Hockey Canada has named 20 players to attend the pre-tournament camp for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship in Slovakia. This roster includes three goaltenders, six defencemen, and 11 forwards from top junior leagues in Canada. The team aims to build on past successes, with returning champions and bronze medalists from previous tournaments prominently featured. General manager Alan Millar noted that talent will continue to be evaluated through the Canadian Hockey League playoffs, with potential additions before the championship begins. Canada will compete against Slovakia, Latvia, Norway, and Finland in the preliminary round starting April 22.

By the Numbers
  • 20 players selected for the pre-tournament camp out of 23 available spots.
  • Team includes 3 goaltenders, 6 defencemen, and 11 forwards from Canadian junior leagues.
State of Play
  • The team is closely monitoring the Canadian Hockey League playoffs for additional talent.
  • The championship matches are scheduled to conclude on May 2, featuring medal games.
What's Next

The roster may expand as players from ongoing league playoffs could be added prior to the championship's start. The team will prepare to defend their gold medal with a lineup emphasizing previous international success.

Bottom Line

The pre-tournament roster highlights Canada鈥檚 commitment to building a competitive U18 team, leveraging both returning champions and players with recent international experience to aim for another gold medal.