to monitor his shift-to-shift impact. Nordmark has top-two line NHL upside and, with Sweden sitting at with a win and a loss, he will be tasked to produce offensively the rest of the tournament. 

Adam Andersson: 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, left-shot forward

Andersson is a big, strong power forward who can play both centre and the wing. He’s averaging just under 13 minutes per game. At this time of the year, in the NHL, the games are hotly contested in the hard areas of the ice. A player like Andersson is willing to take a hit to extend plays, pushes back physically and has reliable detail in all three zones. He projects to be a bottom-six NHL forward who can contribute secondary offence. Andersson is a prospect I would target in the third round at the NHL Draft as an additional piece of organizational depth. 

The Slovaks have raced out to a 2-0 record in the preliminary round after defeating Canada and Denmark in their first two games. 

Maxim Simko: 5-foot-11, 167 pounds, left-shot centre

Simko is another player who has stood out for me as a potential mid-round NHL pick. He’s a darting forward with solid skill and creative puck touch. Simko is always in motion, and works off the cycle to pounce on open ice and direct plays on net. He scored his first goal of the tournament Thursday versus Denmark and could have contributed much more. He’s been noticeable. Simko produced 27 goals and 38 assists at the U20 level playing for HK Nitra this season. 

The Americans lost to Czechia, 3-2, in overtime in their first game of the tournament. They play their second game on Friday versus Denmark. 

Brady Knowling: 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, left-catching goalie

Knowling is in the running to be one of the first goaltenders selected in Buffalo this June. He was solid in his start versus Czechia. Knowling is at his best when he uses his size as an advantage. His crease composure was generally sound in his start versus the Czechs. He rarely strayed outside his posts moving side to side and squared up nicely to cut down angles and absorb pucks from distance. There’s a lot to like about his upside. 

The tournament is being hosted in two cities, Bratislava and Trencin, here in Slovakia. I’m bouncing back and forth by train to catch all of the teams in action. My next notebook will include my observations from teams I have yet to see, including Finland who defeated Norway 6-1 in its first game and is set to play Latvia Friday before a crucial Group A match-up Saturday versus Slovakia.