2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge Roundup: The top players from Day 3
SARNIA – After a short three-day round-robin, the playoff matchups for the World U-17 Hockey Challenge are set.
In the opening game, the United States skated out to a 5-3 victory after the Finns tried to force a late-game comeback. Canada White, meanwhile, dominated the shot count but had to deal with an accurate shooting gallery from the Swedes, and the boys in yellow would hold on for the 5-4 overtime winner.
After Canada Red earned a bye to one Friday semifinal, Sweden prevented the all-host sweep with their victory. Canada White will face off against their heated rivals from Finland in one quarterfinal on Thursday, while the United States will face off against the Czechs.
Here’s a look at the top performers from Tuesday’s action in Sarnia:
Canada
#20 Markus Ruck, C (2026): This could also include his twin, Liam Ruck, but Markus, in my opinion, was Canada’s most dangerous player. He scored the 1-1 goal, but then he had another good look on the power play that just missed an opening in the net. The twins had a quiet start to the season before heading to Sarnia, but maybe a good week here will help their confidence.
#3 Keaton Verhoeff, D (2026): He’s just mean out there, man. Big hits, taking space away, you name it. Verhoeff is a difficult defender to beat in tight spaces. He was also the best defensive defender for Canada, in my opinion. I just wish he’d shoot the puck more because he can put a ton of power behind his shot.
#5 Ethan Belchetz, C (2026): Belchetz had two goals today, including the 3-3 goal that finally got Canada back into it. The big, 6-foot-5 forward easily overpowers the competition while on the rush and he’s got a tremendous shot release. If Canada White is going to win this tournament, they’ll ened him to be at his best going forward. But so far, he’s been great.
Sweden
#12 Marcus Nordmark, LW (2026): With a goal and an assist in the first period, Nordmark continued to show why he’s been one of the best players in the tournament. He had two goals and an assist in the opening game and nearly had another goal late in the first to give Sweden a two-goal advantage. Nordmark is a skilled sniper who generates a ton of the scoring for this group, and they’ll need more going forward.
#14 Nils Bartholdsson, LW (2026): With two goals, including an excellent effort on the overtime winner, Bartholdsson was crucial in leading Sweden to the victory. The speedy dangler has an outstanding work ethic and drove the net as hard as anyone today. Well deserved winning goal.
#1 Milo Tjärnlund, G (2026): He allowed two goals early in the game, but he made some huge stops in a busy second period to give Sweden a lead heading into the third. At 6-foot-1, Tjärnlund is actually on the bigger side of goaltenders in this tournament and I thought he did an excellent job of getting to the top of the crease and making some big stops.
#17 Elton Hermansson, LW (2026): Hermansson looked on the verge of scoring all game long – so his 4-4 goal on the power play was huge. Hermansson is a high-end shooter that can score from just about anywhere on the ice, and now he has goals in all three games in Sarnia dating back to Friday’s exhibition contest.
Finland
#19 Vilho Vanhatalo, RW (2026): I was impressed with Vanhatalo’s game on Sunday because he used his 6-foot-3 frame to win a ton of battles and had the speed to go with it. Today, he had a pair of assists on Finland’s fourth line after missing out on the scoresheet in the first game. I think there should be some decent interest in Vanhatalo in his draft year because he commands so much space and even though he hasn’t scored yet, he’s one heck of a shooter.
#21 Olli Wahlroos, LW (2026): Wahlroos scored a much-needed goal late in the first period to give the Finns some life and helped set up the third Finnish goal, too. He skated fast, was always moving and trying to make things happen with and without the puck with how hard he attacked each play.
USA
#34 Sammy Nelson, C (2027): With two goals, Nelson was USA’s best player today. Right spot, right time? Sure, but given he had just three goals this season heading into the tournament, it was a huge showing. Nelson isn’t a big forward but he’s crafty and good in tight spaces.
#44 Victor Plante, LW (2026): Plante had another excellent showing, registering a pair of assists. I also thought Plante was USA’s best forechecker, attacking hard along the boards to win most battles he found himself in. Plante is a toolsy forward who loves to hold control of the puck as much as possible, and his conditioning is good to still be aggressive and quick late in games.
#38 Lukas Zajic, RW (2026): Two great games for Zajic so far. I liked the way he skated, attacked the open ice and he scored both the opening and closing goals. Zajic was one of the American players I wanted to watch the closest and I feel like he delivered in my two viewings this week.
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