FloSports: FloHockey 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase, Montreal Canadiens prospect Aatos Koivu
Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens will be represented by five prospects at the 2026 World Junior Championship, which is set to take place in St-Paul and Minneapolis, starting on December 26, and culminating with the gold medal game on January 5.

Michael Hage – Team Canada

The most notable player taking part in the tournament will be none other than Michael Hage, the dynamic forward who has quickly become a top player in the NCAA, as well as one of the most important draft picks in the prospect pool.

Not only has he managed to produce an impressive 10 goals and 18 assists in 20 games, he also happens to lead the Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) in scoring, tied with Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Will Horcoff.

If you haven’t had a chance to watch Hage in action yet, you’ll notice that he’ll be among the most exciting players on the ice for Team Canada, a situation that may lead to a healthy amount of offence, as there’s a chance he’ll spend most of the tournament alongside Top 2026 prospect Gavin McKenna.

Canada’s first game will take place on Friday, December 26, versus Czechia, the very team that has eliminated them during the last two editions of the World Junior Championship.

Aatos Koivu – Team Finland

Picked 70th overall in 2024, Koivu has spent the last three seasons playing professional hockey in Finland with TPS Turku (Liiga), a team part-owned by his father, Saku. It’s important to remember that Aatos and Saku possess very different toolkits. Aatos has a much better shot, and engages in physical play with more regularity, whereas his father was a finesse player who excelled at playmaking.

In 30 games, he’s only managed to score two goals and five assists, though we do have to keep in mind that most 19-year-olds do not have to face much older opponents on a nightly basis.

Even though he’s a natural centre, he’s expected to serve as Finland’s second-line right wing, playing alongside Philadelpha Flyers draft pick Heikki Ruohonen, and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Joona Saarelainen.

Finland will be aiming for gold at this edition of the World Junior Championship, in a bid to improve upon their silver medal finish last year, after dealing with a 4-3 overtime loss to Team USA in the final game of the tournament.

Team Finland opens the tournament with a game versus Denmark, on Friday, December 26.

L.J. Mooney – Team USA

While there’s no doubt we can criticize Team USA for their lack of results at the Olympics, the same cannot be said about their showings at WJC.

The Americans are the current champions, and will look to extend their win streak to an impressive three consecutive tournaments with a win in 2026.

They won’t be icing a lineup with the same talent level as previous years, which may play in L.J. Mooney’s favour. He’s clearly among the most skilled players on the team, and the strict rulebook enforced by the IIHF should allow him a little more time and space to use his impressive creativity.

Mooney has scored four goals and 11 assists in 15 games for the University of Minnesota (NCAA), and is expected to serve as a second-line winger throughout the World Junior Championship.

Team USA will face Germany in their first game of the tournament, on Friday, December 26.

Carlos Handel – Team Germany

Life as an 18-year-old defenceman is never easy, but Handel has displayed an encouraging level of skill while playing for the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL).

Picked 117th overall in 2025, Handel is in his second season with the Mooseheads, and has maintained a relatively consistent production rate throughout, to the tune of two goals and 10 assists in 25 games (2025-26).

As one of the better puck-moving defencemen in the lineup, Germany will count on Handel to drive the play, in a bid to avoid yet another ninth place finish.

Mikus Vecvanags – Team Latvia

Vecvanags was picked 134th overall in 2024, and though he doesn’t necessarily represent the most hyped prospects, he may end up playing one of the biggest roles at the tournament.

After all, a goalie can re-write the script in a short tournament, which is exactly what Latvia is hoping Vecvanags will do, maintaining the momentum he created in pre-tournament play.

Click here for a complete schedule (CST) of the 2026 World Junior Championship.

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By Marc Dumont
Marc has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for Journal Metro, The Athletic, The ... More about Marc Dumont

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