Hockey Canada announces 25-player roster ahead of U18 men’s worlds on TSN

Hockey Canada has announced the 25-player roster that will represent Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 men’s world championships.

The tournament kicks off on Wednesday in Trencin and Bratislava, Slovakia and runs until May 2.

Watch Canada play their opening game of the tournament Wednesday against Slovakia at Noon ET/9am PT on TSN4. Team USA will face Czechia in the opening game at 10am ET/7am PT on TSN1.

Canada is the two-time reigning champion and they return three players from last year’s roster in defencemen Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin as well as forward Alessandro Di Iorio.

The roster consists of goaltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards.

Full roster below:

Goaltenders: Gavin Betts, Patrick Deniger, Carter Esler

Defencemen: Cameron Chartrand, Carter Hicks, Ryan Lin, Kohyn Eshkawkogan, Callum Croskery, Keaton Verhoeff, Ben MacBeath, Lucas Ambrosio

Forwards: Zach Olsen, Thomas Rousseau, Tynan Lawrence, Ryder Cali, Alexis Joseph, Mathis Preston, Alessandro Di Iorio, Jaxon Jacobson, Adam Valentini, Beckett Hamilton, Jean-Cristoph Lemieux, Thomas Vandenberg, Dima Zhilkin, Maddox Dagenais