Photo Credit: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN
Two Winnipeg Jets prospects will represent their country at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
Defenseman Alfons Freij and Sascha Boumedienne will suit up for Team Sweden at this year’s World Juniors. Viktor Klingsell, another Jets prospect for Sweden, wasn’t selected to the final roster, but was eligible to play in this year’s tournament. Klingsell is also joined by Kieron Walton, who was not selected to Canada’s preliminary roster.
Related: Guide to the 2026 World Junior Championship
Alfons Freij was drafted in the second round (37th overall) by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, looks to make an impact for Team Sweden. Freij has been playing for Timra IK of the SHL this season and he’ll look to be a driving factor of Sweden’s power play unit.
The 19-year-old left-shot defender has just two assists in 25 games this season. He posted eight points (2G, 6A) in 29 games played for Bjorkloven IF in 2024-25.
Sascha Boumedienne was drafted 28th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He’s another big body on the blue line for Sweden, and he’ll look to translate his strong offensive game to be another strong scoring threat. In 17 games this season, he’s posted six points (2G, 6A) for Boston University. He posted 13 points (3G, 10A) in 40 games played for Boston University last season.
Boumedienne is accustomed to the North American game as he played for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and played on Ohio growing up. He’ll also look to translate his success in international competition to be a top competitor for the Swedes this year.
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Conrad Jack is a Manitoba based sportswriter covering the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and the Manitoba Moose (AHL). He also covers the NHL Draft and World Junior Championship for ITR. He occasionally covers league wide news for Inside The Rink.