The annual U17 Five Nations Tournament was held this past week at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. The tournament featured Teams USA, Finland, Sweden, Czechia & Switzerland. This is the second North American event of the season featuring U17 players, and serves as a follow-up to the U17 Hockey Challenge hosted by Hockey Canada. This year’s Hockey Challenge, also an annual event in which Hockey Canada always enters two teams, was held in November in Truro, Nova Scotia. Although Team Canada does not participate in the Five Nations Tournament, many players do participate in both events. Therefore, it provides scouts with the opportunity to view many of these players in an international event format for a second time. Team Sweden won this year’s Five Nations tourney by virtue of a 3-2 victory over Team USA on the event’s final day. Team Czechia took third place, followed by Switzerland then Finland.
In this age group, comprised mostly of 2009 birth-year players, Team Sweden possesses an impressive bevy of forwards. Sweden was led in scoring in this event by Milan Sundstrom (6 points on 4G & 2A). Upon his promotion after averaging 2 points per game at the U18 level earlier this season, Sundstrom has continued his torrid scoring pace for Modo U20. Other Swedish forwards I took note of for their stellar play were Wiggo Forsberg (4 points), Benjamin Nystrom (2 points), and Loui Karlsson (4 points), all 2027 draft prospects.
In addition to a strong forward contingent, Sweden also possesses much talent on the defensive side of the puck. They are led on the backend by Douglas Johnsson, an elite-skating offensive d-man and potential first-round pick in 2027. The other Swedish d-man jumping out to me for his calm demeanor with the puck and excellent transitional skating was Theo Berggren. Berggren is much more of a two-way d-man and does not have the same offensive flair as Johnsson. Nonetheless, he is an excellent option on the power play, and will be a high draft pick in 2027 as well.
Perhaps the most spirited contest of the tournament was the Friday night matchup featuring Team USA and Team Czechia. Team USA ultimately prevailed 6-4, but had to overcome an early 3-0 deficit and a series of scrums after virtually every whistle. Team Czechia’s size and physical play always poses a challenge to its opponents at every level. This Czech team is no different, as 6’5″ forward Patrik Polacek tied for the team scoring lead with 5 points (4G 1A). He was joined in scoring consistency by left winger Adam Nemec and his 4 points (2G 2A). Nemec (no relation to Slovakia’s Adam Nemec of Sudbury in the OHL) continued to impress me after originally catching my attention at the aforementioned Hockey Challenge. I have attached a link to my recap of that event.
With respect to Team USA, the player first grabbing my attention in this tournament was d-man Easton Johnson (4 points on 1G 3A in 4 games). Possessing good size (6′ 180 lbs.), skating ability, and excellent vision, Johnson is a difference-maker in all three zones. He is an excellent 2027 draft prospect, and will be a great addition to University of Michigan hockey in 2027. Team USA’s leading scorer was forward Brayden Willis with 6 points (1G 5A). This comes as no surprise to me, as I felt he was the most effective American forward at the Hockey Challenge as well. Willis, who is not draft-eligible until 2028, amassed 12 points (5G 7A) at the Hockey Challenge, and was named to that tournament’s all-star team.
11/11/25: U17 World Hockey Challenge Recap