The CHL was the only development hockey league in the world to feature at least one player on all 10 participating countries at the 2025 World Juniors – showcasing the league’s global impact and commitment to developing elite talentFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tonight, in Ottawa, Ontario, 22 players from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) proudly took home medals at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. Headlining the list was Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts / OHL), Joey Willis (Saginaw Spirit / OHL), and Carey Terrance (Erie Otters / OHL) who helped the United States defeat Finland 4-3 in overtime during Sunday’s gold medal game. The victory gave the United States consecutive gold medals at the World Juniors for the first time in their program’s history. Terrance led all CHL skaters on Team USA with two goals in seven tournament games.A record seven CHL players represented Finland at this year’s World Juniors as the Finns earned their 18th medal in tournament history by taking home silver. Forward Jesse Nurmi (London Knights / OHL) led that group of seven CHL skaters on Team Finland in scoring with five points (2G-3A in 7 GP). He was followed by London Knights forward Kasper Halttunen (1G-3A in 7 GP) and Barrie Colts forward Emil Hemming (2G-2A in 7 GP) who each had four points during the tournament.Earlier during the day, Team Czechia and its 12 CHL players earned their country’s third consecutive World Juniors medal by besting Sweden in the bronze medal game 3-2. Czech forward Jakub Stancl (Kelowna Rockets / WHL) recorded his tournament-leading seventh goal of the 2025 World Juniors, while OHL alumnus Eduard Salé (Barrie Colts & Kitchener Rangers) tallied the winner in the 14-round shootout to secure a third-place finish for Czechia. It is the first time in Czechia’s history that they have won three straight medals at a World Juniors.In addition to leading the 2025 World Juniors with seven goals, Stancl finished as the CHL’s leading scoring leader at the event with 10 points (7G-3A) – one point shy of the tournament leader. Stancl was also the lone CHL skater to be named to the 2025 World Juniors All-Star Team as he was one of the three forwards selected to the team by members of the media. Meanwhile, Canadian goalie Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL) led all netminders with a 1.76 goals-against average, a .936 save percentage, and two shutouts. Not too far behind him was Latvian goalie Linards Feldbergs (Sherbrooke Phoenix / QMJHL), whose .929 save percentage ranked third at the 2025 World Juniors.Additionally, among those chosen as the top three players of the tournament for their country, there were nine CHL skaters selected including goalie Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL), defenceman Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon Blades / WHL), and forward Brayden Yager (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) for Canada; defenceman Carlos Händel (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) and forward Julius Sumpf (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL) for Germany; goalie Linards Feldbergs (Sherbrooke Phoenix / QMJHL), defenceman Peteris Bulans (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL), and Eriks Mateiko (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) for Latvia; and forward Léo Braillard (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) for Switzerland. In total, 63 CHL players participated in the 2025 World Juniors (see complete list of players below), which represented over 25% of the players who competed at the tournament – the most of any development hockey league in the world. The CHL was also the only league in the world to feature one player from all 10 participating countries at the 2025 World Juniors.Of the 63 CHL players, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) leads the way with 27 competing in the tournament. They were followed by the Western Hockey League (WHL) which had 22 players at the event, while the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) had 14 players competing at the 2025 World Juniors. The 63 CHL players were also more than double the next-closest development league (NCAA – 26) QUICK FACTS Joey Willis (Saginaw Spirit / OHL) became the sixth U.S. player to ever win a World Junior gold medal along with a Memorial Cup title – joining Tyler Parsons (London Knights / OHL), Jeremy Bracco (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), Cam Fowler (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), Tyler Johnson (Spokane Chiefs / WHL), and Danny Fritsche (London Knights / OHL) achieve the feat.The 2025 World Juniors marked the first time Finland ever had seven CHL players representing their country at a World Juniors. The previous record was six, which was set in 2017 (Olli Juolevi, Vili Saarijärvi, Juuso Välimäki, Janne Kuokkanen, Julius Nättinen & Petrus Palmu)This past summer, a record 15 Finnish players were drafted at the 2024 CHL Import Draft, including Emil Pieniniemi (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL), Jesse Nurmi (London Knights / OHL), and Veeti Väisänen (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL), who all three were part of Finland’s silver-medal performance at the 2025 World Juniors.At 17 years and seven days old, Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) became the eighth youngest player to suit up for Team Canada at a World Juniors.At 17 years, three months, and 22 days old, Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters / OHL) became the third youngest defenceman to play for Team Canada at a World Juniors.Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads / OHL) became only the fourth 17-year-old goalie to see game action for Team Canada at a World Juniors.Czech forward Jakub Stancl (Kelowna Rockets / WHL) moved into a tie for fourth among Czechia’s all-time scoring leaders at the World Juniors with 16 points (11G-5A) over 14 career tournament games; he also ranks tied for third in goals (11) among Czechia skaters all-time at the World Juniors.Czech captain Eduard Salé (OHL alumnus / Barrie Colts & Kitchener Rangers) moved into second on Czechia’s all-time scoring leaders at the World Juniors with 21 points (10G-11A) over 21 career tournament games. 63 CHL PLAYERS COMPETED AT THE 2025 WORLD JUNIORSGOLD – U.S.A. (3) (G) Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts / OHL) About the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the world’s largest development hockey league with 51 Canadian and nine American teams participating in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League (NHL) and U SPORTS than any other league. During the 2023-24 season, of the 1,000-plus players who played a game in the NHL, over 430 came through the CHL. At the 2024 NHL Draft, 88 CHL players were selected, including 14 in the first round. For more information regarding the CHL, please visit chl.ca. Media Contact |
