Ahead of next week’s World Junior Summer Showcase in Minnesota, a series of games involving four U-20 teams will take place in Vierumäki, Finland, on Sunday and Monday. Two teams from Finland – essentially an A-team and a B-team – will host the Czech and Swiss national junior teams once each.

Named to Team Finland's A roster, which includes several returnees from the 2025 World Juniors and multiple players expected to play on their 2026 team, were Seattle Kraken prospects Julius Miettinen and Kim Saarinen.

Miettinen and Saarinen featured on Finland's roster at the 2025 World Juniors, but neither played a large role. Miettinen recorded one goal and two points in seven games, while Saarinen didn't receive any game action. This year's event will be different for Miettinen, as he will likely be a key contributor throughout the tournament. 

Miettinen has a solid 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame, highlighted by a strong two-way presence. He is hard on pucks and is a force around the boards, using his playmaking abilities to produce offensively. His lower-body strength makes him more than a handful around the net, and it's why he was able to notch 11 goals and 39 points in 36 games in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips. His role at next year's event will be clear: shut down the opponent's top line and allow Konsta Helenius and Emil Hemming to take advantage offensively. 

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Petteri Rimpinen held the net for Finland last year, dominating with a .933 SP in seven games. Saarinen and Rimpinen put up very similar numbers in Liiga last season as 2006-born goaltenders, and will once again compete for the starting goaltender role. Because of his previous play, Rimpinen will be the favorite to start the tournament, but twists and turns are always involved at the World Juniors. 

Helenius & Hemming Highlight Finnish U-20 Roster In Home Tournament Ahead of next week’s World Junior Summer Challenge in Minnesota, a series of games involving four U-20 teams is taking place in Vierumäki, Finland on Sunday and Monday. Two teams from Finland – essentially an A-team and a B-team – will host the Czech and Swiss national junior teams once each.

Czechia's roster has featured Kraken prospect Eduard Sale for three consecutive tournaments, but the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft has aged out of the event. Czechia will still feature Seattle representation, courtesy of defenseman Jakub Fibigr. 

The 18-year-old was a standout performer at last year's event, recording five assists in seven games, tied for the team lead in points by a defenseman. The former seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft scored three goals and 33 points in 58 OHL games in 2024-25.

Czechia's blue line is expected to be very strong at next year's event, headlined by Fibigr, Adam Jiricek, and Radim Mrtka. 

10 NHL-Drafted Players On Czech U-20 Summer Roster The roster that the Czechs have brought to a four-team summer tournament in Vierumäki, Finland includes 10 players who have been drafted by NHL teams, including defenseman Radim Mrtka, who as taken ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres this summer.

Newly Drafted Kraken Defenseman Named To Team USA's World Junior Summer Showcase Roster Seattle Kraken defensive prospect Blake Fiddler has been named to Team USA's 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase roster.