Underage Stars Speckle European Rosters At Worlds

The world took notice when then 14-year-old Nela Lopušanová took over at the U-18 World Championships, earning MVP honors, leading the tournament in scoring, and making highlight reels across the globe with her Michigan-style goal.

Lopušanová, however, is too young to represent Slovakia at the senior nationals. Players must be turning 16 in order to compete as an underage player at the senior national level.

In the recent World Championship tournament in Brampton, Ontario, there were several teenagers making waves, including a group of 16- and 17-year-old players. Here is a look at the top 16- and 17-year-old underage players in the event.

Hilda Svensson, F, 16, Sweden - It only took her 10 seconds to score her first career goal with the senior national team, and Svensson didn’t look back. Her vision, particularly on the powerplay was evident, finding passing lanes and quickly turning openings into scoring opportunities for herself. As a 16-year-old, playing on Sweden’s top line, Svensson is clearly Tre Kronor’s player of the future.

Adela Sapovalivova, F, 16, Czechia - When you watch Sapovalivova play, a few things immediately jump off the ice. Although she’s undersized, Sapovalivova never shies away from the dirty spots on the ice. You’ll find her in puck battles along the boards, and setting up in front of the net doing battle with players who outsize her. With the puck, Sapovalivova is shifty and creative. She changes the puck path through and around her body often bringing fans out of their seats. As a central figure in the growth of Czechia’s national team, Sapovalivova’s elite skill set is undeniable.

Sanni Vanhanen, F, 17, Finland - Calling Vanhanen a national team veteran at 17 years old seems wrong, but it’s true. This was her third World Championship, and Vanhanen finally started to show

Regina Metzler, F, 17, Hungary - Metzler played top six minutes throughout the tournament for Hungary. The captain of Hungary’s U-18 team, Metzler spent this season playing junior in Ontario, and will be a top recruit in the NCAA. Hungary’s hopes to grow, and stay in the top tier of the Worlds rests on Metzler and 19-year-old Emma Kreisz moving forward.

Mira Jungåker, D, 17, Sweden - Jungaker saw her minutes increase as the tournament went on, specifically on the powerplay. She finished second among team defenders in round robin scoring. Jungåker is mobile, and likes to jump into the play, or drift in from the point to add a scoring option. As she continues to gain strength and experience, she projects as one of the best blueliners in the world.

Alessia Baechler, D, 17, Switzerland - Sixth on the Swiss roster in ice time in preliminary play, Baechler already has the trust of her coaching staff. At five-foot-nine, Baechler is the biggest player on the Swiss roster, and she effectively uses that size and her reach to take away space. As the offensive ability she's shown at the U-18 level transfers to the senior national team, Baechler's impact will only grow.

Ebba Hedqvist, 16, Sweden - Hedqvist played checking line minutes for Sweden, Hedqvist was a bit of a surprise to make this team considering some of the players not named to Sweden’s roster. At the U-18 level, her offensive upside was evident, but it’s her pace, and puck pursuit that helped Hedqvist make this roster, and play regular minutes.

Tereza Plosova, 16, Czechia - A top scorer at the past two U-18 World Championships, Plosova scored 16 points in 10 games over the last two tournaments. She recorded an assist in the round robin, playing less than nine minutes per game. Surprisingly, however, she tied for the team lead in plus/minus at +2. Czechia is deep, and it's only a matter of time before Plosova takes a top six role.

Tereza Pistekova, 17, Czechia - Similar to Plosova, Pistekova played limited minutes, but did manage her first goal. The duo, alongside Sapovalivova have been unstoppable at the U-18 level, and soon will be counted on to recapture that magic at the senior national level.

Alena Rossel, F, 16, Switzerland - This tournament was all about experience for the young forward. Rossel played protected fourth line minutes throughout and didn't register a point. At the U-18 level, she's proven herself. Watch for Switzerland to continue to increase her role in the coming years.

Kohane Sato, D, 17, Japan - In her second World Championship, Sato was given protected repetitions on the Japanese blueline. She's the captain of Japan's U-18 team, and will be a piece of the future. Sato, like many Japanese players, would benefit from playing outside of Japan for a few seasons.