Craig Button Unveils All-Group Teams for World Juniors Quarter-Finals

The 2026 World Juniors quarter-finals will commence on Friday, featuring top performances from the tournament’s round-robin stage. TSN’s Director of Scouting, Craig Button, has highlighted his standout selections based on impressive play thus far.

Quarter-Finals Schedule

Watch the quarter-finals live as the matches unfold starting at 2 p.m. ET:

• Sweden vs. Latvia at 2 p.m. ET
• Czechia vs. Switzerland at 4:30 p.m. ET
• United States vs. Finland at 6 p.m. ET
• Canada vs. Slovakia at 8:30 p.m. ET

Craig Button’s All-Group Selections

Button has named his top players from both groups, consisting of one goaltender, two defencemen, and three forwards for each.

Group A Selections

• Goaltender: Christian Kirsch (Switzerland)
• Defencemen: Alfons Freij (Sweden), Chase Reid (USA)
• Forwards: Tomas Chrenko (Slovakia), Will Zellers (USA), Anton Frondell (Sweden)

Christian Kirsch has proven to be the standout goaltender, boasting a .950 save percentage and 1.01 goals-against average. He played a pivotal role in Switzerland’s victories, including a shutout against Germany.

Defenceman Alfons Freij has excelled with five assists across four games. His contributions have been crucial in Sweden’s unbeaten run through the round robin. Chase Reid has also made an impact, scoring two goals and accumulating four points for the USA.

Among the forwards, Tomas Chrenko leads the tournament in scoring with eight points. Will Zellers matches him with five goals, showcasing his ability to be a game-winner. Anton Frondell adds to Sweden’s offensive depth with three goals and two assists.

Group B Selections

• Goaltender: Nils Maurins (Latvia)
• Defencemen: Zayne Parekh (Canada), Alberts Smits (Latvia)
• Forwards: Brady Martin (Canada), Vaclav Nestrasil (Czechia), Michael Hage (Canada)

Nils Maurins has been pivotal for Latvia, particularly in their close match against Canada, where he faced 38 shots. His efforts solidified Latvia’s place in the quarter-finals.

Zayne Parekh stands out as the leading defenceman in scoring, showcasing his dynamic offensive skills with four goals and eight points. Alberts Smits has anchored Latvia’s defence, averaging over 24 minutes on the ice.

Brady Martin is recognized as Canada’s top player, contributing significantly to the team’s performance with three goals and seven points. Michael Hage and Vaclav Nestrasil have also been key offensive players in Group B.

As the tournament progresses to its knockout stage, these players will be critical in their teams’ pursuits of the championship. Fans can look forward to thrilling matchups and exceptional hockey at the World Juniors.