At the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, two Philadelphia Flyers prospects, Jack Berglund and Heikki Ruohonen, are significantly elevating their profiles. With the tournament entering the semi-final stage, both players have demonstrated strong performances, contributing to their respective teams' success.
Jack Berglund, a 2024 second-round pick (51st overall), is captaining Team Sweden and has been a key offensive contributor. Berglund and Sweden defeated Latvia 6-3 in the quarterfinal. Through five games, he has tallied three goals and seven points. Berglund's leadership and offensive capabilities were on full display in Sweden's 6-3 quarterfinal win over Latvia, where he scored a goal. He also contributed with three assists in an earlier game against the USA. His ability to battle for position and convert scoring opportunities has been crucial for the undefeated Swedish team. Berglund's performance is especially noteworthy considering he missed last year's tournament due to injury.
Heikki Ruohonen, an alternate captain for Team Finland, has also been a standout performer. The Harvard University freshman has scored two goals and six points in five games. Ruohonen scored one of the goals as Finland upsetted the United States 4-3 in overtime in the quarterfinal. Ruohonen has centered a line with fellow rookies, contributing a combined 17 points through their first 11 games. His blend of strength, playmaking, and defensive awareness aligns well with Finland's hockey identity, making him a valuable asset in all situations.
Both Berglund and Ruohonen have been recognized for their leadership qualities, with Berglund captaining Sweden and Ruohonen serving as an alternate captain for Finland. These leadership roles highlight the intangible qualities that NHL teams value, adding to their appeal as prospects.
Five of the six Flyers' prospects who participated in the tournament have advanced to the semi-finals. Besides Berglund and Ruohonen, Porter Martone and Jett Luchanko of Team Canada, and Max Westergard, also of Finland, are still in contention for medals. Shane Vansaghi and Team USA were eliminated by Finland in the quarterfinal. Martone, captain of Team Canada, has been a standout, recording four goals and seven points in five games. Westergard has also impressed with a goal and four points.
Looking ahead, Sweden and Finland will face each other in the semi-finals, guaranteeing that at least one Flyers prospect will advance to the gold medal game. Canada will face Czechia in the other semi-final match. The gold medal game is scheduled to close out the tournament.
