World Juniors: Sandin-Pellikka, Hagens, Canada’s Youth Make Excellent First Impressions

The 2025 world juniors are underway, and the stars came out to play on Day 1.

First impressions are often stuck in our memories. After the first day of the world juniors, there were plenty of first impressions that made their mark. It was an excellent opening day to the World Junior Championship so let’s look at some of the best first impressions from this year’s tournament.

The ‘Big Four’ Assert Themselves

Coming into the world juniors, Canada, USA, Sweden and Czechia looked better on paper than any other team.

Finland, a team used to being included in the WJC Big Four, has struggled to find high-end skill and talent, which was the issue against Canada in their opening game, losing 4-0. They had the defensive structure to keep things relatively close, but they couldn’t solve the Canadian defense.

That wound up being the closest game from the big four as Sweden took down the upstart Slovaks 5-2, USA pounded Germany 10-4 and Czechia defeated Switzerland 5-1.

There wasn’t much doubt in any of those games because the victorious teams were strong throughout the game. Look for these four to meet in the semifinals.

A.S.P. For MVP

Axel Sandin-Pellikka was named the WJC’s top defenseman of last year’s tournament and looked like a player on the hunt for bigger honors this time around. The Detroit Red Wings’ first-round pick in 2023 had one heck of a game against Slovakia.

With a hat trick and an assist to go with it, Sandin-Pellikka was a force for Sweden. His ability to read the opposing defense and make a play was simply phenomenal. He’s showcasing why he came to the WJC as the SHL’s leading scorer from the blueline despite being just 19 years old.

Hagens Shows Up

The favorite to go first overall at the 2025 NHL draft came into the world juniors and led the Americans to a big victory with a wicked offensive performance.

His four-point night got everyone talking about him once again as a potential No. 1 pick after the hype train for a few others has picked up steam in recent weeks.

Hagens’ dynamic playmaking and cerebral play-reading ability made him a dangerous player every single time he stepped onto the ice. Although he’s never really fallen out of the first overall conversation, Hagens put himself firmly at the head of the pack when it comes to public perception against the Germans.

Related: World Juniors: James Hagens Takes Center Stage With Team USA

Canada Led By Youth

Opening the scoring was 17-year-old Gavin McKenna, and closing it was 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer. There is a realistic shot they could be the first overall pick in each of the next two drafts with Schaefer building momentum for the 2025 class and McKenna having held the pole position in 2026 for some time now.

McKenna was often Canada’s most dangerous forward throughout the game, finding seams to set up his teammates and showing off his touch and creativity at every chance.

Schaefer was the team’s most offensively involved defender for much of the night, getting up ice to join the rush or looking to create in the offensive zone. He ended the game with a goal and an assist, which came on McKenna’s opening goal.

While Schaefer’s goal was an empty-netter, it was nice to see him get rewarded for the solid world juniors debut.

Related: Coast To Coast To Coast: A Geographic Breakdown Of Team Canada’s 2025 WJC Roster

Related: 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Ferrari’s Pre-World Juniors Top 64