The Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia, Denmark and Kazakhstan have named their candidates for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship that takes place from 26 December 2018 to 5 January 2019 in Vancouver and Victoria in Canada’s western province of British Columbia.

The Czechs, who finished the last World Juniors in fourth place, included a mix of players with ice time in the top-two senior leagues back home as well as players from junior teams abroad including the Canadian junior leagues OHL, QMJHL and WHL. Head coach Vaclav Varada also hopes to get four players on loan from NHL clubs including Filip Chytil who plays for the New York Rangers, and Martin Necas, Filip Zadina and Martin Kaut, who currently play in the AHL. However, that has yet to be decided and confirmed by their respective NHL organization. Therefore the list of candidates currently includes 28 names including three goaltenders, ten defencemen and 15 forwards. The team may possible add players from the U19 team that will play at the World Junior A Challenge in Canada.

The Finnish Ice Hockey Association named 25 players who will join the camp on 15 December that will include two pre-competition games in Canada. 19 players join from Finnish clubs including several with top-level senior experience while three player junior hockey and three play college hockey in North America.

Slovakia announced a long list consisting 26 players based in Europe who will convene for a first camp in Piestany 9-13 December. For the second camp week in Canada the roster will be trimmed and additional Slovak players based in North America will be invited. After two exhibition games against the Czech Republic and Canada, the final 23-man roster will be named.

Denmark named 34 candidates for the World Juniors and will trim the number down to 26 players on 10 December before travelling to Canada where three more players will be cut from the roster after the exhibition game against Sweden on 22 December.

Recently promoted Kazakhstan named 31 players for the U20 national team camp, most of them play for Snezhnye Barsy Astana, the junior team of KHL club Barys Astana that plays in the KHL’s junior league MHL. Some players also join from clubs competing in the country’s top senior league.

The ten teams will trim down the rosters prior to the stat of the tournament on 26 December. The official player registration is scheduled for 25 December.

Candidates named by the teams

Czech Republic

Goaltenders:
Lukas Dostal, Slavia Trebic (CZE)
Jiri Patera, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Jakub Skarek, Pelicans Lahti (FIN)

Defencemen:
Daniel Bukac, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Jakub Galvas, HC Olomouc (CZE)
Michael Gaspar, Stadion Litomerice (CZE)
Martin Hugo Has, Tappara Tampere (FIN)
Filip Kral, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
David Kvasnicka, Stadion Litomerice (CZE)
Dalimil Mikyska, Slavia Trebic (CZE)
Radim Salda, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Libor Zabransky, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Matyas Zelingr, Rytiri Kladno (CZE)

Forwards:
Petr Cajka, Erie Otters (OHL)
Filip Chytil, New York Rangers (NHL)
Jan Hladonik, Ocelari Trinec (CZE)
Krystof Hrabik, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Jan Jenik, Bili Tygri Liberec (CZE)
Martin Kaut, Colorado Eagles (AHL)
Jachym Kondelik, Univ. Connecticut (NCAA)
Jakub Lauko, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
Ondrej Machala, Dynamo Pardubice (CZE)
Martin Necas, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Matej Pekar, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Karel Plasek, Kometa Brno (CZE)
Jakub Pour, Stadion Litomerice (CZE)
Ostap Safin, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Filip Zadina, Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)

Head Coach:
Vaclav Varada

Finland

Goaltenders:
Lassi Lehtinen, Lukko Rauma (FIN)
Filip Lindberg, Univ. Massachusetts Amherst (NCAA)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Defencemen:
Aleksi Anttalainen, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Ville Heinola, Lukko Rauma (FIN)
Anttoni Honka, JYP Jyvaskyla (FIN)
Olli Kaskinen, TPS Turku (FIN)
Mikko Kokkonen, Jukurit Mikkeli (FIN)
Oskari Laaksonen, Ilves Tampere (FIN)
Otto Latvala, HPK Hameenlinna (FIN)
Joona Riekkinen, KalPa Kuopio (FIN)
Lassi Thomson, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Toni Utunen, Tappara Tampere (FIN)

Forwards: 
Teemu Engberg, HIFK Helsink (FIN)
Aleksi Heponiemi, Karpat Oulu (FIN)
Kaapo Kakko, TPS Turku (FIN)
Rasmus Kupari, Karpat Oulu (FIN)
Anton Lundell, Helsinki IFK (FIN)
Niklas Nordgren, Helsinki IFK (FIN)
Linus Nyman, Lukko Rauma (FIN)
Sampo Ranta, Univ. Minnesota (NCAA)
Aarne Talvitie, Penn State Univ. (NCAA)
Samuli Vainionpaa, Ilves Tampere (FIN)
Santeri Virtanen, SaiPa Lappeenranta (FIN)
Jesse Ylonen, Pelicans Lahti (FIN)

Head Coach:
Jussi Ahokas

Slovakia
(Note: players based in North America to be added 15 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Samuel Hlavaj, MHA Martin (SVK)
Jakub Kostelny, Dukla Trencin (SVK)
Juraj Ovecka, MHKM Skalica (SVK)
Juraj Sklenar, MMHK Nitra (SVK)

Defencemen:
David Boldizar, Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Daniel Demo, Lulea HF (SWE)
Marcel Dlugos, MsHKM Zilina (SVK)
Martin Fehervary, HV71 Jonkoping (SWE)
Andrej Golian, HC 07 Detva (SVK)
Marek Korencik, Lulea HF (SWE)
Martin Kupec, HC '05 Banska Bystrica (SVK)
Jan Nahalka, HK '95 Povazska Bystrica (SVK)
Enrik Svec, MHK Dubnica nad Vahom (SVK)
Adam Ziak, TuTo Turku (FIN)

Forwards:
Jozef Balaz, Vitkovice Ostrava (CZE)
Filip Cenka, MHk 32 Liptovsky Mikulas (SVK)
Milos Fafrak, MHA Martin (SVK)
Oliver Giertl, HC '05 Banska Bystrica (SVK)
Matus Havrila, PHK Presov (SVK)
Milos Kelemen, HKM Zvolen (SVK)
Andrej Kollar, MMHK Nitra (SVK)
Jakub Kover, HC Kosice (SVK)
Filip Krivosik, HPK Hameenlinna (FIN)
Adam Liska, Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Pavol Regenda, Vaxjo Lakers (SWE)
Jakub Urbanek, HK Orange 20 (SVK)

Head Coach:
Ernest Bokros

Denmark

Goaltenders:
Albert Adamsen, Herning Blue Fox (DEN)
William Rorth, Rodovre Mighty Bulls (DEN)
Mads Sogaard, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Defencemen:
Victor Andersen, Herning Blue Fox (DEN)
Daniel Baastrup-Andersen, Linkoping HC (SWE)
Lasse Carlsen, Hvidovre Fighters (DEN)
Nicolai Eriksen, Aalborg Pirates (DEN)
Mads Iversen, Aalborg Pirates (DEN)
Oliver Jessen, Esbjerg Energy (DEN)
Magnus Koch, Herlev Eagles (DEN)
Lasse Mortensen, Rodovre Mighty Bulls (DEN)
Albert Praem, Karlskrona HK (SWE)
Oscar Schulze, Rungsted IK (DEN)
Malte Setkov, Malmo Redhawks (SWE)
Jeppe Urup, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)

Forwards:
Lucas Andersen, Karlskrona HK (SWE)
Lukas Bach, EV Zug (SUI)
Jonathan Brinkman, Aalborg Pirates (DEN)
Magnus Carlsen, Herlev Eagles (DEN)
Victor Cubars, Hvidovre Fighters (DEN)
Soren Dietz, Malmo Redhawks (SWE)
Christoffer Gath, Herlev Eagles (DEN)
Gustav Green, Rungsted IK (DEN)
Andreas Grundtvig, Esbjerg Energy (DEN)
Oliver Kjaer, Esbjerg Energy (DEN)
Peter E Larsen, Herning Blue Fox (DEN)
David Madsen, Malmo Redhawks (SWE)
Emil Markussen, Aalborg Pirates (DEN)
Asger Petersen, Herlev Eagles (DEN)
Maksim Popovic, Herlev Eagles (DEN)
Oliver Reuter, Hvidovre Fighters (DEN)
Jonas Rondbjerg, Vaxjo Lakers (SWE)
Philip Schultz, Victoria Royals (WHL)
Jakob Wittendorf, Odense Bulldogs (DEN)

Head Coach:
Olaf Eller

Kazakhstan

Goaltenders:
Denis Karatayev, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Vladislav Nurek, Altai (KAZ)
Vilen Prokofiev, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Demid Yeremeyev, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)

Defencemen:
Samat Daniyar, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Tamerlan Gaitamirov, Fargo Force (USHL)
Yaroslav Khripkov, Altai Ust-Kamenogorsk (KAZ/MHL)
Artyom Korolyov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
David Muratov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Yernar Musabayev, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Valeri Neroyev, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Valeri Orekhov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Kirill Pak, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Yevgeni Shinkaretski, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Mikhail Tarasov (Snow Leopards), Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)

Forwards:
Oleg Boiko, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Andrei Buyalski, HK Temirtau (KAZ)
Sayan Daniyar, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Ruslan Dyomin, HK Temirtau (KAZ)
Artur Gatiyatov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Dias Guseinov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Davyd Makutski, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Dmitri Mitenkov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Maxim Mukhametov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Batyrlan Muratov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Maxim Musorov, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Sergei Pryakhin, HK Temirtau (KAZ)
Vladislav Saiko, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Danil Tretiakovski, Altai Ust-Kamenogorsk (KAZ/MHL)
Ivan Vereshagin, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)
Aidos Zhorabek, Snezhnye Barsy Astana (KAZ/MHL)

Head Coach:
Sergei Starygin