The U18 World Hockey Championships is one of, if not the marquee event of the scouting season. Some of the most high-profile draft-eligible prospects in the sport descend on these tournaments ready to show their best after a year of honing their skill, and the scouts are there to see just how far they've come. It's one last chance for them to get a read on these players and where they stand.

A great performance can erase a season of doubts and give players the lift they need to establish themselves as top prospects. It can drag players out of obscurity and transform their entire future careers, earning them opportunities they would never have had without a strong tournament. 

It’s an important event, to say the least. And for some prospects, it will carry even more weight, We'll look at the