The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship is set to take place in Minnesota from December 26 to January 5, and it will be an important tournament for Chicago Blackhawks fans to follow closely.
The Blackhawks will have three prospects competing in this year’s event: AJ Spellacy with Team USA, Anton Frondell representing Sweden, and Václav Nestrašil skating for Czechia. All three players are key pieces of the organization’s future and will have the chance to play meaningful roles for their countries on the international stage.
This tournament also carries extra importance for Chicago. The Blackhawks are likely to be near the top of the standings at the 2026 NHL Draft, where they currently own two first-round picks. Several players expected to be high draft selections will be on display at the World Juniors, giving fans an early look at potential future Blackhawks.
Let’s dive in and break down everything you need to know about the 2026 World Junior Championship, the Blackhawks prospects involved, and the top draft-eligible players to watch.
Official 2026 World Junior Championship Website
IIHF Tournament Hub:
👉 https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/wm20
How to Watch the 2026 World Junior Championship
Fans in the United States can watch every game of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship live on NHL Network.
In Canada, full tournament coverage will be available on TSN, with French-language broadcasts airing on RDS.
Blackhawks Prospect: A.J. Spellacy (USA)
Drafted: 72nd overall (3rd round), 2024 NHL Draft
Position: Right Wing
Team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
2024–25 Stats (OHL):
27 games played – 9 goals, 8 assists – 17 points
A.J. Spellacy brings a different look to Team USA at the 2026 World Junior Championship. The Blackhawks prospect is a big, physical winger who plays with pace and purpose. His game is built around speed, forechecking pressure, and winning battles along the boards.
Spellacy is expected to play a supporting role for Team USA, likely on the fourth line, where his physicality and work ethic can make an impact. He should also be a trusted option on the penalty kill, using his speed and aggressive style to disrupt opposing breakouts and apply pressure up ice. He’s the type of player who can change momentum with a hit or a strong forecheck.
Team USA enters the tournament looking to win a third straight gold medal, and players like Spellacy will be important in providing energy, structure, and reliability throughout the lineup.
Team USA – Group Stage Schedule:
- Dec. 26, 5:00 PM — vs. Germany
- Dec. 27, 5:00 PM — vs. Switzerland
- Dec. 29, 5:00 PM — vs. Slovakia
- Dec. 31, 5:00 PM — vs. Sweden
Blackhawks Prospect: Václav Nestrašil (Czechia)
Drafted: 25th overall, 1st round — 2025 NHL Draft
Position: Left Wing
Team: UMass (NCAA – Hockey East)
2024–25 Stats (NCAA):
18 games played – 10 goals, 10 assists – 20 points
Václav Nestrašil arrives at the 2026 World Junior Championship as one of Czechia’s most important forwards and one of the Blackhawks’ highest-upside prospects in the tournament. Drafted 25th overall in 2025, the 6-foot-6 winger has wasted no time showing why Chicago invested a first-round pick in his long-term potential.
In his freshman season at UMass, Nestrašil has already proven he can play against older, stronger competition. He uses his size well along the boards and around the net, but what stands out most is his offensive awareness. He can finish plays in tight, make smart reads under pressure, and create space for his linemates simply by being hard to move off the puck.
With Czechia, Nestrašil is expected to play a top-six role and be a major factor on the power play, where his net-front presence and reach are constant problems for defenders. His ability to score greasy goals and contribute offensively at even strength gives Czechia another weapon as they push for a medal.
For the Blackhawks, this tournament is an important measuring stick. Nestrašil is still early in his development, but strong performances on the international stage would further confirm that he projects as a future power forward who can play meaningful minutes in Chicago when his game fully matures.
Czechia – Group Stage Schedule:
- Dec. 26, 7:30 PM — vs. Canada
- Dec. 27, 7:30 PM — vs. Denmark
- Dec. 29, 2:30 PM — vs. Finland
- Dec. 31, 2:30 PM — vs. Latvia
Blackhawks Prospect: Anton Frondell (Sweden)
Drafted: 3rd overall, 1st round — 2025 NHL Draft
Position: Forward (Center / Wing)
Team: Djurgårdens IF (SHL) — on loan from Chicago Blackhawks
2025–26 SHL Stats (via Elite Prospects):
25 GP — 10 goals, 5 assists, 15 points with Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Hockey League. Elite Prospects
Anton Frondell arrives at the 2026 World Junior Championship as the Blackhawks’ most high-profile prospect in the tournament. Taken third overall in the 2025 draft, he’s considered one of the brightest young forwards in the Hawks’ system and one of the players fans are most excited to watch in Minnesota. Elite Prospects
While many lists label him as a center, Frondell has really thrived on the wing this season, and that role may be where he ultimately plays long term. He has the creativity and hockey sense to make plays off the rush, and playing on the wing lets his tools — especially his shot and offensive instincts — shine without being pinned down by center-ice responsibilities.
Frondell is a creative opportunist who finds open space and attacks scoring chances with confidence. He’s a strong puck protector with good size and isn’t afraid to battle along the boards or dig pucks out in tight — a combination that makes him difficult to defend at both ends of the ice. His skating is smooth, his shot looks natural and dangerous, and he has the kind of quiet confidence you often see from top Swedish forwards. DobberProspects
Sweden will lean on Frondell in all situations at the World Juniors. Expect to see him in top-six minutes, trusted on both the power play and in big moments when his skill and vision can tilt the ice. After turning heads at Blackhawks camp following the draft, he’s carried that momentum into his pro game in the SHL — taking on tougher competition and showing he can drive play even against grown men. DobberProspects
For Blackhawks fans, this tournament is a big step in his development timeline. Whether he plays center or wing for Sweden, Frondell has the tools to influence the game in all three zones and show why Chicago spent a top pick on him. If he can build on his SHL scoring pace and make a mark in big games at the WJC, it’ll be another sign he’s progressing toward being a top-six NHL forward in the near future.
Sweden — Group Stage Schedule:
- Dec. 26, 12:00 PM — vs. Slovakia
- Dec. 28, 1:00 PM — vs. Switzerland
- Dec. 29, 12:00 PM — vs. Germany
- Dec. 31, 5:00 PM — vs. USA
2026 NHL Draft Prospects to Watch
Several 2026 NHL Draft–eligible players will be on display at the World Junior Championship, giving Blackhawks fans an early look at some of the top names in the upcoming draft class. With Chicago potentially holding two first-round picks in 2026, this tournament is a great opportunity to track players who could factor into the organization’s future plans.
Below is a breakdown of notable draft-eligible players to watch, grouped by country. Each player’s Elite Prospects bio page can be used for deeper stats and background.
Canada
- Gavin McKenna, F — projected top-3 pick
- Keaton Verhoeff, D — projected top-5 pick
- Carson Carels, D — projected 10–15 range
United States
- Chase Reid, D — projected 5–10 range
Sweden
- Ivar Stenberg, F — projected top-3 pick
- Viggo Björck, F — projected 8–14 range
Finland
- Oliver Suvanto, F projected 15-20 range
- Juho Piiparinen, D projected 20-30 range
Czechia
- Adam Novotný, F projected 15-20 range
Latvia
- Alberts Šmits, D projected 10-20 range
As the tournament unfolds, performances in high-pressure games against elite competition can quickly change draft stock. For Blackhawks fans, these players are well worth tracking closely over the next few days.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 World Junior Championship gives Blackhawks fans a clear snapshot of where the organization stands and where it is headed next. With Anton Frondell, Václav Nestrašil, and A.J. Spellacy all representing their countries, this tournament highlights the variety of forward types already in Chicago’s system — skill, size, and versatility.
Looking ahead to the 2026 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks own two first-round picks, including one that is projected to land inside the top five — and possibly as high as the top three. With that premium selection, forwards like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg match exactly what the organization is looking for: elite skill, creativity, and true offensive difference-makers.
With their second first-round pick, players such as Adam Novotný or Oliver Suvanto could be strong value selections. Both offer offensive upside and project as players who could fit well into Chicago’s long-term forward group as the rebuild continues to take shape.
Between the three Blackhawks prospects already competing in this tournament and the draft-eligible talent on display, the 2026 World Juniors provide a clear look at the next phase of the rebuild. For Blackhawks fans, this event is more than just international hockey — it’s a preview of the future.
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