WA-WJC-TalentGapClosing_ The quarterfinals of the 2025 World Juniors begin on Thursday [https://www.tsn.ca/world-juniors/schedule] afternoon when top-ranked Sweden (4-0-0) [https://www.tsn.ca/world-juniors/standings] takes on Latvia (0-2-2) at 10 a.m. MT, where Calgary Flames prospect Axel Hurtig [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/640415/axel-hurtig] will get a chance to advance to the medal round. Thus far, the 19-year-old defenseman has a single point, an assist in an 8-1 win over Kazakhstan, while Sweden finished as the highest-scoring team in the round-robin with 24 goals, one behind Czechia. Additionally, Hurtig has three shots on goal and is plus-2, averaging 11:47 of ice time in Sweden's four contests. Sweden is looking to return to the gold medal game, having lost to the United States in the final last year on home soil in Göthenberg. If Hurtig can help his team achieve their goal, it would be the second international tournament he'd be competing for a medal, having a U18 silver medal in 2022-23. The former seventh-round pick (208th overall) from the 2023 Draft is skating with the Calgary Hitmen [https://chl.ca/whl-hitmen/] this season and has two goals and seven points in 28 games. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExNDI4NzY0NzEyNzA3MjMx/thncgybanner-bookmark.png]
