TV-pucken Finals Preview: Eight exciting prospects to watch
The TV-pucken has long been one of the cornerstones of Swedish hockey development – name a Swedish hockey star, they probably suited up at this tournament.
Every year, it offers a first look at the country’s top U16 players as they represent their regions and compete for national bragging rights. For many, it’s the first major step on the path toward junior and professional hockey – and a tournament that carries deep meaning for players, fans, and scouts alike.
This year, the tournament’s final stage brings the teams from Småland, Skåne, Stockholm Syd, Stockholm Nord, Värmland, Gästrikland, Norrbotten, and Medelpad to Kalmar, to compete for national bragging rights from October 30 to November 2.
With the 2010-born age group now taking centre stage, this year’s finals promise a showcase rich with high-end skill, offensive creativity, and emerging stars eager to make their mark.
Our Swedish scouting staff followed these players closely through the group stage and will be on site for the finals. Here are their top eight players to watch.
Leon Roos, F, Gästrikland
Among the 2010-born crop, few have generated as much buzz as Leon Roos. The Brynäs IF product has spent most of the fall excelling against older competition in U18 hockey, where his blend of poise, intelligence, and execution has consistently set him apart. Roos controls pace like a veteran, reading the game a step ahead and manipulating defenders with subtle fakes and quick decisions. Whether it’s a one-touch pass through traffic or a well-timed burst to separate from coverage, he makes complex plays look simple. Beyond the skill, there’s a strong work rate and competitive edge – he tracks back hard, wins pucks, and leads by example shift after shift.
From a game report by Swedish Regional Scout Jimmy Hamrin:
Roos dominated this game, scoring three goals and two assists in a 6-2 win. Roos is the best player I have seen all day. He plays a highly competitive game in combination with impressive skills. He skates impressively fast and explodes by defenders. He controls the puck well at high speed, and he is an impressive playmaker as well as a shooter. Roos plays with a fast-thinking processor and sees plays almost before they appear. He made some fantastic behind-the-back plays, one-touching the puck. He works hard over the ice and wins many puck battles. When he skates with the puck, he seeks a straight route to the net. His shot in motion was a big weapon in this game. He looks like a strong rush player. I also like how he constantly gave his teammates good puck support and was only an easy pass away for them. Roos looked like a player who is going to be a top guy on national teams in the upcoming years.
After dominating the qualifying rounds with Gästrikland, recording eight goals and 17 points in five games, Roos enters the TV-pucken finals as one of the tournament’s marquee names, capable of changing a game on his own when the puck finds his stick.
Joakim Dahl, F, Stockholm Syd
Few players bring as much pace and unpredictability to a game as Joakim Dahl. The Flemingsbergs IK forward has built a reputation for his explosive rushes and attacking mindset, consistently creating scoring chances through speed, timing, and sharp reads. Dahl thrives in transition – turning defensive recoveries into instant counterattacks – and uses his quick edges and deceptive hands to slip past defenders with confidence. His ability to adjust tempo mid-rush and attack space makes him a constant threat, and his natural finishing touch adds a layer of danger whenever he finds open ice.
Dahl was the best player on the ice and had one of the most dominant performances I’ve seen from a 2010-born player at the U18 level so far. He finished with a secondary assist on the power play, but that doesn’t tell the story of his game. The winger created a ton of chances, primarily through transitions and rush plays. What stood out was how often his offense stemmed from his defensive reads, awareness, and compete level. Time and time again, he recovered pucks through forechecking or back pressure and quickly turned them into attacks. He reads the play well, steps in with authority when the moment’s right, and transitions instantly. Even though he looks active when pressuring for pucks, he has another gear when he turns to attack. With his edge work and awareness, he quickly adjusts his routes, slipping away and blowing past opponents half a second later. He could add a bit more variation in his finishing, as he tends to shoot from distance when attacking with pace. Holding onto the puck or challenging defenders could lead to better looks. He clearly enjoys having the puck on his stick, but he also showcased his playmaking touch with several well-timed cross-ice feeds that easily could’ve resulted in goals. If Dahl plays like this in the TV-pucken playoffs in a few weeks, Stockholm Syd will be a tough opponent to beat. – Sebastian Orre, October 12th, 2025
Already a standout at the U18 level, Dahl enters the TV-pucken finals as one of Stockholm Syd’s most dynamic offensive weapons. During the qualification round, he recorded seven goals and 10 points in five games. If he maintains his recent form, he could be the tournament’s most exciting forward to watch.
Ricky Helte, D, Småland
Ricky Helte plays with remarkable poise, rarely hurried, and always a step ahead of the play. His reads are crisp and efficient, allowing him to move the puck cleanly or escape pressure through subtle fakes and well-timed carries. Helte’s lateral mobility and calm deception at the blue line make him a steady offensive presence, while his awareness and positioning anchor him defensively. There’s a quiet confidence to his game – not built on flash, but on anticipation, composure, and the ability to dictate tempo at both ends of the ice, as highlighted by Victor Svensson in a September game report:
Ricky Helte once again displayed impressive poise and maturity in the U18 matchup against Oskarshamn, as he did during TV-Pucken, despite being one to two years younger than most players on the ice. He played with strong offensive initiative and picked up two assists in the first period – one coming off a well-timed rush where he drove the net, opening up space for a teammate to capitalize. What stands out most in Ricky’s game is his ability to read the play and make quick, efficient decisions with the puck. He rarely overcomplicates situations, which makes him highly effective, even at a higher level. His floor is already quite high, with pretty low risk, which is a big strength given the age gap.
Still an underager at the U18 level, Helte already plays with the maturity of a veteran. As he continues to grow physically, his blend of intelligence, control, and adaptability gives him the makings of a modern two-way defenceman – and one who could be a key piece for Småland in Kalmar and beyond.
Olle Sandberg, F, Småland
A driving force for Småland, Olle Sandberg blends size, poise, and intelligence into a highly effective two-way game. The 6-foot center controls play through smart routes and efficient puck movement, excelling at both creating chances and shutting down opposing transitions. He’s not a flashy puckhandler, but every touch has purpose – whether it’s distributing quickly off the rush, finding a seam from the slot, or powering his way inside to generate a shot. Sandberg’s combination of strong skating, balance, and quick decision-making allows him to dictate pace and sustain offensive pressure. His heavy release and willingness to shoot from prime areas add another layer to his well-rounded offensive threat.
Beyond his tools, Sandberg plays with a level of maturity rare for his age group. His reads and positioning already mirror those of an older, more experienced player, and his ability to drive possession from the middle gives Småland a stabilizing presence up front.
In the qualification round, Sandberg recorded five goals and 13 points in five games. As the stakes rise in Kalmar, expect him to be one of the players who keeps Småland moving in the right direction – and one who continues to trend upward at the U18 level and beyond.
Casper Scherstén, F, Skåne
One of the tournament’s most electrifying offensive players, Casper Scherstén has an innate ability to take over games with his vision, touch, and confidence on the puck. The Malmö forward thrives in possession, dictating tempo and creating scoring chances from a variety of situations – whether it’s threading a seam pass through traffic, setting up one-timers from the half-wall, or finishing plays himself with quick, accurate releases. His head is always up, scanning and adjusting, and he often seems two steps ahead of defenders. While not the fastest skater, Scherstén’s stride is fluid and controlled, allowing him to maintain balance and deception as he manipulates defenders and finds passing lanes. His ability to handle the puck in stride and create plays on the move makes him one of the most dynamic offensive drivers in his age group.
From a game report by Sebastian Orre:
Casper Scherstén, a dynamic playmaker with great vision, really stood out this game. With two goals and three primaries, the winger dominated the game. The assists (two on the power play) came in the same fashion—finding an open lane through the slot for a one-timer. Both goals came on one-timers, one off the rush and one off the cycle. Each time, he showed no hesitation and picked the top corner. His skating isn’t the fastest, but it’s solid. What sets him apart is his ability to combine stride with puck control while maintaining full awareness of what’s happening around him. On several sequences, he drove play through the middle, ending up finding a pass to create a high-danger chance. His hockey IQ really stands out at this level, he often anticipates what opponents are going to do. On many occasions, he stole the puck and quickly turned the possession into offence.
Scherstén’s hockey sense and playmaking instincts make him a natural power-play catalyst, and he’s proven capable of carrying that production into tougher matchups. As he continues to gain experience against older competition, his blend of skill, awareness, and confidence should make him a central figure for Skåne – and a player capable of lighting up the scoresheet once again in Kalmar.
Isak Alvudd, F, Småland
Isak Alvudd has quickly made a name for himself as a highly skilled and dynamic winger, blending speed, technical edgework, and sharp hockey sense into an explosive package. Despite his smaller frame, he consistently wins puck battles, creates space in tight areas, and attacks defenders with controlled aggression. Alvudd is dangerous both as a playmaker and a finisher, with the ability to skate into scoring areas and execute quick one-timers or slick passes under pressure. His acceleration, balance, and poise allow him to maintain possession while navigating high-traffic zones, making him a constant threat off the rush and in sustained offensive sequences.
From a game report by Victor Svensson, where Alvudd scored six goals and two assists:
Alvudd dominated puck battles, kept his feet moving through contact, and used smart body positioning to gain advantages in high-traffic areas. His skating technique and balance are already well ahead of the curve compared to most players in his age group, and it’ll be fascinating to see how that continues to evolve as he adds strength and size. His first hat-trick goal was a standout play – Alvudd initiated a rush from deep in his own zone, attacked the middle of the ice with pace and poise, and finished off a clean tic-tac-toe sequence into an open net. Later in the game, he completed another hat trick with a perfectly placed wrist shot, once again showcasing his ability to get to dangerous areas without wasting energy on the perimeter. There’s clear top-end upside here. – Victor Svensson, September 27th, 2025
As one of the youngest players on Småland’s roster, Alvudd’s composure and skill at this stage stand out. After recording six goals and six assists in five qualification-round games, he projects as a key contributor in the TV-pucken playoffs, capable of creating high-danger chances for himself and his linemates.
Milo Spelkvist, F, Värmland
Milo Spelkvist has quickly established himself as a high-impact offensive center, blending a sharp scoring touch with excellent playmaking instincts. He thrives in high-danger areas, using a low, powerful skating stance to win board battles and generate space for himself and teammates. Spelkvist is a confident shooter, quick to fire from the left circle, and equally adept at threading precise passes across the slot. His ability to carry the puck through traffic with poise, combined with deceptive fakes and controlled rushes, makes him a constant threat in transition and on the power play.
Despite sometimes being outmuscled at this level, Spelkvist compensates with his hockey IQ and awareness, maintaining possession and creating opportunities under pressure. While he recorded a rather pedestrian five points in five games in the qualification round, his impressive recent form, goalscoring mindset, and consistent offensive contributions should make him a driver for Värmland.
Lucas Toumeh, F, Värmland
A crafty, high-IQ winger, Lucas Toumeh combines smooth skating with excellent puck control and spatial awareness. He thrives in tight areas, using quick turns, lateral movement, and a low center of gravity to create separation and maintain possession under pressure. Toumeh’s strong vision allows him to deliver precise passes into scoring areas while also generating his own chances, making him a dual threat in transition and in the offensive zone. He’s particularly effective along the boards and in small areas, consistently turning contested puck battles into clean offensive opportunities.
From a game report by Sebastian Orre:
One of his common tendencies is to stay calm with the puck, invite pressure from the nearest opponent, and then burst past them. By doing so, he creates a cleaner path into the offensive zone or directly toward the net. With his smooth skating, pace, and stickhandling, he constantly drives the play forward, and it’s difficult to stop him from gaining the zone. He doesn’t mind holding onto the puck an extra couple of seconds, but he’s also good at finding the right pass and executing with quality.
Toumeh’s poise and technical skill, even as an underager at the U18 level, give him the tools to be a consistent contributor for Värmland in the TV-pucken playoffs, after putting up three goals and nine points in the qualification round. His combination of speed, puck sense, and offensive instincts suggests he has the upside to grow into a high-impact forward at higher junior levels.