Tag: Anton Wilde

  • IIHF U18 World Championships Goaltending Game Reports

    Anton Wilde
    2026/04/24 vs USA (0–2)
    Wilde delivered an outstanding performance, stopping 54 shots and giving Denmark a chance
    to compete until the final whistle. What stood out most was his game management. He
    remained calm and composed against a high-powered USA offense that generated sustained
    pressure throughout the game. Coming off a strong first start against Germany, his confidence
    was evident. He kept his game simple and controlled, relying on excellent patience on his edges
    and sound positioning. He consistently arrived set and square to shooters, making it difficult for
    the USA to catch him off guard. His rebound control was also a key factor, slowing the pace in
    the defensive zone and allowing his defenders to reset. Performances like this against top-tier
    competition will draw attention from NHL scouts. At this point, a draft selection in June is firmly
    in play.

    Brady Knowling
    2026/04/22 vs Czechia (2–3 OT)
    Knowling remains a difficult evaluation. From a mechanics and fundamentals standpoint, he
    looks like a high-end prospect. His mobility is strong and his post integrations are well
    executed.However, a deeper look reveals technical inconsistencies that were evident in this
    game. His hands lack activity, particularly his glove hand, which is often positioned downward
    rather than presented to the puck. On recoveries, excessive movement put him out of position,
    directly contributing to goals against.In one sequence, he completely lost track of the play and
    turned away from the puck, which is concerning. While his foundation suggests he will still be
    drafted relatively high, these flaws could cause him to slide compared to initial expectations.

    Marek Sklenička
    2026/04/22 vs USA (3–2 OT)
    A solid and composed performance from Sklenička against the USA. He started the game
    confidently, making several strong glove saves early on. He combines size with athletic upside
    and moves efficiently. He understands how to position his body effectively, allowing him to make
    saves without overcomplicating situations. There were a couple of lapses in focus on the goals
    against, but he responded well and remained steady for the rest of the game. Sklenička is
    trending in the right direction and projects comfortably as a mid-round selection, likely in the
    third or fourth round.

    Patriks Plūmiņš
    2026/04/26 vs Norway (8–1)

    A quiet game in terms of shot quality, but Plūmiņš still stopped 24 shots. This performance
    highlighted both his upside and his rawness.He is highly athletic, particularly in his lower body.
    His flexibility allows him to widen his stance and seal the ice effectively, and he can generate
    strong power to cover larger distances.His upper body remains more rigid, especially his hands,
    which contribute to an overly compact stance at times. However, in the butterfly, he maximizes
    his size effectively, especially when sealing the post in RVH.Edge control and movement
    efficiency need refinement. Overmovement was noticeable at times and could become an issue
    at higher levels. Overall, he profiles as an intriguing development pick with significant upside.

    Patriks Plūmiņš
    2026/04/24 vs Finland (0–2)
    Another strong showing from Plūmiņš, stopping 32 of 34 shots. His athletic base was again
    evident, allowing him to cover large areas of the net, particularly when sealing the post or
    extending in the butterfly.His puck tracking was generally solid, with only minor rebound control
    issues. However, his skating and edge work still need improvement. He can appear stuck on his
    edges, which limits his lateral mobility and delays reactions on cross-crease
    plays.Performances like this against stronger competition will positively impact his draft stock.

    Patriks Plūmiņš
    2026/04/29 vs USA (5–2)
    Plūmiņš was the standout performer of the tournament for Latvia, with this quarterfinal win over
    the USA being the highlight. He stopped 48 shots in a high-pressure game where the USA
    consistently tried to disrupt him with traffic and physical play.He remained composed and
    confident throughout. His puck tracking was excellent, seeing pucks cleanly through traffic and
    reacting quickly to releases. His hands were decisive, either absorbing or directing pucks
    effectively, with very few dangerous rebounds. The main concern remains his structure on
    extended recoveries. In some sequences, he lost balance and ended up on his back or seated,
    which could limit his ability to handle second chances.If he was not firmly on draft boards before
    this tournament, he should be now. A mid-round selection appears very realistic.

    Martin Psohlavec
    2026/04/23 vs Sweden (2–1)
    A strong and composed performance from Psohlavec. His engagement level stood out
    immediately.
    He was active in his crease, challenging shooters with controlled aggressiveness and moving
    decisively. He also communicated well with his defenders, acting as an additional layer of

    awareness through frequent shoulder checks. His willingness to play the puck was also notable,
    helping breakouts and reducing forecheck pressure. Technically, his puck tracking was solid,
    and rebound control was effective. He stayed connected to plays and reacted quickly on
    recoveries. With his physical tools and mature approach, performances like this will keep him
    firmly in the draft conversation.

    Pyry Lammi
    2026/04/27 vs Canada (0–7)
    A very difficult game for Lammi against Canada. While his speed and athleticism were still
    present, he struggled in most other areas. He looked overwhelmed by sustained pressure,
    frequently losing sight of the puck and breaking down structurally on passing plays and
    rebounds. His puck tracking was inconsistent, and he was beaten cleanly on multiple shots. His
    play recognition and recoveries were also problematic. After goals, he appeared disoriented,
    suggesting difficulty processing the sequences. Given his smaller stature, these issues are
    magnified. This performance could negatively impact his draft projection.

    Pyry Lammi
    2026/04/24 vs Latvia (2–0)
    Despite the shutout, some concerns remained. Lammi plays a reactive style rather than an
    anticipatory one. He often reacted to plays without gathering information beforehand, leading to
    suboptimal positioning. On one short-side rush, he defaulted to RVH despite no passing threat,
    when an overlap would have provided better coverage. These details are critical, especially for
    a smaller goalie. While the result was positive, the underlying habits raise questions about his
    projection. He could fall outside the draft range.

    Luke Carrithers
    2026/04/27 vs Germany (11–1)
    Carrithers is a clean and efficient goalie with a solid foundation. He moves well, stays controlled,
    and positions himself effectively. His compact stance limits openings and helps him absorb
    pucks efficiently. He compensates for that compactness with strong depth management.
    However, puck tracking through screens remains an issue. On multiple occasions, he lost sight
    of the puck and struggled to recover, leading to goals. Overall, he does many things well but
    lacks a defining elite trait. He projects as a potential late-round pick or could go undrafted.

    Samuel Hrenák

    2026/04/27 vs Latvia (5–2)
    Hrenák continues to trend upward. He is a big-bodied goalie with strong lower-body power.
    Compared to earlier in the season, his movements were more controlled and purposeful. He
    used intelligent routes and showed improved patience on his edges, leading to better
    positioning. His post play was effective, sealing well in RVH while also using the post to
    generate power for pushes. His hands were solid when set, but became less controlled during
    lateral movement, particularly his glove hand. There is clear upside in his profile, and a mid-
    round selection appears likely.

    Gavin Betts
    2026/04/22 vs Slovakia (1–2)
    A solid performance despite the result. Betts’ biggest strength is his positioning and depth
    management. He adjusted well to play development and managed his aggressiveness
    appropriately. His stick work was effective in directing rebounds away from dangerous areas.
    However, his puck tracking and play reading need improvement. He often reacted late to
    releases and passes, forcing him into reactive sequences rather than controlled ones. His
    hands also lack activity and projection. While his foundation is solid, his upside appears limited
    without a defining elite trait.

    Gavin Betts
    2026/04/29 vs Sweden (2–4)
    Again, Betts’ structure and positioning were strong. His movements were efficient and
    purposeful. His compact stance helped compensate for tracking issues, allowing him to make
    contact with pucks even when reacting late. However, he could have challenged shooters more
    in situations where passing options were limited. He also defaulted too quickly to RVH on short-
    side plays, exposing openings. His hands remained passive, particularly his glove, which limited
    his ability to control pucks cleanly. He projects as a lower-upside prospect with a solid floor but
    a long path to becoming draftable.

    Martin Psohlavec
    2026/04/29 vs Finland (2–1)
    Another strong showing from Psohlavec. He displayed improved quickness and athleticism,
    suggesting that previous concerns about speed may be less significant. His hands were active
    and well positioned, helping him maximize his save radius. His post integration was effective,
    mixing RVH and overlap appropriately. He also showed strong anticipatory habits, reading
    passes and arriving set on time. One area for improvement is his cross-crease slide trajectory.

    At times, his path was too linear, opening holes that better shooters could exploit. With
    refinement, he could develop into a strong prospect. At this stage, he remains a solid late-round
    option.

    Marek Sklenička
    2026/04/25 vs Germany (2–3 OT)
    Sklenička’s size and athleticism remain appealing, but this was not his strongest performance.
    His post integration was solid, but puck tracking issues were evident. He reacted late to shots
    and struggled to locate rebounds, especially through traffic. This led to inconsistent rebound
    control, with pucks often bouncing off him rather than being absorbed. Despite this, his overall
    body of work still supports a mid-round projection based on his physical tools.

    Brady Knowling
    2026/04/28 vs Latvia (2–5)
    An inconsistent performance from Knowling. He started strong, with efficient movements and
    good puck tracking, limiting rebounds. However, his game deteriorated as pressure increased.
    Tracking became inconsistent and his angling suffered, leading to the game-winning goal.He
    was also exposed on plays from behind the goal line, where he tracked the pass visually but
    failed to move his body accordingly, reacting late to the shot. While his tools and
    competitiveness remain appealing, these inconsistencies make it difficult to justify selecting him
    before the third round.

    Patriks Plūmiņš
    2026/05/01 vs Czechia (1–4)
    Plūmiņš was less tested in this game but still made key saves to keep Latvia competitive. His
    puck tracking on perimeter shots was excellent, even through traffic. He controlled rebounds
    well and reacted effectively on deflections. On larger recoveries, his athleticism allowed him to
    stay in plays. However, his routes on plays from the corner were not always optimal, limiting his
    angle coverage. A more aggressive path could have improved his chances on certain goals.
    Still, another strong performance reinforcing his draft value.

    Martin Psohlavec
    2026/05/01 vs Sweden (3–4 OT)

    Psohlavec continued his strong tournament with another impressive performance. His
    positioning was a key strength. He followed his arc well, staying controlled while maintaining
    appropriate aggressiveness. His anticipation allowed him to beat passes and arrive set without
    oversliding. He also showed strong athleticism for his size, making difficult saves during
    recoveries. However, he struggled on some clean perimeter shots, reacting slightly late. This
    affected his puck tracking and resulted in goals he would likely want back. Additionally, his
    tendency to lose structure during extended recoveries remains a concern. Overall, Psohlavec
    significantly raised his stock during this tournament and made a strong case to be drafted.

  • U18 World Championship – Goaltending Review: Who Rose, Who Fell, and Who Came Out of Nowhere

    The goaltending picture at the 2026 U18 World Championship was, as usual, a mix of
    confirmation, disappointment, and genuine surprise. Some prospects used the tournament as a
    launching pad. Others reminded us why evaluation is never a straight line. And at least one
    name that wasn’t on anyone’s radar deserves serious attention heading into June.

    Here is my breakdown of the goaltenders who stood out, who underwhelmed, and who made
    the most unexpected impression of the tournament.

    Who stood out
    Martin Psohlavec — CZE

    I had been watching Psohlavec in the Czech U20 league for a while, quietly impressed but
    wondering how the step up in competition would treat him. International play at this age group is
    a different animal. The pace is faster, the reads have to come quicker, and the mental load is
    heavier. He answered every question.

    What struck me first against Sweden was his engagement level. He wasn’t passive in his
    crease. He was active, challenging shooters with controlled aggressiveness while still
    communicating with his defenders through consistent shoulder checks. That kind of awareness,
    the willingness to act as an extra set of eyes on the ice, is something you can’t really teach. He
    plays a mature game for his age.

    Technically, his puck tracking was reliable and his rebound control was effective throughout the
    tournament. Against Finland, he showed improved quickness and well-positioned hands that
    maximized his save radius. His post integration was strong, mixing RVH and overlap at
    appropriate moments rather than defaulting to one option. His anticipatory habits were also
    evident: reading passes early and arriving set without oversliding.

    The main technical flag is his cross-crease slide trajectory, which was too linear at times,
    creating exploitable openings. And he did struggle on some clean perimeter shots in the
    Sweden semifinal, reacting a tick late. Extended recoveries can also cost him structure
    occasionally. These are refinement issues, not foundational ones.

    By the end of the tournament, Psohlavec had significantly elevated his draft stock. He came in
    as an underrated name and left as a legitimate middle to late with clear upside. This is the kind
    of tournament performance scouts remember.


    Patriks Plūmiņš — LAT

    If you asked me to cast ballot with the name of the most valuable goaltender at this tournament,
    it would be Plūmiņš without hesitation. Latvia is not a hockey powerhouse, and the league and
    competition level he plays in during the regular season makes it genuinely difficult to evaluate
    him properly throughout the year. You’re always left wondering how much of what you’re seeing
    is quality and how much is context.

    He answered that definitively in this tournament.

    Forty-eight saves in a high-pressure QF elimination game, with the Americans throwing
    everything at him: traffic, physical play, sustained zone time. He remained composed and
    confident from start to finish. His puck tracking through traffic was excellent: seeing pucks
    cleanly, reacting quickly to releases, and keeping his hands decisive. Very few dangerous
    rebounds. That kind of performance, under that kind of pressure, against that level of
    competition, tells you a lot about a goaltender’s character.

    Across the tournament, his athletic base was his biggest calling card. Strong lower-body power,
    excellent flexibility, an ability to widen his stance and seal the ice effectively. Against Finland, he
    stopped 32 of 34 shots and showed a solid athletic foundation that allowed him to cover large
    areas of the net. Against Norway, he highlighted both his upside and his rawness: the lower
    body impressive, the upper body and hands more rigid, his compact stance occasionally limiting
    him.

    The main concern remains his structure on extended recoveries. In several sequences, he lost
    his balance and ended up on his back or seated, which becomes a problem when better teams
    generate second and third chances. His edge control and movement efficiency also need some
    refinements.

    But here is the reality: if Plūmiņš was not on draft boards before this tournament, he needs to be
    now. If he was, he’s now definitely higher. A mid-round selection appears to be locked, and
    depending on how teams weigh tournament performance, he could even exceed that. He is a
    hot commodity heading into June.

    Who did not


    Pyry Lammi — FIN

    I wanted Lammi to prove people wrong. NHL Central scouting did not include him in their
    preliminary list, and I thought there was a real chance this tournament could change that. His
    speed and athleticism are genuine and they catch your eye immediately. But being a smaller
    goaltender means the margin for error is narrower, and the technical details matter even more.
    You need to be fundamentally ahead of plays, not reactive to them.

    Against Latvia, even in a shutout, the concerns were visible. Lammi plays a reactive style rather
    than an anticipatory one. He was gathering information after the fact, leading to suboptimal
    positioning. There was a rush sequence where he defaulted to RVH despite no legitimate
    passing threat, the correct read there is an overlap for better coverage. Those details, small as
    they seem, compound over a full game against better competition.

    Against Canada, it fell apart. He looked overwhelmed by sustained pressure, losing sight of the
    puck frequently and breaking down structurally on passing plays and rebounds. His play
    recognition and recoveries were problematic. After goals, he appeared disoriented, suggesting
    difficulty processing sequences in real time. For a smaller goalie, where positioning and reads
    are the great equalizer, these are significant issues.

    This tournament did not help his cause. He could fall outside the draft range entirely, and it
    would be hard to argue against that assessment based on what I saw here.


    Viggo Tamm — SWE

    Tamm came into the tournament with some expectation attached to his name in a weaker
    Swedish goalie draft class, but he never established himself as the starter Sweden needed. The
    time he did play, he looked lost, unable to impose himself on the game or give his team the
    confidence that a top goaltending performance can provide.

    There is not much more to say. At a tournament where you need to seize your opportunity, he
    didn’t. His draft stock will reflect that.

    Special mention
    Anton Wilde — DEN

    I will be honest: I did not have Anton Wilde on my radar before this tournament. Denmark does
    not typically produce goaltenders who draw serious NHL draft attention, and there was nothing
    in his pre-tournament profile that demanded a closer look.

    Then he stopped 54 shots against the United States.

    What made the performance remarkable was not just the shot volume , it was how he managed
    the game. Against a high-powered USA offense that generated sustained pressure from start to
    finish, Wilde remained calm and composed. He kept his game simple and controlled, relying on excellent patience on his edges and sound positioning. He consistently arrived set and square
    to shooters, making it difficult for the Americans to catch him off guard. His rebound control was
    a key factor as well, slowing the pace in the defensive zone and giving his defenders the time
    they needed to reset.

    Coming off a strong first start against Germany, his confidence was evident. This was not a
    goaltender hanging on. It was a goaltender competing, and competing well.

    The realistic outcome here is a late-round selection, and even that would be based almost
    entirely on these tournament performances rather than a deep body of work. But at minimum,
    Wilde has now put himself on the map. If nothing else, this should generate genuine interest in
    bringing him to North America to continue his junior career, and that conversation, a few weeks
    ago, would not have happened at all.

    Sometimes a tournament creates a player. For Wilde, that’s exactly what happened here.

    Final Thought

    Goaltending evaluation at the U18 level is always imprecise. Sample sizes are small,
    competition quality varies, and development timelines for goaltenders are notoriously long. The
    key is not to overreact on good or bad performances. But tournaments like this one are
    valuable precisely because they strip away context and this year performances were too
    impressive to ignore. Everyone is playing under the same pressure, against the same
    competition, at the same time. The draft will tell us how much of it stuck or not for these
    prospects.