One of the best parts of the holiday season is getting to wrap up Christmas with World Juniors. The 2026 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championship is set to begin on Friday, as play gets underway in Minnesota.

Six Philadelphia Flyers prospects will represent their countries throughout the tournament. That includes three who are a part of their team’s leadership group, two of whom are captains.

A returner for Canada, Jett Luchanko, the Flyers’ 2024 13th overall pick, will be making his second appearance at the U20 tournament. Now playing for Brantford (OHL), Luchanko is expected to get a third-line role for Canada, playing on the right wing. Last year, he appeared in five games, scoring one goal, a shorty. Luchanko has played six games with his new team, scoring two goals and totaling eight points.

Also representing Canada, 2025 6th-overall pick Porter Martone, 19, will be making his second appearance at the U20 tournament. Last year, Martone played in three games, scoring a goal for just one point. Martone was given the honor of donning the “C” at the tournament this year. The Flyers’ prospect captained the Canadian 2023-24 U18 team as well. Martone is expected to have a top-line role this year.

Jack Berglund (’24 rd 2) is the other Flyers prospect who earned the honor of being captain in this tournament. Berglund was expected to have a big role for Sweden last season, before an injury in exhibition games kept him out. This year, Berglund is captaining the Swedish team, one that could make a lot of noise. Pre- World Juniors projections have Berglund slotted at 3C.

Heikki Ruohonen (’24 rd 4) will be making his second appearance at World Juniors after a solid showing last season. In seven games last season, the Flyers prospect tallied four assists. Ruohonen is now at Harvard, where he has a goal and five points in 11 games. This season at World Juniors, Ruohonen was named an alternate captain for Finland.

Also on the Finnish team, Flyers’ 2025 5th-rounder Max Westergard. Westergard will make his first World Juniors appearance after being a U18 standout. The 18-year-old winger has 21 points (4G 17A) in 12 games for Frolunda HC in the U20 Nationell, but has not had the same success in the SHL, which makes sense given he is 18 in a challenging league. This tournament should be a good test for Westergard as a prospect.

The sixth Flyers’ prospect headed to World Juniors is Shane Vansaghi, representing the USA. Vansaghi was a 2025 2nd-round pick by the Flyers, who is now in his sophomore season at Michigan State, playing alongside Martone. Pre-tournament projects have Vansaghi as an extra winger on the American team. If he does get time, it’ll almost certainly be in a checking line role.

World Juniors predictions

Before the tournament begins, let’s do some predictions.

The Canadian team is a juggernaut. I expect them to dominate in almost every game, especially if they can get good goaltending. Martone is going to get a significant role in this tournament, and I really do think he has a chance to be the top player at World Juniors this season.

As for the results, I think it’s Canada’s tournament to lose. However, the Swedish team is going to be very, very good with a deep forward group. It would not shock me if they finished ahead of the Americans.

However, with the tournament on US soil in the Minneapolis area and the chance for a three-peat, it will be tough for any team to have more momentum than the American team.

My prediction is a Canada vs. US final, with America winning a close game.

What do you think will happen?

World Juniors begins on Friday with the first game at 1:00 p.m. EST.

Read More: 3 Things on the Flyers Holiday Wish List