NY Islanders prospect named player of the game as Sweden wins World Juniors gold

Islanders fans have believed for months that the 2025 NHL Draft would be remembered for more than just landing franchise cornerstone Matthew Schaefer. On Monday night, that belief felt fully validated when another first-rounder delivered on the biggest stage junior hockey has to offer.

Victor Eklund, the Islanders’ No. 16 overall pick, scored a goal and was named Player of the Game as Sweden defeated Czechia 4-2 to win gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship. It was Sweden’s third World Junior title and the first all-European final since 2016.

Eklund opened the scoring in the first period, setting the tone for a Swedish team that never trailed. Sweden added goals from Casper Juustovaara and Sascha Boumedienne before Ivar Stenberg sealed it with an empty-netter. Czechia pushed late, but the outcome was never truly in doubt.

For Islanders fans, Eklund’s moment carried extra significance. While Schaefer has understandably dominated headlines with his NHL impact at just 18, Eklund has quietly continued to build a case as another building block for the franchise’s future. The left winger led all junior players in Sweden in goals and points last season and showed again on Monday why his offensive instincts translate against elite peers.

Eklund plays with pace, confidence, and a scorer’s mindset — traits that stood out throughout the tournament and shone brightest in the gold-medal game. Being named Player of the Game in a championship final is no small thing, especially for a teenager carrying first-round expectations.

While Cole Eiserman and the U.S. teams stumbled, it was still a successful World Juniors for Islanders prospects. In addition to Eklund taking home gold, Tomas Poletin, who scored clutch goals throughout the tournament took silver and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson left with bronze after Canada won their bronze medal game.