2025 Junior World Championship Preview – 3 Kings prospects set for U-20 Championship

The Kings have one more day off before returning to the ice tomorrow, but three of their prospects are right back at it this morning here in Ottawa.

After having just one representative last season, the Kings will have three this year as the world’s best players under 20 meet for the annual midseason tournament. The 2025 Junior World Championships begin here in Ontario this afternoon, with a total of ten teams competing for three medals. The tournament runs until January 5th. Then the bronze and gold medal games will be played. All games this season will be played in Ottawa, split between the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the Senators, and TD Place, home of the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s.

The ten teams will be split into two groups, with Group A playing its games at the Canadian Tire Center and Group B playing at TD Place. The groups for this season are as follows:

Group A: United States, Finland, Canada, Latvia, Germany
Group B: Sweden, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Kazakhstan

In recent seasons, several Kings contenders have participated in the tournament and many have achieved success. Defenseman Brandt Clarke was part of the Canadian squad that won the gold medal in 2023, while forward Kenny Connors was on Team USA this season and won bronze. Forward Samuel Helenius won silver with Finland in 2022 and in 2021 and 2020, a current member of the Kings scored the tournament-winning goal with Alex Turcotte in 2021 for the United States and Akil Thomas in 2020 for Canada.

This year, three LAK candidates will represent their countries: Carter George (Canada), Hampton Slukynsky (USA) and Jakub Dvorak (Czech Republic).

For organizational insight on all three candidates, hear from Kings Director of Goaltending Bill Ranford on George and Slukynsky, as well as Ontario Reign Assistant Coach Chris Hajt, below. Ranford was instrumental in shaping George and Slukynsky and has an overview of how both are developing as part of his new role in management. Hajt is responsible for working with defensemen in the AHL and has taken a hands-on approach as Dvorak’s coach this season, his first at the AHL level. Some good insights into all three perspectives –

CarterGeorge
George is expected to be the starting goaltender for Team Canada participating in the tournament. He might even be the team’s top scorer based on his most notable play so far in the 2024-25 season.

George played most of Canada’s three goalies before the tournament and was very sharp. He stopped all 11 shots he faced in 40 minutes of play in the 7-1 win over Switzerland before going the distance and making 21 saves on 23 shots in a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic in Canada’s final game the tournament. George was the starting goaltender at the 2024 IIHF U-18 World Championship before the Kings selected him in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft. George seems to be made for tournaments like this. Kings scouting director Mark Yannetti said George had “the it factor” and thrived on the biggest stage and in the biggest moments. This is the right moment, especially for young Canadian players.

While you can never know for sure, it sounds like George could get the start in Game 1 against Team Finland today. From then on, it looks likely that he will lose in the three remaining group games before the knockout stages begin next week.

Schedule of the George/Canada group –
December 26 vs. Finland, 4:30 p.m. Pacific time
December 27 vs. Latvia, 4:30 p.m. Pacific time
December 29th against Germany, 4:30 p.m. Pacific time
December 31 against the United States, 5:00 p.m. Pacific time

Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images

Hampton Slukynsky
Slukynsky is the second goaltender to represent the Kings organization here at the 2025 World Juniors. Equally impressive for George, the key difference is that Slukynsky likely won’t be the Game 1 starter due to the presence of returning goaltender Trey Augustine, who was the starter in net for the United States last season and finished with a . won a gold medal. 936 save percentage and a 1.75 goals against average.

But that doesn’t mean he won’t be there. With a back-to-back series of games in group play, it could be a prime opportunity for Slukynsky to get a game, and if Augustine struggles, Slukynsky will be ready. Slukynsky was the starting goalie at the World Junior-A Challenge in Truro, NS, last season and won a bronze medal at that tournament. He was also one of the best goaltenders in all of NCAA hockey this season, ranking in the top 5 in the country in save percentage (.941) and in the top 10 in the country in goals-against average (1st). ,84). Freshman at Western Michigan.

Hopefully we’ll see Slukynsnky in action and, barring any results, we hope to see him a few times. In the 50 minutes before the tournament, Slukynsky allowed two goals on 21 shots, contributing in part to wins against Slovakia and Finland.

Slukynsky/USA group schedule –
December 26th vs. Germany, 11:30 a.m. Pacific time
December 28 vs. Latvia, 12:30 p.m. Pacific time
December 29 vs. Finland, 11:30 a.m. Pacific time
December 31 vs. Canada, 5:00 p.m. Pacific time

Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Jakub Dvorak
Dvorak is the only skater representing the Kings at this year’s tournament and he is expected to be one of the most experienced players in the entire event and play a prominent role for Team Czechia.

Dvorak is in the middle of his first professional season in North America after splitting time between pro hockey in the Czech Republic and junior hockey in Canada last year, and is playing his second half in the WHL. Because of the massive change, Dvorak didn’t play in the tournament last season, when he would have been an important player for the Czechs. That’s exactly what he’ll be this season alongside St. Louis junior Adam Jiricek, with both players expected to log big minutes on the blueline. However, Dvorak is the most experienced of the group as he will be stepping back from competition in this tournament as he comes from the AHL where he played 14 games for the Ontario Reign this season. For most, this tournament will be a step up and hopefully give Dvorak a chance to assert his game.

Dvorak has made some nice strides in the AHL this season. He has a big frame and the Kings like his combination of running style, size and defensive ability. He’s never been a top producer, but he can move pucks and contribute a little at that end of the ice, too. A good test for Dvorak against players his age before he returns to the Reign to continue his development in the second half of the season.

Schedule of the Dvoraky/Czech Republic group –
December 26th against Switzerland, 2:00 p.m., Pacific
December 28 vs. Kazakhstan, 10:00 a.m. Pacific time
December 29 vs. Slovakia, 2:00 p.m. Pacific time
December 31st vs. Sweden, 2:00 p.m. Pacific time

REPRESENT THE CZECH REPUBLIC‼️ 🇨🇿

Defenseman Jakub Dvořák has been loaned to Team Czechia for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship starting December 26th! 🙌

📰 https://t.co/rMwmObCrfJ pic.twitter.com/zwihlqF6sc

– Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) December 11, 2024

All Kings contender games will be broadcast live on NHL Network in the United States. A complete NHL network map can be found HERE.

Following the group stage, the top four teams in Groups A and B advance to the knockout round, which is a single elimination round. All four quarterfinal games will take place on January 2nd, followed by the semifinals on January 4th and the gold/bronze medal games on January 5th. All three Kings contenders are expected to reach at least the quarterfinals and have a good chance of winning multiple medals in total. We’ll be releasing additional coverage throughout the tournament as games are played!