With the 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship recently concluded in Ottawa, the planet’s best men’s 20-and-under puck-shooters and puck-stoppers will be coming to Minnesota in roughly 11 months, and those who know the event commonly known as “World Juniors” say the State of Hockey is in for a crazy few weeks.

Team USA is the winner of the 2025 World Junior Hockey championship in Ottawa, Canada, and the countdown is on for the next edition of the event. That starts in December and even organizers are taking lessons learned in Canada back to Minnesota.

The global hockey event will unfold in the Twin Cities between Dec. 26, 2025, and Jan. 5, 2026, as the U.S. goes for a gold medal three-peat.

With two wins and a shutout last week, Leevi Merilainen was an easy choice for the Ottawa Senators Prospect of the Week for Jan 6-12.

Leevi Meriläinen was drafted 71st overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The Finnish netminder then spent time with Finland’s  Kärpät before moving to North America with the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) in 2021-22.

The Ottawa Senators surprised the NHL when a hot streak in December landed them squarely in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Senators have gone 2-3-1 th