2026 World Juniors: Top standouts from Denmark vs. Finland

Finland has pulled off the first upset of the World Junior Championship, beating Denmark 6-2 in Minnesota.

The Finns took a 3-1 lead in the first period, with Roope Vesterinen, Onni Kalto and Oliver Suvanto finding the back of the net. The Danes struggled to generate scoring chances, but did get a goal from William Bundgaard at 6:08 to give them some life.

Everything fell apart shortly after, though. Saarelainen and Vesterinen each scored a second goal, while Aatos Koivu converted on a pass early in the second to help steal a 6-1 advantage after 40.

Anton Linde gave the Danes another reason to celebrate in the third period, but the game was far out of reach at that point, with the Finns winning 6-2.

Here’s a look at the top performers between Denmark and Finland:

Denmark

#19 William Bundgaard, RW: Bundgaard had a great showing against Canada, and he was rewarded with the 2-1 goal in the first. He’s one of the few Danish players who can continuously get to the front of the net, and he has some speed to work with, as well. It’s still early, but he’s going to remain an important part of Denmark’s attack.

Finland

#25 Lasse Boelius, D (Anaheim Ducks): Boelius was my favorite Finnish defender during the pre-tournament and that continued over to today. He had a pair of assists while leading the team on the man advantage. He’s a solid puck-mover who sees the ice well and knows when it’s better to look for a teammate instead of shooting the puck himself.

#10 Roope Vesterinen, LW: Vesterinen didn’t score in either of his games a year ago, but he was going to be counted on in a big way this year after putting up some great performances with the U-20 team. He only has one goal in the top Finnish league this season, in what has been a brutal year for him professionally. But with two goals today, you could tell he was buzzing. Vesterinen was almost always in the right spot at the right time, and it paid off.

#12 Joona Saarelainen, LW (Tampa Bay Lightning): The speedy winger always comes to play when he wears his nation’s colors. He scored on the power play in the second period on his sixth shot of the game. He was a one-man shooting machine, so it was surprising he didn’t score a few more.

#15 Aatos Koivu, C (Montreal Canadiens): A Koivu scoring in Minnesota? Say it ain’t so. Koivu scored the 4-1 goal in the second period, but he also had a couple of passes that led to goals shortly after. He’s not flashy, but he’s a smart two-way player who works hard at both ends. Finland doesn’t have many high-end difference-makers, but Koivu’s work ethic should continue to pay dividends.

#29 Jasper Kuhta, C: Kuhta was Finland’s third-line center today, but he played like a man on a mission. He had three assists, with all of them looking mighty impressive. Kuhta has put himself on the map as a potential top 60 pick in 2026 after going undrafted a year ago. His rugged frame, quick shot and excellent hockey sense should allow him to get a second chance.

#38 Oliver Suvanto, C (2026 NHL Draft): Suvanto really impressed me as the team’s No. 1 center with Julius Miettinen out. He used his 6-foot-3 frame to get into ideal scoring and passing lanes and it led to the 3-1 goal on the man advantage. He just commands attention every time he hits the ice.

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