Welcome to Last Word On Hockey’s editions of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship predictions. Throughout the tournament, our team will break down key matchups, storylines, and stats, then make a prediction on how the game will play out. You can also check out our NHL editions. For this edition, we’ll take a look at the first two quarterfinal games with Latvia taking on Sweden to open the quarterfinal round. Then, we check in on Switzerland facing off against Czechia in the second matchup of the day.
World Junior Championship Predictions: Quarterfinal #1 – Latvia vs Sweden
Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
How to Watch: US TV: NHL Network Canada: TSN
Location: Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota
The Latvians enter the quarterfinal round after a tough 4-2 loss to Czechia, dropping them into fourth place in Group B. They finished with a 1-3 record, taking down Denmark 6-3 in their sole win of the group round. That puts them against the top team in Group A in Team Sweden. The Swedes dominated their pool and will be a tough matchup for the Latvians.
Team Sweden heads into this quarterfinal matchup after a dominating 6-3 win over Team USA in their final group stage game. That win allowed the Swedes to finish in first place of Group A with a 4-0 record. Moreover, they looked outstanding in group play, cruising to the quarterfinals with their closest game being their 3-2 tournament opener against Team Slovakia.
Latvia’s Outlook
The Latvians come into this one as the clear underdog, but they have been playing tight games, including their tournament opener, where they took Canada to overtime, eventually falling 2-1. Their 2026 draft-eligible defenceman, Albert Smits, has been the talk of the tournament so far, and scouts are paying attention. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound defender plays a physical brand of hockey and has showcased his skill, putting up four points in the group round. Look for him to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft after his performance this tournament. The Latvians’ leading point producer, Kristers Ansons, will need a big performance as well to help advance his team to the semifinals. He has put up two goals and three assists so far, and he’ll have to be their best forward once again if they want to stay alive.
Sweden’s Side
They are led up front by 2026 draft-eligible forward Ivar Stenberg and several already-drafted NHL prospects. Stenberg’s name was circling amongst media and scouts heading into the tournament. He had been looked at as a player with the potential to jump Gavin McKenna and be picked number-one overall at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Chicago Blackhawks prospect, Anton Frondell, has looked dominant throughout the group stage, putting up five points in four games, while Anaheim Ducks prospect, Lucas Pettersson, has five points and leads the team in scoring with four goals. Philadelphia Flyers prospect, Jack Berglund, currently leads the Swedes with six points, tallying two goals and four assists through their four group round games. This offence should dominate the Latvians and help the Swedes cruise to victory thanks to their star-studded forward group.
Final Prediction
The Latvians have impressed this tournament, but won’t have the answers for Sweden’s dominating offensive unit and won’t have enough firepower of their own to hang in for a full 60-minute game. The Swedes should take control of this one from puck drop as long as they stick to their game plan. Look for Sweden to expose the depth of the Latvian defensive group and put up an impressive performance in this quarterfinal game, taking them into the semifinals on a high note.
Final Prediction: Sweden 7 – Latvia 2
