Youngest player to ever play at the IIHF World Championship?

KRM

Registered User
Jun 9, 2005
11,239
86
Gothenburg
I have a tough question to ask. Does somebody know who was the younger player to play in WM top division?

I wonder if it could be Niederreiter from Switzerland. He is 17 years and 8 months.

I can't say who's the youngest but it certainly wont be Niederreiter.
 

zecke26

Registered User
Jan 16, 2003
10,343
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marcel goc, oliver setzinger and gerhard unterluggauer were all 17 when they played a WC. i think all three are august born, so around a month older than niederreiter is at the moment.
no clue if there were younger players in the early 90s or even earlier.
 

hfboardsuser

Registered User
Nov 18, 2004
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0
It will in fact be Niederreiter. He will overtake Marcel Goc (17 years, 7 months, 22 days).
 

KRM

Registered User
Jun 9, 2005
11,239
86
Gothenburg
I finally have the answer. It was a swiss player in 1928, Bibi Toriani with 17 years and 4 months. Niederreitter'll be the second.

That is quite amazing, I would never have thought it would be so close considering how many blueberry nations participated in the WC and Olympics in the early days of international hockey.
 

swissexpert

Registered User
Sep 21, 2009
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I finally have the answer. It was a swiss player in 1928, Bibi Toriani with 17 years and 4 months. Niederreitter'll be the second.

Wow, thats historic! As you know for sure, Toriani was a member of the legendary "Ni-Sturm" playing with HC Davos for some dozen swiss championships. Exactly on the same team Niederreiter made his profi-debut by playing 3 Playoff games.

I also think Niederreiter was one of the youngest ever to:

- be selected for a WJC All Star Team
- be drafted Top 10 (probably 15)
- play in the swiss elite league

And for his WC selection: I don't think he gets hurt that easily, he's one of the tallest and also biggest on the swiss roster. I even could see him rising his Draft stock by showing some great games.
As far as I could see him in the exhibition games, he did't impress me that much. good skating and shooting but he doesn't give many passes and also doesn't fit well with the team so far. Thats absolutely not critical, it's just normal for a guy with that age and no experience, but Simpson is doing well by give him not too many minutes per game.
 

Howe Elbows 9

Registered User
Sep 16, 2007
3,833
378
Sweden
It's not the youngest players ever, but I thought it would be interesting to see who the 10 youngest players in this tournament are. I don't think all rosters are official yet (so I just went by the names that were listed on eliteprospects), so if you can tell me about any inaccuracies or any players I've missed, I'd appreciate it.

Player |Pos. |Born |Age |Nation
Nino Niederreiter |F |September 8, 1992 |17 |Switzerland
Evander Kane |F |August 2, 1991 |18 |Canada
Oliver Ekman-Larsson |D |July 17, 1991 |18 |Sweden
Kirill Gotovets |D |June 25, 1991 |18 |Belarus
Sami Vatanen |D |June 3, 1991 |18 |Finland
Chris Kreider |F |April 30, 1991 |19 |USA
Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson |F |April 12, 1991 |19 |Sweden
Richard Panik |F |February 7, 1991 |19 |Slovakia
Matt Duchene |F |January 16, 1991 |19 |Canada
Victor Hedman |D |December 18, 1990 |19 |Sweden
 

Jack DiBiase

Team Iceland Coach
Nov 15, 2008
2,455
106
It's not the youngest players ever, but I thought it would be interesting to see who the 10 youngest players in this tournament are. I don't think all rosters are official yet (so I just went by the names that were listed on eliteprospects), so if you can tell me about any inaccuracies or any players I've missed, I'd appreciate it.
Tatar?
 

kajoo

Registered User
Jan 17, 2003
843
0
Slovakia
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I remember teenagers line Reichel-Jagr-Holik in 1990 in Switzerland.

edit: Jagr was 18 (born 15.2.1972), Reichel 19 (born 25.6.1971), Holik 19 (born 1.1.1971)

If not the youngest individuals ever, definitely one of the youngest line ever.
 
Last edited:

ronnyweed

Registered User
Aug 7, 2008
4,809
0
Ontario
It's not the youngest players ever, but I thought it would be interesting to see who the 10 youngest players in this tournament are. I don't think all rosters are official yet (so I just went by the names that were listed on eliteprospects), so if you can tell me about any inaccuracies or any players I've missed, I'd appreciate it.

Player |Pos. |Born |Age |Nation
Nino Niederreiter |F |September 8, 1992 |17 |Switzerland
Evander Kane |F |August 2, 1991 |18 |Canada
Oliver Ekman-Larsson |D |July 17, 1991 |18 |Sweden
Kirill Gotovets |D |June 25, 1991 |18 |Belarus
Sami Vatanen |D |June 3, 1991 |18 |Finland
Chris Kreider |F |April 30, 1991 |19 |USA
Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson |F |April 12, 1991 |19 |Sweden
Richard Panik |F |February 7, 1991 |19 |Slovakia
Matt Duchene |F |January 16, 1991 |19 |Canada
Victor Hedman |D |December 18, 1990 |19 |Sweden

if that chart shows anything, its that this year, countries are more willing to send younger players.... better development, or less care from the veterans... you decide
 

InglewoodJack

Registered User
Jun 10, 2009
16,300
628
Châteauguay
if that chart shows anything, its that this year, countries are more willing to send younger players.... better development, or less care from the veterans... you decide
I think NHLers just don't care about the WC, especially this being an Olympic year. Ask any guy under 20 to represent his country in the biggest non-olympic pro tourney, and their jaw drops, then they say yes.
 

QnebO

Wheel, snipe, celly
Feb 11, 2010
9,763
644
I have a tough question to ask. Does somebody know who was the younger player to play in WM top division?

I wonder if it could be Niederreiter from Switzerland. He is 17 years and 8 months.

Mean all time? Finnish Leagues "Gretzky", Raimo Helminen, played World Championships and Olympics at age of 16.
 

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