Wilson Boumedienne leads 19 standouts from the U16 Five Nations in Chomutov, Czechia

CHOMUTOV, Czechia – Our Swedish scouting staff have long been fans of this Swedish 2010-born group. Against international competition, it was easy to see why – the Swedes were dominant at this February Five Nations tournament. Winning all four games with a combined score of 23-8, there was little their opponents could do to stop them. And quite frankly, we could’ve listed the entire roster in this article. 

However, that doesn’t mean that the other nations didn’t bring talent. 

Slovakia split the tournament with two wins and two losses. Missing a few of their top players in this age group, they still managed to beat favourites Czechia (in a shootout) and Finland, and they were up 5-2 in fairly dominant fashion in the opener against Switzerland before Swiss phenom Lionel Dedial turned it around with an incredible 6-point performance. 

Czechia went 2-1-1, showcasing a lineup that looked equally deep in talent as recent age groups. That leaves Finland, who struggled to win games, going 1-3-0, but still had plenty of exciting individual flashes.

Elite Prospects had two scouts on site to cover all five days of the tournament. Here’s who stood out. 

Wilson Boumedienne, F, Sweden, 2028 NHL Draft

The son of former NHLer Josef and brother of 2025 first-round pick Sascha, Wilson Boumedienne is the next in line. Having played hockey in the United States for years, he’s currently a member of Mount St. Charles Academy and made the trip over to Czechia to join his Swedish peers and make his national team debut. He needed a moment to adjust to the international level, but made sure to get noticed when he put on a show against Switzerland, recording three goals and six points en route to an 11-4 victory. From our game report: 

He made an immediate impact, scoring a beautiful goal on his first shift: He received a puck on the weak side in the neutral zone, entered the zone, cleverly lobbed the puck around two defenders, weaved between them, and finished with a backhand against the goalie’s movement. His second goal was equally impressive, as he received a cross-ice feed at the goal line and used a backhand move to deke the goalie and score. He completed his hat trick by leading a rush through the middle, beating a defender wide, and snapping a wrist shot against the goalie’s movement. (...) Boumedienne’s combination of hockey IQ, speed, hands, and puck skills showed that he could be a very intriguing prospect to follow in the future.

Oliver Hammerman, F, Sweden, 2028 NHL Draft

While Boumedienne had the biggest single-game performance among all Swedes, Oliver Hammerman was the most consistent goal scorer, with multi-goal games and a total of seven in the matchups against Slovakia, Switzerland, and Czechia. Active with Nacka HC just outside of Stockholm, he plays club hockey in the second tier of U16 and U18 hockey, but his performances with the national team have all been impressive – he already put up five points in three games against Finland in December. His calling card: speed and explosiveness, as highlighted in our report: 

Most of his goals came in similar fashion: He used his speed to beat defenders and finish on breakaways, or relied on his contact skills to win space around the crease and convert rebounds. One goal, in particular, stood out: He created pressure on the puck carrier in the defensive zone, won the puck, joined the counterattack, pointed to where he wanted the puck, beat his opponent wide with his speed, collected the loose puck, cut sharply to the middle on his edges, and then beat the goalie against the grain. He looked strong protecting the puck and was engaged on the backcheck as well. His biggest strengths are his explosiveness, quick first steps, puck protection, and effectiveness in rush situations. 

Lucas Roynezon, F, Sweden, 2028 NHL Draft

Born on September 11, Lucas Roynezon will be eligible for the 2028 NHL Draft, albeit just barely. While he was one of the younger players on Team Sweden and in the tournament overall, he’s among the most mature physically, and he’s among the most promising offensive talents, too. In league play with Örebro’s U18 team this season, he already put up 26 points in 16 games at the regional stage. Now playing against the top teams in the country in U18 Nationell, his production has been even better, with almost two points per game. So it’s no real surprise that he stood out here as well: 

What stands out right away about Roynezon is his physical maturity. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, he has the physical tools to take his game to the highest levels of junior and pro hockey. It wasn’t his physical play that stood out, though. Rather, he was noticeable as a smart, skilled playmaker. Very patient with the puck, very smart around the net. One of his best plays was a slip-pass entry followed by a hard net drive for a high-danger scoring chance. A promising player to watch.

Olle Sandberg, F, Sweden, 2029 NHL Draft

Olle Sandberg didn’t have the same level of offensive explosiveness at this tournament that some of his peers did. However, he was one of the most promising two-way centres, impacting the game in all three zones and displaying a high level of maturity – despite being an October 13 birthday and 2029 NHL-eligible. This was visible from the tournament opener on: 

Sandberg has ‘pro’ written all over him. A very smart, hard-working two-way centre with good size, he consistently made the right reads to win possession for his team. Strong on forechecks and backchecks, supported well in the defensive zone to get pucks out. Excellent awareness and vision to make plays under pressure. He may not have dynamic offensive skill, but the high-end sense grade makes up for a lot. Really smart off the puck, not only to get himself in position to get it, but also through little support plays like setting picks for his team’s puck carriers. Able to create advantages with his smart, accurate passing in various situations – off forechecks, after entry delays, and on cycles. This was an excellent performance.

Milo Spelkvist, F, Sweden, 2028 NHL Draft

Milo Spelkvist had a couple of three-point performances against Slovakia and Switzerland. His three goals and three assists highlighted his upside as both a scorer and a playmaker while making him one of the tournament’s top scorers. Even when he didn’t score, however, his upside was clearly visible:

Spelkvist had an excellent game, despite going pointless. A very smart forward who can set up chances or get himself in dangerous positions as well. Had a nice tap-in chance in the slot and set up a couple of high-danger chances in this game, the first on a nice pass behind the defence for the middle driver and the other on a spin pass inside the O-zone. He’s not the most physical player, but he did have a nice reverse hit to stay in position (albeit against one of the smallest players on the ice). There’s a lot to like in Spelkvist’s game.

Ricky Helte, D, Sweden, 2028 NHL Draft

Ricky Helte plays in Växjö with his brother Milo, who’s just a year older and a national team player himself, so be sure to remember the Helte name. Our Swedish scouts consistently viewed Ricky as a standout in Småland’s games at TV-pucken. With that, it was in no way surprising to see him be an impact player at his national team debut tournament as well. From our report of the tournament opener against Finland: 

A strong first game for Helte, who was the best offensive player among Swedish blueliners here. Very quick feet and strong edgework, very smooth in his stride. Very good transition skating. An excellent passer on retrievals, regroups, and in the offensive zone. Frequently activated with and without the puck. A strong carrier and made smart off-puck reads to become available. Patient with the puck. An exciting player to watch and he looked like he’s got more in the tank than he was able to show here.

Malte Liljegren, D, Sweden, 2028 NHL Draft

Throughout the tournament, Malte Liljegren impressed us with his excellent skating and defensive abilities. Playing with Hammerman in Nacka, he doesn’t play at the highest level of Swedish U18 hockey, but that didn’t stop him from leaving his mark at the international level. From the first game on, he showed up: 

Liljegren was Team Sweden’s biggest defensive standout in this game. An excellent skater with great lateral mobility and quickness. Very good posture and mechanics along with strong power and natural agility. Reliably shut down the neutral zone by making good reads and closing gaps aggressively to interrupt rushes. Made good use of his stick and body. He tried to make an impact as a carrier as well, and his skating certainly helped him in that regard. His rushes did, however, mostly end up in dump-ins, as he was unable to create true advantages. With average size and puck skills, it will be interesting to see what player type Liljegren will develop into at higher levels, but the skating ability alone should make him an impact player in top junior leagues and one day at the pro level.

Lionel Dedial, F, Switzerland, 2029 NHL Draft

We listed Dedial as one of the top 2010 prospects to watch in Central Europe back in October, and he hasn’t slowed down since. Playing predominantly in the Swiss U21 league since December, he’s been stringing together multi-point games and currently sits at 12 goals and 20 points in just 14 games with Zurich’s juniors – good for third in the entire league in points per game. 

Here in Chomutov, Dedial dominated as well, winning the opener against Slovakia seemingly all alone, putting up three goals and three primary assists, and adding another hat-trick in a 4-11 loss against Sweden. He finished the tournament with seven goals and three assists, recording primary points on 10 of Switzerland’s 18 goals. From our report on the tournament opener:

Down 5-2 less than a minute into the second period, it looked like the game could get ugly for Switzerland, but that’s when Lionel Dedial (who already had a goal in the first) really showed up. His signature move: A carry entry across and a far-side snipe to beat the goalie. His release remains his biggest weapon – quick, effortless, powerful, and he’s able to get it off from anywhere. He’s not a pure scorer, though. His awareness and vision stood out in all three zones as well. Dedial seems to be aware of who’s where at all times, able to intercept opposing passes, deliver quick passes through the neutral zone to head on offence, and he consistently finds teammates with his passes offensively. (...) Dedial was clearly ahead of his peers in this game, and he looks like one of the top 2010-born prospects in Europe – even as a late November birthday.

Sven Stalder, D, Switzerland, 2028 NHL Draft

While Dedial was the expected standout up front, Sven Stalder consistently impacted the game from the backend. The undersized D-man is Dedial’s teammate in Zurich, where he’s been scoring at a point-per-game pace in both the U18 and U21 leagues. Here in Chomutov, he was equally successful, putting up two goals and six points in four games, while impacting the game at both ends of the rink: 

Sven Stalder showed strong two-way elements throughout the tournament. His speed, edgework, and overall mobility were smooth and translated into every part of his game. He was effective in rush defense, reading plays well, stepping into puck carriers, knocking pucks loose, and maintaining solid gap control. He also looked comfortable on retrievals, where his breakout passes were able to move the play quickly up ice, often reaching close to the offensive blue line. He didn’t shy away from physical play either, engaging in net-front battles, competing along the boards, and pinning opponents to the wall. Stalder frequently joined the rush and was able to create advantages, and he also looked strong quarterbacking the power play from the point. Both of his goals at the tournament came from the blue line, beating goalies with wrist shots through traffic. 

Luca Křižanovic, F, Slovakia, 2028 NHL Draft

Born in Vienna, Luca Křižanovic started his hockey career with the Vienna Capitals and is now a member of the prestigious Red Bull Hockey Academy in Salzburg. There, he’s the U18 team’s top scorer – by far – with more than two points per game, and he’s made his U20 debut already, adding two assists as well. With that, it was no surprise that he would be among the biggest standouts for Team Slovakia, even though he finished with just a goal and an assist through four games. From our report: 

In terms of raw tools, he was the most impressive Slovak player. He’s a fast skater with a tendency to attack the middle and beat defenders one-on-one with his quick hands. His only goal of the tournament came against Finland, when he carried the puck through the neutral zone, beat a defender, and snapped a hard wrist shot to the far side past the goalie. However, many of his offensive-zone sequences ended with low-danger perimeter shots, and he struggled to consistently create chances for others. His puck-protection ability looked strong and helped him maintain possession in the offensive zone. He was also active on the forecheck, using his stick to pressure puck carriers. There’s a lot to like in his toolset, and it will be interesting to see how well he can translate those traits to the next level.

Michal Mojžíš, F, Slovakia, 2028 NHL Draft

Like Křižanovic, Michal Mojžíš decided to play club hockey outside of Slovakia, joining Oceláři Třinec in Czechia, where he’s among the top players for the U17 squad. At this tournament, it was hard to miss him, as he put up four goals and nine points in four games, including a four-point performance in the final game against Finland, carrying his team to a 6-4 win. From our report on the opening game: 

Mojžiš was perhaps Slovakia’s best player in this game, making a consistent offensive impact throughout. Made good use of his mature, 6-foot-2, 181-pound frame to protect the puck and win battles in the corners. Advanced contact skills. Able to find teammates with passes out of battles. Got physical without the puck as well. Attacked defenders one-on-one, keeping them on their heels with his speed, and was able to beat them wide to generate offence. Good vision, quick hands, and strong patience allowed him to hold on to the puck and find the right plays. With players like him, the question is always how much is a size advantage vs. actual skill and whether or not that advantage will go away at higher levels, but for now, he looks like one of the most promising players on this team.

Lukas Potočka, F, Slovakia, 2028 NHL Draft

Lukáš Potočka did his best to prove you don’t have to leave Slovakia to find international success. The Slovan Bratislava forward came to Chomutov to leave his mark, scoring twice and adding an assist in the opener against Switzerland, and finishing the tournament as his team’s leading goal scorer with six goals and eight points. His performance through five days here elevated him into the upper tier of 2010-born Slovak prospects. Here's what we saw: 

A large portion of his production came off breakaways, where he used his speed, anticipation, and timing to get behind the defence, as well as from the net-front area, where he leveraged his frame to create space for rebounds and second-chance opportunities. His contact skill stood out throughout the event. It allowed him to play effectively along the boards, win battles, and extend offensive-zone possessions. Two of his assists came from sequences where he won pucks behind the net and quickly fed them into the slot to create scoring chances. He also made an impact on the penalty kill, where he applied consistent pressure on puck carriers, disrupted passing lanes, and managed to generate a few shorthanded opportunities of his own. Overall, Potočka was one of Slovakia’s most reliable and productive players at the tournament. With his combination of speed, net-front presence, and contact ability, he is a player worth monitoring closely as he moves to higher levels.

Lucas Andrejko, F, Czechia, 2028 NHL Draft

Lucas Andrejko started the season as the top scorer in all of Europe with a 10-game point streak that saw him produce 16 goals and 33 points. He’s come back down to earth a bit since then, but he’s still the most promising skill player on this team – even though he struggled a bit to create offence beyond his two-goal opener against Finland. Here’s how he did: 

Lucas Andrejko was one of the most effective Czech forwards in transition at the tournament, frequently carrying the puck through the middle lane and beating defenders with his speed and hands. One of his goals in the opening game against Finland came off the rush, when he joined as the second wave, found soft ice on the weak side, and buried a one-timer. Despite his smaller, lighter frame, he showed some physical tools, he can keep defenders on his back, win pucks in tight battles, absorb contact, and isn’t afraid to finish his checks. If there’s one area he consistently leverages at this level, it’s his skating. He has quick feet, uses crossovers to change direction, and relies on strong edgework for tight turns to escape pressure along the boards and buy time for plays. He also showed some solid off-puck details and game awareness, intercepting passes and creating space for puck carriers in transition by lifting sticks. Andrejko wasn’t very consistent at generating chances in the cycle, and his off-puck motor wasn’t always active, which could become an issue at higher levels. Still, he showed enough to suggest he could be one of the more intriguing Czech prospects from the 2010 age group.

Adam Šinkovský, F, Czechia, 2028 NHL Draft

Adam Šinkovský decided to take a slightly unusual path, opting to play with Kärpät in Finland rather than staying in the Czech system. And while he’s only appeared in four U18 games for the club so far, spending the rest of the season at the U16 level (where he’s scoring at a goal-per-game plus assist-per-game pace), he’s been able to secure a spot on Czechia’s national team. He had a red-hot start, coming into the tournament with a goal against Finland followed by four assists against Sweden, but cooled down after that. Still, he was among his team’s biggest standouts here: 

Even though he’s listed at 5’11” and 168 lbs, his game showed some power-forward elements. He stood out mainly through his contact skills, which allowed him to play effectively along the walls and keep possession. He also used his physicality on the forecheck to win pucks back. One of his typical sequences during the tournament saw him carry the puck through the neutral zone, chip it past the defender, beat him to it, scan before receiving the puck along the boards, and then create a chance with a pass into the low slot. He showed flashes of playmaking ability and one-on-one transition skills as well.

Elias Křivánek, D, Czechia, 2028 NHL Draft

With top 2010 prospect Matyáš Michálek in Plymouth for the U17 five nations tournament, Elias Křivánek took the top D spot for his team. With plenty of ice time in all situations, he impacted the game in all three zones. From our report: 

Eliáš Křivánek captained the Czech team at the tournament and was clearly their top defenceman. He was most noticeable on the offensive side, frequently joining the rush, at times even leading it, using his hands to beat opponents, or activating as the second wave to create odd-man situations. He quarterbacked the power play and tried to drive offense at even strength with cross-ice passes to the weak side and point shots for tips. He showed good speed, mobility, and edgework to escape pressure, which helped him handle retrievals and regroups effectively. 

Tomáš Hájek, G, Czechia, 2028 NHL Draft

In his second tournament with the Czech U16s, Tomáš Hájek started the two more difficult games (on paper) with the opener against Finland and the final game against Sweden. He delivered a couple of strong opponents, giving up just five goals across the two games, despite the tournament being extremely high-scoring overall. This is what we saw: 

Hájek had a great game that highlighted his pro tools. Already measures 6-foot-3 and is extremely athletic. Sealed his posts well. Good length. Strong puck-tracking, especially on rebounds. Excellent edgework on recoveries. Did a great job adjusting his depth to make a big-time save on a partial breakaway. There’s a lot to like in his toolkit and he looked like a future NHL draft prospect.

Niilo Jokinen, F, Finland, 2028 NHL Draft

Niilo Jokinen came in highly touted, already scoring around a point per game in the Finnish U18 league. On paper, his tournament could be viewed as a failure – he didn’t record a single point. In reality, however, the winger, who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, was one of Finland’s best and most consistent players. From our report: 

Somehow, Jokinen finished the tournament without a point, but he was among Finland’s most consistent players through the two games I watched, against Czechia and Sweden. While undersized, he consistently stood out with his high hockey sense. Very good awareness and vision to see open teammates and passing lanes even in tight areas and through traffic. Unfazed by defensive pressure, he found creative ways to make plays. Had some high-end skill flashes like a deke through his legs at full speed to beat a defenceman up the wing, but he mostly stood out as a calm, calculated, cerebral playmaker. I hope he can grow a few inches to take his game to the same level once he jumps to U20 and ultimately professional hockey, but for now, it’s unsurprising that he’s about a point-per-game scorer in the U18 league already.

Bryan Salo, D, Finland, 2028 NHL Draft

Like Jokinen, Bryan Salo was noticeable for his small frame. But like Jokinen, that didn’t stop him from being a consistent impact player for Finland. He put up just one goal (against Switzerland) through four games, but his motor never stopped, and he even managed to make a physical impact, as highlighted in our report:

Bryan Salo showed a full range of tools throughout the tournament. His speed and mobility looked smooth and effective, and he frequently joined the rush to create advantages, using his hands to beat defenders on entry and working down from the blue line to find teammates in the slot without needlessly giving up the puck. There were some lapses, where he lost control at high speed, but that’s normal for a player his age. He demonstrated good hockey sense, intercepting passes and maintaining proper positioning. On top of that, he showed an interesting contact game despite his smaller frame, especially in battles around his own net, where he prevented rebounds and won pucks back, and he wasn’t afraid to throw or finish checks. These flashes of skill and physicality make him an intriguing prospect, and it will be interesting to follow his development moving forward.

Aamos Vahvaselkä, D, Finland, 2028 NHL Draft

In a tournament where Finland struggled as a team, Aamos Vahvaselkä did his best to help them win hockey games. A steady defensive player, he got better with each game, going pointless in the opener before adding one point against Sweden, two against Switzerland, and ultimately three against Slovakia. Our report highlights all the tools he brought to the tournament:

Aamos Vahvaselkä was Finland’s top defenceman at the tournament. His lone goal showcased all of his strengths: He retrieved the puck behind the net, spun away from pressure, executed a give-and-go with a teammate along the boards, carried the puck through middle of the neutral zone, passed to a teammate entering the offensive zone along the boards, joined as the second wave, and buried a slap shot from walls, beating the Swiss goalie. He frequently walked deep from the blue line and joined the rush, looking for supporting teammates along the boards. He looked strong quarterbacking the power play from the point. His skating and mobility helped him in all three zones. He had a few inconsistent games, mostly in rush defense, which is normal for a player at his level. With his skating and offensive instincts, he will be an interesting player to follow, and adding more physicality would further boost his game.