Filip Ekberg stars on big stage and other draft eligibles still rolling
Filip Ekberg‘s adjustment to playing for Ottawa in the Ontario Hockey League during the 2024–25 season took some time.
But once the speedy, playmaking winger found his groove near the end of the season, scouts started to take notice.
Ekberg was a revelation at the 2025 IIHF World Under-18 Championship as he set a new tournament scoring record for Sweden with 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) — the sixth-most productive showcase in tournament history.
Ekberg registered nine points (five goals, four assists) in four games last week. He was named the tournament’s most valuable player and a first all-star team. Ekberg, unlisted on FCHockey’s Spring ranking for the 2025 draft, played a big role in helping Sweden nab a silver medal at this event.
“What impressed me most about his game is his off-puck movement,” FCHockey crossover Scout Jacob Roth said. “He is constantly slashing to the middle of the ice in the offensive zone and filling free ice wherever he can find it. I was impressed by his play on the puck as well. He is a confident puck carrier, always with his head up, scanning for options. I thought his passing was his strongest trait, as he displayed good vision and deception on his passes.
“What I think separates Ekberg from players with similar profiles is the bite he is able to play with to complement the skill side of his game. He’s a pest on defense, and while he doesn’t have the strength to knock players off the puck regularly, he’s able to annoy them just enough to force opponents into bad decisions.”
Ekberg had a statement game in Sweden’s final preliminary round game against Czechia.
He opened the scoring less than five minutes into the contest, polishing off a breakaway pass easily with a backhand move to lift the puck over the goalie. Ekberg added an assist on fellow draft-eligible Victor Klingsell‘s marker that came nearly two minutes later. He closed out the first period with another goal of his own. His assist on 2026 draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg’s marker in the third made the game 7-3 for the Swedes.
Here’s who else impressed this week:
Cole Reschny | Team Canada (U18 Worlds)
Cole Reschny had a fantastic season for Victoria in the Western Hockey League. After impressing on the scoresheet in the WHL — both regular season and playoffs — the center continued his point production for Canada at the U18s. Reschny potted seven points (four goals, three assists) down the stretch to help Canada seal a gold medal. His standout performance for the Canadians came in the quarterfinal matchup with Czechia. Rechny tied the game up at two near the end of the second period and then ended the game in just under three minutes of overtime.
Cullen Potter | Team USA (U18 Worlds)
Following a successful first season in the NCAA with Arizona State, Cullen Potter rejoined some of his United States National Team Development Program teammates to help his country claim a bronze medal. Potter registered six points (three goals, three assists) in his last four tournament games. While he was kept off the scoresheet in the bronze medal game, it wasn’t for lack of trying, as he fired six shots on goal in the Americans’ 4-3 overtime triumph over Slovakia.
Sascha Boumedienne | Team Sweden (U18 Worlds)
Sascha Boumedienne helped his draft stock immensely with a productive tournament. The Boston University defender played huge minutes for Sweden at the U18s and was the most productive blueliner in the tournament’s history. He set a new record with 14 points (one goal, 13 assists), including six points in his last four games. He was held without a point in the semifinals and the gold-medal game but played over 25 minutes in each while registering five shots.
William Moore | Team USA (U18 Worlds)
William Moore had a productive tournament for Team USA en route to claiming the bronze medal. The 6-foot-2 center had 11 points (three goals, eight assists), with six assists in four games down the stretch. Moore saved his biggest game for the end as he registered three assists in the final game against Slovakia to help the Americans win in overtime.
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