The excitement is ready - Finland's megatalent out of the World Championship team!

The Finnish Ice Hockey Association has left the 17-year-old top prospect Oscar Hemming out of the under-18 World Championship squad.

The decision was made public on Sunday when the U18 national team training group was announced. Hemming was not included, even though he is considered one of the top players in his age group and even a likely first-round NHL draft pick next summer.

According to Ilta-Sanomat the information suggests that the decision is not based on sporting reasons, but rather there is an unclear situation surrounding the player, according to the Ice Hockey Association.

– There is a long-standing dispute with Kiekko-Espoo that is still unresolved, Ice Hockey Association sports director Olli Salo briefly commented on the decision to IS.

When asked if the choice was based on sporting reasons, Salo did not want to elaborate further on the decision:

– I will only comment on this matter with what I just said.

Hemming’s situation is related to a contract dispute that began last summer with Kiekko-Espoo. The player’s contract was terminated by his mother, even though there were still two years left on the three-year contract. The termination was justified by legislation concerning the status of young employees, but the club considers the decision illegal, and the matter is still pending in court.

Hemming attempted to move to North America at the beginning of the season to join the OHL league’s Kitchener Rangers, but ultimately he ended up in the United States with a scholarship to Boston College’s university team. He is currently playing in the NCAA league, which is not under the jurisdiction of the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The final U18 World Championship team for Finland will be announced on Monday, April 20, 2026. The World Championship tournament will start on April 22 in Trencín and Bratislava, Slovakia.

Team Little Lions training group:

Goalkeepers:
Ahmajärvi Oskari, Kiekko-Espoo
Lammi Pyry, Ässät Pori
Riihimäki Aarni, JYP Jyväskylä
Defenders:
Alalauri Samu, Pelicans Lahti
Kokkonen Lenni, Kärpät Oulu
Kuukasjärvi Roni, Ilves Tampere
Laatikainen Max, Kiekko-Espoo
Piiparinen Juho, Tappara Tampere
Saarimäki Maxim, Ässät Pori
Suominen Julius, Lukko Rauma
Uronen Eelis, HIFK Helsinki
Forwards:
Fugleberg Paavo, TPS Turku
Juntunen Oiva, KooKoo Kouvola
Kallio Wilmer, TPS Turku
Karassaari Janne, Kärpät Oulu
Laitinen Jiko, Ilves Tampere
Miilunpohja Rasmus, KalPa Kuopio
Mäkinen Ilari, HPK Hämeenlinna
Pakarinen Noel, Kiekko-Espoo
Santala Luca, Kiekko-Espoo
*Suvanto Oliver, Tappara Tampere
Uronen Anttoni, HIFK Helsinki
Vanhatalo Vilho, Tappara Tampere
Vuori Atte, Kiekko-Espoo
Wahlroos Olli, TPS Turku