The 2024 World U18 Championship ended on a high note as Team Canada scored four goals in the final 10 minutes of the gold medal match against Team USA.This charge was led by a surprising combination of up-and-coming stars. Tizi Iginla and gavin mckenna, combined for four of Canada's six goals. The duo headlined a historic U18 tournament worth beating. So, we're once again borrowing the Big Hype Prospects series from MLB Trade Rumors, and we're going to take the time to break down some of the top performers from one of this season's best pre-draft tournaments.
4 big hype prospects
Cole Yzerman, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
56 GP – 57 G – 31 A – 88 TP – 6 PIM – 6 +/-
Some amazing records were broken in this year's U18s. Cole Hutson (2024) became
The highest scoring defenseman in the history of the National Team Development Program. james hagens (2025) Broken Nikita KucherovGavin McKenna (2026) became the highest-scoring Canadian player in the history of the tournament.But that is Cole Yzermanbroke the NTDP scoring record that stands out as the most appropriate. Yzerman played in 119 games for the US NTDP, scoring a total of 127 goals, breaking that record. Cole CaufieldHe achieved a record of 126 goals in 123 games. Yzerman currently sits atop the honor list, scoring at an impressive rate of 1.07 goals per game. Still, he faces undeniable questions ahead of the 2024 draft, with many questioning Yzerman's consistency and energy off the puck. Yzerman certainly showed the strength he can bring to the U18s, looking like America's most capable forechecker in the semifinals against Slovakia. But he struggled to consistently apply the same north-to-south pressure, even being held to no goals in the U.S. games against Switzerland and Finland, a rarity for Yzerman. He's been a star since he was 9 years old and looked like a standout at the Brick Invite, which featured multiple members of the Team USA and Team Canada lineups. Being in the spotlight for so long puts a lot of weight on his draft-year prospects. Oliver Wahlstromcontinued growth. Yzerman will face a similar challenge as he looks to strengthen the rest of his skill set around his historically great scoring ability.
Gavin McKenna, LW/RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
61 GP – 34 G – 63 A – 97 TP – 21 PIM – -4 +/-
The U18 team has skyrocketed the draft pick stock of many of its 2024 prospects. But it was his 2025 and his 2026 classes that had the strongest performances, with Hagens and McKenna fighting each other to one-up him every game. And while Hagens was named tournament MVP, it was McKenna's hat trick that clinched Canada's gold medal. This performance was a near perfect addition to a great season for McKenna. McKenna was just three points behind Cousin. conor bedardWHL U17 scoring record. McKenna is a great prospect who can see the game faster than anyone else. He can move the puck through the smallest gaps and make hockey moves in the tightest spaces, which helps him get past defenders and score from anywhere. McKenna also never stops moving, making sure to make a mark on every shift and answering the call for extra minutes when the team needs him. He's just a star and will be undrafted for two more seasons. If he is 16 years old and in this situation, we don't know how much he can do. Medicine Hat may have left early this season, but they are definitely eager for next year and also excited about the possibility of McKenna reuniting with their top 2024 player. Kayden Lindstrom and andrew basha.
Emil Hemming, LW, TPS (Liga)
40 GP – 7 G – 4 A – 11 TP – 0 PIM – 3 +/-
If you look away from the glamor of this year's tournament, perhaps emily hemming Those who have shown the most professional readiness characteristics. He was incredibly smooth throughout the tournament, playing clean and confident in the offensive zone and using smooth skating to create space from defenders. And with his opponent giving him plenty of space at the top of the circle, he had plenty of chances to show how difficult his shot was. The tournament was an encouraging performance for Hemming, who seemed to have a tendency to play slower and less aggressively in La Liga. But it's a pro league. And among his peers, Hemming played crisply and matched the pace superbly. He has shown professional attributes throughout the season, with strong positional awareness, flexibility and working well with teammates, but Hemming's newfound tempo will be a big boost to his heavy-handed style. there is a possibility. Hemming has been considered a first-round prospect for much of the season, but a responsible and dependable under-18 performance could quickly propel him into the high 20s for teams looking for an impact player. There is.
Cole Beaudoin, C, Barry (OHL)
67 GP – 28 G – 34 A – 62 TP – 27 PIM – 2 +/-
If anyone could match Hemming's title as the most influential power forward in the Under-18s, it would be him. Cole Beaudoin – Looked completely locked into every Canadian game. Beaudouin was also a large forward, and his unwavering strength and frame made up for his lack of speed. He is strong in all aspects of his style, and is good at knocking down his boards and putting opponents out of play with big hits. Beaudouin was also a dynamic penalty killer, standing up well against opponents and using his quick and long reach to break up plays. With his heavy build and sharp processing ability, Beaudoin was no match for the U18s. He was a key matchup against Team USA's Hagens and Yzerman, and shut down both players well. His offense could certainly be more exciting, but Beaudouin's ability to shut down plays and get the ball back in his own zone is enough for some NHL teams to take notice of him early on. Potentially powerful.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
