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Jun. 24—'Twas the night before Christmas (Eve)
And all through the Rec Center
Hockey fans were stirring
In awe of Ivar Stenberg
----It was nearly six months ago today that hockey fans in southeastern Minnesota were treated to a rarity. As part of the lead-up to the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships in the Twin Cities, two games in the Pre-Tournament Series were held at the Rochester Recreation Center.
Some of the best U20 players in the world were in Rochester for a brief time.
On Dec. 23, the matchup featured Team Switzerland — which took over the lower level of the Rec Center for nearly 10 days, holding its pre-WJC camp there — against Team Sweden, which won the gold medal two weeks later at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Sweden's roster — and its lineup in Rochester — featured 18 players who had already been drafted by NHL organizations. But it was one of the team's eight undrafted players who routinely caught the eyes of spectators that night.
Ivar Stenberg, an 18-year-old left-shot winger, had fans' attention locked on the ice whenever he was on it, from the time warmups started through the final buzzer. Listed that night at 5-feet-9, 181 pounds (he measured 5-11, 183 at the NHL Scouting Combine two weeks ago), Stenberg didn't disappoint.
The third-youngest player on the Swedish roster, he had four goals and six assists across seven games at the WJC to help his country win gold for the first time since 2012.
Later this week, Stenberg's name will most likely be among the first five called at the 2026 NHL Draft. Some outlets project him to be selected as early as No. 2 overall by the San Jose Sharks (Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is projected as a near-consensus No. 1 overall pick, though it's possible the Toronto Maple Leafs could throw a curveball and select Stenberg). Nearly every draft source has Stenberg projected in the top five overall, never falling past the Chicago Blackhawks at No. 4.
He's the best of a group of players who are likely to be drafted this week who appeared in one or both of the WJC Pre-Tournament games at the Rec Center in December. Here's a look at those players and where they could be selected in next week's Draft, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Round 1 will take place on Friday, June 26, on ESPN. Rounds 2-7 are set for Saturday, June 27, on ESPN+ and NHL Network.
—F Ivar Stenberg (5-11, 183, age 18): The No. 1-ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting, Stenberg is ranked No. 1, 2 or 3 overall by all of the top draft sources. Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News, and Jason Bukala from Canada's SportsNet, have Stenberg ranked No. 1 overall. San Jose, which holds the No. 2 overall pick, made a splash last Wednesday, when it traded for 26-year-old right-handed defenseman Michael Kesselring. The Sharks only had to swap late-first round picks to make the deal, sending pick No. 20 to Buffalo and receiving Kesselring and pick No. 27 in return. Why does that matter to Stenberg? Because the Sharks are rumored to be high on several of the top defensemen in the Draft — including Michigan State commit Chase Reid, and North Dakota's Keaton Verhoeff and Carson Carels.
Stenberg, a left-shot winger, may ultimately prove to be the best player in this draft. He had four goals and 10 points in seven games during Sweden's run to the WJC gold medal. He also had a sensational season in the SHL, Sweden's top pro league, recording 11 goals and 33 points in 43 games as an 18-year-old. Stenberg thrives as an elite playmaker, with vision and passing ability few players at any level show.
—F Viggo Bjorck (5-9, 180, age 18): The dynamic center/winger, another potential top-five overall pick, was ranked No. 4 among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Something out of his control — size — may be the only question with Bjorck. He has produced at every level, including recording three goals and nine points in seven games at the U20 World Juniors in early January, winning a gold medal as a 17-year-old. He also had 15 points in 42 games for Djurgardens of the SHL, Sweden's best pro league, last season. He is projected to go to Calgary at No. 6 overall by NHL.com's Mike Morreale and The Athletic's Corey Pronman, and to Florida at No. 9 overall by NHL.com managing editor Adam Kimelman.
—D William Hakansson (6-4 1/2 , 217, age 18): The hulking left-shot blue-liner was ranked No. 12 among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting, and was ranked as a first- or second-round pick by 11 other outlets that cover the NHL Draft. Hakansson had two points and four penalty minutes while playing in all seven games for Sweden at the World Juniors. He also played in 31 games, with eight penalty minutes and a plus-1 plus/minus rating, for Lulea HF of the SHL, Sweden's top professional league. In a draft heavy on talented defensemen, The Athletic projects Hakansson to Philadelphia at No. 21 overall, while NHL.com 's Adam Kimelman slots him at No. 28 to Montreal.
—D Felix Carrell (6-1, 201, age 20): The 20-year-old is ranked No. 62 among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He won't provide a franchise much offense from the blue line, but Carell made his first Swedish international team — the 2026 World Junior Championship gold medal-winning team — this year thanks to his strong defensive play, his experience against pro competition and his ability to read the opposing offense. He played in all seven of Sweden's WJC games (recording one goal and one assist), and played in 39 games for the Malmo Redhawks in the SHL, Sweden's top pro league. He's projected by a majority of draft sources as a sixth- or seventh-round pick, if he's selected.
—F Casper Juustovaara Karlsson (5-9, 168, age 18): He is the No. 94-ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting. There is a wide range of scouting reports on Juustovaara and how he may fit in professionally in North America. His size is a question mark, considering he's at his best as a bottom-six, checking forward who plays with high energy. His versatility is a plus, having played both center and wing, and done so at the pro level. He played 34 games for Lulea HF last season, in Sweden's SHL. He also played in all seven games at the WJC, scoring two goals.
—F Lars Steiner (5-10, 176, age 18): Steiner has played the past two seasons in North America, for Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, a major-junior league in eastern Canada. He is ranked as the No. 89 North American skater in this draft, by NHL Central Scouting. He had 64 points in 61 games in the QMJHL this season, and had a goal and three assists in five WJC games. Steiner is projected as a middle-round pick.
—D Daniil Ustinkov (6-1, 201, age 20): He is ranked as the No. 76 International skater by NHL Central Scouting. At 6-1, his biggest assets are his speed and skating ability. A strong puck handler, Ustinkov can get through the neutral zone smoothly and move along the blue line, while holding onto the puck. He has been passed over twice in the NHL Draft, but he played 17 games this season in the NL, Switzerland's top pro league. A three-time member of Switzerland's WJC team, he played in all five of the country's games in the 2026 tournament, recording four assists.
—2027 Prospect: Switzerland center Jonah Neuenschwander drew a lot of attention — rightfully so — during the WJC and the Pre-Tournament Series. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound left-shot was making his second appearance in the world's premier junior hockey event as just a 17-year-old. Then he played 32 games in the National League, Switzerland's top pro league. His size, hands and elite passing ability make him one of the best NHL prospects to come out of his country in some time, and he's already being projected as a first-round pick — possibly in the top 10 — in the 2027 NHL Draft. His brother, Elijah, was a goalie on Switzerland's WJC team the past two years and is a 2025 fourth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks.
—F Oliver Dejbjerg Larsen (5-11, 168, age 19): Larsen is ranked No. 91 among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The left-shot winger may be worthy of a late-round flier, after scoring 26 goals and recording 68 points in 45 games for Rogle BK in Sweden's top junior league last season. He also led his country in scoring at the 2026 WJC, recording two goals and six points in five games.
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And all through the Rec Center
Hockey fans were stirring
In awe of Ivar Stenberg
----It was nearly six months ago today that hockey fans in southeastern Minnesota were treated to a rarity. As part of the lead-up to the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships in the Twin Cities, two games in the Pre-Tournament Series were held at the Rochester Recreation Center.
Some of the best U20 players in the world were in Rochester for a brief time.
On Dec. 23, the matchup featured Team Switzerland — which took over the lower level of the Rec Center for nearly 10 days, holding its pre-WJC camp there — against Team Sweden, which won the gold medal two weeks later at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Sweden's roster — and its lineup in Rochester — featured 18 players who had already been drafted by NHL organizations. But it was one of the team's eight undrafted players who routinely caught the eyes of spectators that night.
Ivar Stenberg, an 18-year-old left-shot winger, had fans' attention locked on the ice whenever he was on it, from the time warmups started through the final buzzer. Listed that night at 5-feet-9, 181 pounds (he measured 5-11, 183 at the NHL Scouting Combine two weeks ago), Stenberg didn't disappoint.
The third-youngest player on the Swedish roster, he had four goals and six assists across seven games at the WJC to help his country win gold for the first time since 2012.
Later this week, Stenberg's name will most likely be among the first five called at the 2026 NHL Draft. Some outlets project him to be selected as early as No. 2 overall by the San Jose Sharks (Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is projected as a near-consensus No. 1 overall pick, though it's possible the Toronto Maple Leafs could throw a curveball and select Stenberg). Nearly every draft source has Stenberg projected in the top five overall, never falling past the Chicago Blackhawks at No. 4.
He's the best of a group of players who are likely to be drafted this week who appeared in one or both of the WJC Pre-Tournament games at the Rec Center in December. Here's a look at those players and where they could be selected in next week's Draft, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Round 1 will take place on Friday, June 26, on ESPN. Rounds 2-7 are set for Saturday, June 27, on ESPN+ and NHL Network.
—F Ivar Stenberg (5-11, 183, age 18): The No. 1-ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting, Stenberg is ranked No. 1, 2 or 3 overall by all of the top draft sources. Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News, and Jason Bukala from Canada's SportsNet, have Stenberg ranked No. 1 overall. San Jose, which holds the No. 2 overall pick, made a splash last Wednesday, when it traded for 26-year-old right-handed defenseman Michael Kesselring. The Sharks only had to swap late-first round picks to make the deal, sending pick No. 20 to Buffalo and receiving Kesselring and pick No. 27 in return. Why does that matter to Stenberg? Because the Sharks are rumored to be high on several of the top defensemen in the Draft — including Michigan State commit Chase Reid, and North Dakota's Keaton Verhoeff and Carson Carels.
Stenberg, a left-shot winger, may ultimately prove to be the best player in this draft. He had four goals and 10 points in seven games during Sweden's run to the WJC gold medal. He also had a sensational season in the SHL, Sweden's top pro league, recording 11 goals and 33 points in 43 games as an 18-year-old. Stenberg thrives as an elite playmaker, with vision and passing ability few players at any level show.
—F Viggo Bjorck (5-9, 180, age 18): The dynamic center/winger, another potential top-five overall pick, was ranked No. 4 among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Something out of his control — size — may be the only question with Bjorck. He has produced at every level, including recording three goals and nine points in seven games at the U20 World Juniors in early January, winning a gold medal as a 17-year-old. He also had 15 points in 42 games for Djurgardens of the SHL, Sweden's best pro league, last season. He is projected to go to Calgary at No. 6 overall by NHL.com's Mike Morreale and The Athletic's Corey Pronman, and to Florida at No. 9 overall by NHL.com managing editor Adam Kimelman.
—D William Hakansson (6-4 1/2 , 217, age 18): The hulking left-shot blue-liner was ranked No. 12 among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting, and was ranked as a first- or second-round pick by 11 other outlets that cover the NHL Draft. Hakansson had two points and four penalty minutes while playing in all seven games for Sweden at the World Juniors. He also played in 31 games, with eight penalty minutes and a plus-1 plus/minus rating, for Lulea HF of the SHL, Sweden's top professional league. In a draft heavy on talented defensemen, The Athletic projects Hakansson to Philadelphia at No. 21 overall, while NHL.com 's Adam Kimelman slots him at No. 28 to Montreal.
—D Felix Carrell (6-1, 201, age 20): The 20-year-old is ranked No. 62 among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He won't provide a franchise much offense from the blue line, but Carell made his first Swedish international team — the 2026 World Junior Championship gold medal-winning team — this year thanks to his strong defensive play, his experience against pro competition and his ability to read the opposing offense. He played in all seven of Sweden's WJC games (recording one goal and one assist), and played in 39 games for the Malmo Redhawks in the SHL, Sweden's top pro league. He's projected by a majority of draft sources as a sixth- or seventh-round pick, if he's selected.
—F Casper Juustovaara Karlsson (5-9, 168, age 18): He is the No. 94-ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting. There is a wide range of scouting reports on Juustovaara and how he may fit in professionally in North America. His size is a question mark, considering he's at his best as a bottom-six, checking forward who plays with high energy. His versatility is a plus, having played both center and wing, and done so at the pro level. He played 34 games for Lulea HF last season, in Sweden's SHL. He also played in all seven games at the WJC, scoring two goals.
—F Lars Steiner (5-10, 176, age 18): Steiner has played the past two seasons in North America, for Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, a major-junior league in eastern Canada. He is ranked as the No. 89 North American skater in this draft, by NHL Central Scouting. He had 64 points in 61 games in the QMJHL this season, and had a goal and three assists in five WJC games. Steiner is projected as a middle-round pick.
—D Daniil Ustinkov (6-1, 201, age 20): He is ranked as the No. 76 International skater by NHL Central Scouting. At 6-1, his biggest assets are his speed and skating ability. A strong puck handler, Ustinkov can get through the neutral zone smoothly and move along the blue line, while holding onto the puck. He has been passed over twice in the NHL Draft, but he played 17 games this season in the NL, Switzerland's top pro league. A three-time member of Switzerland's WJC team, he played in all five of the country's games in the 2026 tournament, recording four assists.
—2027 Prospect: Switzerland center Jonah Neuenschwander drew a lot of attention — rightfully so — during the WJC and the Pre-Tournament Series. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound left-shot was making his second appearance in the world's premier junior hockey event as just a 17-year-old. Then he played 32 games in the National League, Switzerland's top pro league. His size, hands and elite passing ability make him one of the best NHL prospects to come out of his country in some time, and he's already being projected as a first-round pick — possibly in the top 10 — in the 2027 NHL Draft. His brother, Elijah, was a goalie on Switzerland's WJC team the past two years and is a 2025 fourth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks.
—F Oliver Dejbjerg Larsen (5-11, 168, age 19): Larsen is ranked No. 91 among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The left-shot winger may be worthy of a late-round flier, after scoring 26 goals and recording 68 points in 45 games for Rogle BK in Sweden's top junior league last season. He also led his country in scoring at the 2026 WJC, recording two goals and six points in five games.
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