FloHockey’s Chris Peters posted an article which discusses 10 players who “defined the 2025 World Junior Championship 2025,” and two of Peters’ picks are Red Wings prospects:
Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Sweden (DET)
Sweden left empty-handed, but Sandin Pellikka was named defenseman of the tournament for the second straight year. He also made the media all-star team and was utilized five times in the bronze-medal game shootout. There’s no question that he is among the more intriguing offensive talents on the back end. But this tournament will also be remembered for the disappointment for Sweden, which maybe had its best path to a gold medal in recent memory, went undefeated in the prelims once again but failed to win the biggest games.
Trey Augustine, G, USA (DET)
Now USA’s all-time wins leader at the World Junior Championship with 12 career wins, Augustine is also now the only goalie to win back-to-back gold medals at this tournament for Team USA. He has had a historic run and will go down as one of USA’s most successful international goalies ever on the men’s side. What made this run a bit more unique is I don’t think we saw Augustine play his best games in this tournament, but he was good enough. His ability to win the big games for his team and make key saves in big moments is such a factor. He still has more development time ahead and will need some refining before he’s ready for the big time, but when the lights shine brightest, he wins.
Continued; Sandin Pellikka wore the captain’s “C” for Sweden, and he showed up after their Semifinal and Bronze Medal game losses to speak with the media bluntly and honestly, and yes, Augustine was not super-dominant, but he fought through any difficulties in his game to win and win some more.
