The 2026 World Junior Championship – an international tournament featuring the best U20 players in hockey – is just three weeks away. Thanks to a deep and star-studded prospect pool, the Philadelphia Flyers will have a lot to look forward to. Which of their young players could head to Minnesota for a shot at gold?
Jack Berglund, C/LW, Team Sweden
After making Team Sweden last year, Jack Berglund is almost certain to return. However, the 2024 second-round pick suffered an injury while preparing for the tournament, so this will be his first real taste of the World Junior Championship.
Berglund is now a regular forward in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), with five points in 20 games this season. In my viewings so far he has played in the neutral zone and contributed to the cycle – valuable in high stakes international matches.
With this being his last year of eligibility for the World Juniors, I would expect Berglund to at least play in Sweden’s middle six. As a player with professional experience, he will have an advantage over many of his opponents in that area.
Jett Luchanko, C, Team Canada
In what was a disastrous performance for Team Canada last year, losing in the quarterfinals, Jett Luchanko was actually a positive highlight despite limited usage. He’s primed for a boost in ice time this time around, potentially a top-six candidate.
Related: Flyers’ Top 10 Prospects: December 2025 Edition
Luchanko’s playmaking ability and speed should come in handy. This tournament is of course a completely different game, but the 19-year-old centerman is a controlled entry into the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). His talent suggests some of that dynamic will take center stage on international ice as well.
Expectations will be high for the No. 13 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. If he delivers, he could become a Canadian hero.
Porter Martone, RW, Team Canada
Everyone should keep an eye on Porter Martone. He joined Gavin McKenna and Matthew Schaefer as the only draft-year or younger players taken by Team Canada in 2025, and for a reason: his talent is breathtaking.
Selected sixth overall by the Flyers, they may have gotten a steal, as crazy as that sounds. Martone has 19 points in 14 games as a freshman at Michigan State University, and he’s doing it while it is only an average of 4:39 hours per night.
Martone has a big frame (6-foot-1, 208 pounds), elite hockey sense and an incredible skill level. A first-line role could mean dominance for the 19-year-old winger.
Heikki Ruohonen, C, Team Finland
Heikki Ruohonen, another returnee, should suit up for Team Finland this winter. The 19-year-old center had four assists on his way to a silver medal last time out, so he should be rewarded with at least a top-nine role.
The Flyers’ 2024 fourth-round pick was hockey in North America since last season. In 2024-2025, he collected 39 points in 49 games in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He moved up to the NCAA this season and has five points in nine games at Harvard University.
As a 6-foot-1, 205-pound player, Ruohonen uses his size on both ends of the ice. He’s a less high-profile prospect in the Flyers system, but one who could boost his stock with another impressive performance.
Shane Vansaghi, RW/LW, Team USA
Shane Vansaghi, a 2025 second-round pick of the Flyers, was one of 28 players named to Team USA’s preliminary roster. With just three cuts, there is a good chance he will help the Red, White and Blue in their quest for back-to-back gold medals.
The reason for Vansaghi’s inclusion is simple. At 19 years old, he is a looming threat and hits like a seasoned professional. Furthermore, he is capable of some skillful attacking maneuvers and playing a two-way game: an X-factor in the bottom six.
Max Westergård, LW, Team Finland
Max Westergård is the only 18-year-old entry on this list, but you wouldn’t think so. He is an undersized winger who was just old enough for the 2025 NHL Draft, yet he has played fourteen games for the SHL’s rising Frölunda HC.
The reasoning? Westergård’s engine is truly elite and wins battles against everyone. His energy gives defenders problems, even in what is arguably the second-best hockey league in the world.
In addition, Westergård had six points from five games at the U18 World Cup last spring. He’s a candidate for the middle six minutes, but he can really flourish anywhere.
Do you think all these Flyer candidates will be selected for the 2026 World Junior Championship? What are your expectations? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section!
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