The Washington Capitals are going to be well represented at the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minnesota.
After Cole Hutson and Nick Kempf were named to Team USA’s preliminary roster earlier this week, fellow Caps prospects Petr Sikora (Czechia) and Maxim Schäfer (Germany) were named to their respective nations’ rosters.
Both players played at last year’s tournament in Ottawa, with Sikora earning a bronze medal for Team Czechia.
Sikora, 19, was one of Czechia’s top players last year, recording seven points (4g, 3a) in seven games for the third-place finishers. The 2024 sixth-round draft pick notably played a villain role at the tournament, attracting the ire of Canadian fans after he drew a five-minute kneeing major penalty against Team Canada in the quarterfinal.
As the Czechs were awarded their medals, the Canadian crowd booed Sikora thoroughly. Sikora took the hate in stride, smiling, applauding, and waving to his adoring crowd as his name was announced at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Sikora is currently playing his third season of pro hockey with HC Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Extraliga. He has six points (2g, 4a) through 12 games.
Schäfer, 18, ranked third in scoring for Germany during last year’s tournament with three points (2g, 1a) in five games. The 2025 third-round pick scored both of his goals in Germany’s 4-3 victory over Kazakhstan, which saved them from relegation to the Division I A tournament this year.
The Nuremberg native spent most of the 2024-25 season in the DEL, Germany’s top pro league, with Eisbären Berlin. He moved to the QMJHL this season, where he has 18 points (9g, 9a) in 23 games for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.
The 2026 World Juniors is being hosted in Minneapolis and St. Paul, beginning on December 26. The gold medal game is set for January 5.
