When Switzerland played Hungary, there was a 25-year age gap between Andres Ambuhl and his Hungarian opponent Doman Szongoth. Inspired by that clash of generation, IIHF.com pick out a just-for-fun look at the stars of Team Gen Z and Team Millennial from the preliminary round at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Sweden and Denmark.

Team Gen Z (born 2002-2005)

Stian Solberg (19, Norway)
Norway’s flirtations with relegation have coincided with a change of generations. Solberg, back for his second year, looks like the kind of defender who can become the foundation of the next strong Norwegian team. The only thing about this kid that says “teenager” is his birth certificate: he’ll mix it up in a physical battle, he’ll contribute to the offence, and he’ll be a name we hear a lot more for years to come.

Macklin Celebrini (18, Canada)
Wherever he plays, he scores. Celebrini has been described as the most talented college prospect ever scouted. He went #1 in the 2024 draft, then jumped straight into a 63-point rookie season with the Sharks in the NHL. So, even if Canada’s roster is dominated by the likes of Crosby and MacKinnon, it’s no surprise that the youngster is holding his own with 6 (3+3) points from his games in Stockholm. This is another name you’ll hear many, many times in years to come.

Oscar Moelgaard (20, Denmark)
The last 20-year-old Dane to score six points at an IIHF World Championship was some chap called Nikolaj Ehlers. He turned out pretty well. Moelgaard’s assist on Ehlers’ vital goal in the shoot-out win over Germany takes him to 7 (1+6) for this tournament. The Kraken have a real prospect here – super-smart, according to Ehlers – and he can help ensure that this year’s run is a beginning for Denmark, not an end.

Doman Szongoth (16, Hungary)
The youngest player at this year’s tournament, and the first 16-year-old to play here in decades, Szongoth proved that he earned his place on merit. Right after promotion, Hungary’s roster did not have the luxury of bringing anyone along for the ride, and Szongoth was involved on the ice throughout his team’s successful survival bid. A collection of minor penalties suggests he wasn’t afraid to rattle his elders’ cages from time to time.

Reserves: Jan Golicic (19, Slovenia), Michael Brandsegg-Nyard (19, Norway)

Team Millennial (born 1983-1988)

Marc-Andre Fleury (40, Canada
What do you get the goalie who’s won everything? A first Ice Hockey World Championship call-up at the age of 40, apparently. Fleury is the oldest netminder in town this year, but he’s still putting up good numbers in tandem with Jordan Binnington. So far the Wild stopper got behind 94.44% of shots for a GAA of 1.00 in three full games. Not bad for a World Championship rookie?

Andres Ambuhl (41, Switzerland)
What more can you say about Switzerland’s Golden Warrior? This might be his final World Championship, but he’s signing off with a flourish. A hat-trick against Hungary and another goal against Kazakhstan show the 41-year-old has still got it. If the Swiss get past Austria, Ambuhl is set to reach 150 games in this competition – and he could go to retirement with one more medal.

Roman Cervenka (39, Czechia)
Czechia’s evergreen captain is 39, and still torments international defences. He’s third in tournament scoring here with 13 (5+8) points. Only David Pastrnak and Nathan MacKinnon are in front. After celebrating his 100th World Championship game with a hat-trick, we can’t wait to see what he has lined up for an encore as the Czechs seek to defend their title in Stockholm.

Jan-Mikael Jarvinen (37, Finland)
While his Millennial colleagues have decades of experience between them, Jarvinen has played just four World Championship games. The 37-year-old Assat forward last featured in international play as a U18 in 2006, two years after Ambuhl’s debut for Switzerland. Better late than never, he made Team Finland this year and after sitting out the first three games he picked up his first point with an assist. He’s also the oldest ever Leijonat rookie in adult IIHF play, proving that you’re never too old to dream.

Reserves: Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare (40, France), Roman Starchenko (39, Kazakhstan)