For the second year in a row, Bled, Slovenia, will be the picturesque scene for the IIHF U20 World Championship Division I Group A.
Last December, the town of 8,000 on the southern edge of the Slovenian Alps was where Denmark earned its place in the top division of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship by finishing the tournament with four regulation wins and one overtime loss. This year it will be another team’s turn. The six competitors include one team – Kazakhstan – which was relegated from last year’s World Juniors, one – Ukraine – that was promoted after winning Division I Group B last year, and four returnees from last year’s tournament in Bled: Austria, Norway, France, and host Slovenia.
Listed according to last season’s order of finish, here are the six teams:
Kazakhstan
As mentioned, Kazakhstan was knocked down from last year’s top-tier World Juniors in Ottawa, losing 4-3 to Germany in the relegation game. The Kazakhs will aim to go back up but only have four returning players from last year’s squad. The majority of this team plays in the top Kazakh league or for Kazakhstan-based Snezhnye Barsy Astana in Russia’s top-tier junior league. The team also has three players from major junior hockey in Canada: forwards Korney Korneyev and brothers Asanali and Alisher Sorenkov.
Austria
Last year’s tournament ended in heartbreak for the Austrians, who needed only a point in their last game against Denmark to advance. Tied 3-3 midway through the third period, two Danish goals on a five-minute power play were the difference in a 5-4 defeat. A whopping 14 players are eligible to return, including defenceman Gregor Biber and winger Vasily Zelenov, who are prospects of the Utah Mammoth and Buffalo Sabres, respectively.
Norway
Finishing third last year was a bitter disappointment for the Norwegians, who were picked by many as the pre-tournament favourites. The team’s two biggest stars from last year have aged out, but they still have 18-year-old centres Mikkel Eriksen and Tinus Luc Koblar, prospects of the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively. Koblar, who plays for Leksand in the SHL, will be looked to as the team’s offensive leader.
Slovenia
The Slovenes performed well on home ice last year, winning twice and holding their own against the top three teams. Their 18 goals led the tournament, with defenceman Jan Golicic – a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect who plays in the QMJHL – tied for third in points with six. Golicic, who also played for Slovenia at last year’s top-level men’s World Championship, and Finnish U18 league top scorer Svit Habjanic are two players to watch on this squad.
France
Last year, France managed an overtime win against group winner Denmark but otherwise beat only relegated Hungary and finished fourth. This year’s French squad is very young, with only six 2006-born players, but 10 have top-tier pro experience in Ligue Magnus. Darcy Terglav, who turned 16 in September, plays with Habjanic for SaiPa and is second in Finnish U18 league scoring behind his linemate.
Ukraine
Ukraine won Division I Group B last year in Tallinn, Estonia, with five straight wins. This tournament will obviously be much tougher, but the Ukrainians are bringing several players back, including Alexander Levshyn, who was the Top Goaltender of last year’s tournament and also saw action for the senior men’s national team in Division I Group A in Romania. Levshyn is one of four players from Canadian major junior hockey on this squad.
