The 2026 World Junior championships are about to reach the quarterfinal stage with eight teams remaining in the quest for gold. The matchups are Latvia vs. Sweden, Switzerland vs. Czechia, Finland vs. United States of America and Slovakia vs. Canada. Here is a look at how the remaining United States Hockey League players left in Minnesota and how they have fared. 

Nils Roberts Maurins has played in three games for the Latvians, going 1-2-0 with a 2.68 goals-against average and 0.897 save percentage. The best game of the tournament for the Omaha Lancer was against Canada, where the net-minder turned away 36 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss. Maurins was in goal for Latvia’s win against Denmark, stopping nine shots to help keep Latvia out of the relegation game. Latvia and Sweden square off for the second year in a row in the quarter-finals at 2 p.m. EST. 

Rūdolfs Bērzkalns made his mark in the first game of the tournament, scoring against Canada with under two minutes left in the game to force overtime in an eventual 2-1 loss against the powerful Canadians. The 17-year-old has recorded 16 points in 27 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and could use his scoring ability if Latvia wants to pull off what would be the upset of the tournament by defeating Sweden. 

Lenny Giger, who currently plays for the Sioux City Musketeers, has had a quiet 2026 World Juniors to this point. Through three games played, the forward has recorded zero points. The 19-year-old has posted three goals and six assists through 26 games played in his first season in the USHL. 

Phileas Lachat has been operating as the third goaltender behind San Jose Sharks prospect Christian Kirsch and Anaheim Ducks 2025 fourth-round pick Elijah Neuenschwander. The net-minder is in the midst of his third season with the Waterloo Black Hawks. In 15 games this season, Lachat has posted a 4-9-2 record, 3.73 goals-against average and 0.884 save percentage. 

Richard Žemlička skated in all four round-robin games for Czechia, chipping in one goal against Denmark in a 7-2 win. The forward’s rights are with the Youngstown Phantoms, but he has yet to skate in a game for them in the 2025-26 season. He is expected to report to Youngstown once the 2026 World Juniors wrap up. 

Caleb Heil has played in two games at the 2026 World Juniors, winning both of his starts against Germany and Slovakia, to go along with a 4.00 goals-against average and .846 save percentage. The Tampa Bay Lightning, seventh-round pick currently plays for the Madison Capitals, where the net-minder has gone 10-4-2 with a 2.60 goals-against average and 0.891 save percentage. 

Brady Knowling was thrown into action on New Year's Eve, getting the start against Team Sweden. Knowling was pulled in the 6-3 loss after allowing five goals on 28 shots. Knowling is a part of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. In five starts this season, Knowling has a 3-2-0 record with a 3.22 goals-against average and 0.877 save percentage. Knowling is a 2026 draft-eligible player and is committed to Boston University for 2027-28. 

All three goaltenders that Slovakia brought to Minnesota are products of the USHL. Michal Pradel of the Tri-City Storm is 1-2-0 with a 3.46 goals-against average and 0.894 save percentage, picking up a win against Germany and losses against USA and Switzerland. With the Storm, Pradel has a 9-9-3 record, 2.46 goals-against average and .916 save percentage. 

Alen Lendak was named Player of the Game in his lone start of the tournament against Sweden on Boxing Day. Lendak turned aside 29 shots in a 3-2 loss. Over the holiday break, Lendak was traded from the Fargo Force to the Des Moines Buccaneers. In 11 games in 2025-26, Lendak is 5-6-0 with a 2.45 goals-against average and 0.915 save percentage. 

Leo Henriquez hasn’t played in a game with Slovakia at the 2026 World Juniors. Currently in his second season with Green Bay, Henriquez has made 13 starts, posting a record of 8-2-1, 1.93 goals-against average and 0.928 save percentage. 

Adam Belusko has put together a solid tournament for the Slovaks, scoring against Germany in a 4-1 win and again against USA in a 6-5 loss. The defenseman currently plays for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, where Belusko has posted one goal and seven assists over 27 games. 

Samuel Murin has yet to record a point over four games with the Slovaks in Minnesota. The forward is teammates with Pradel on the Storm and has totalled four goals and one assist over 28 games played in Murin’s first season in the USHL.