MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Muskegon Lumberjacks are one of the more represented clubs at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships. With four players, two of whom are active, and a former staffer, the Jacks are rooting for four different countries in the annual U20 tournament.
 
Lumberjacks' fans in the United States can catch games on NHL Network. Canadian fans can watch on TSN. Below is a breakdown of each team, including a Lumberjack, and their preliminary-round schedule.
 

Slovakia – Adam Belusko, Luka Radivojevic

Slovakia opens tournament play with the event's first official game, against Sweden, at Grand Casino Arena on Friday afternoon. Both Belusko and Radivojevic will lead their country into the charge as alternate captains.
 
Slovakia Preliminary Schedule:
Friday, 1 p.m. vs Sweden
Saturday, 2 p.m. vs Germany
Monday, 6 p.m. vs USA
Wednesday, 1 p.m. vs Switzerland
 

Latvia – Rudolfs Berzkalns

Heading into his second WJC tournament, Berzkalns has high expectations for himself and his country. Last year, Latvia upset Canada in the 2025 tournament in Ottawa. This year, Berzkalns knows they aren't viewed as underdogs, and no one is underestimating one of the youngest teams at the event.
 
Latvia Preliminary Schedule:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. vs Canada
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. vs Finland
Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. vs Denmark
Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. vs Czechia (Nestrasil)
 

Czechia – Vaclav Nestrasil

2025 was quite the year for Vaclav Nestrasil. A Clark Cup Championship followed by a first-round selection in the NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, and near the top of freshman scoring in the NCAA, now at UMass Amherst. As the calendar flips to 2026, Nestrasil is looking to carry his momentum with him to the new year, starting with a strong performance with his first WJC appearance.
 
Czechia Preliminary Schedule:
Friday, 8:30 p.m. vs Canada
Saturday, 8:30 p.m. vs Denmark
Monday, 3:30 p.m. vs Finland
Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. vs Latvia (Berzkalns)
 

USA – Patrick Dooley (EQ)

The Lumberjacks' family includes so many people in so many different roles. Former Jacks Equipment Manager Patrick Dooley spent five seasons in Muskegon and rose through the ranks to the NCAA, just as the players he worked with had done. After a stint at Vermont (ECAC), Dooley moved back to the Midwest to join Notre Dame's (BIG10) staff. Now, Dooley gets to compete against current and former players on the international stage.
 
USA Preliminary Schedule:
Friday, 6 p.m. vs Germany
Saturday, 6 p.m. vs Switzerland
Monday, 6 p.m. vs Slovakia (Belusko, Radivojevic)
Wednesday, 6 p.m. vs Sweden
 
For the full tournament schedule, including the later rounds, please click HERE.