Team Canada comes into the 2026 IIHF men’s U18 world championship having won two straight gold medals with eyes on a third.
Canada has two players returning from last year’s team in defencemen Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin, who are both eligible for June’s draft and expected to play big roles on the blueline.
The team also boasts several players who could go in the first round of the 2027 draft, headlined by Saint John forward Alexis Joseph, who is a contender to go first overall.
With the tournament set to get underway on Apr. 22 in Slovakia, here are seven players to watch for Canada.
Keaton Verhoeff - Defence
At 17, Verhoeff was one of the youngest players in NCAA hockey this season with the University of North Dakota after making the jump from the WHL.
As a rookie, he scored six goals with 20 points in 36 games and helped the Fighting Hawks reach the Frozen Four.
“Keaton is a workhorse,” said TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button. “He’s going to be able to play those big minutes. Be able to drive a lot of play, on the power play, be counted on to be on the penalty kill.”
Verhoeff has a wealth of experience representing Canada. In addition to last year’s U18 gold medal, he won U17 gold in 2024, captained Canada to Hlinka Gretzky Cup bronze last August and was part of the bronze-medal winning squad for Canada at this year’s World Juniors.
Verhoeff was ranked No. 5 on Button’s March draft ranking.
Ryan Lin - Defence
The other returning player from last year’s gold-medal winning team, Lin is coming off a big offensive season with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants.
Lin, 18, averaged more than a point per game this season, scoring 14 goals with 57 points in 53 games.
Button had him at No. 26 on his March draft ranking.
“He was a really good part of the defensive part [last year] but he’s going to be called upon to be a big part of the offensive effort,” said Button. “His calling card is offence.”
Lin has also represented Canada on several occasions, winning gold alongside Verhoeff at the U17s and bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Tynan Lawrence - Forward
It was an eventful season for forward Tynan Lawrence, who decided to make the jump to college hockey midway through the season.
Lawrence started the 2025-26 with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, who he won the Clark Cup and playoff MVP honours with last year. He had 10 goals with 17 points in 13 games before leaving to join Boston University in January.
With the Terriers, he scored two goals with seven points in 18 games.
“He plays with great initiative, plays with a real competitive purpose,” said Button, who ranked Lawrence at No. 17 on his March list. “It wasn’t easy for him at Boston University, so this is a real good opportunity for Ty to kind of just get back into his age group and show his capabilities, which are really good.
“There’s been a lot on this plate. And I think you grow from that. I think that Ty is a very mature player and very mature person, and getting to be part of this, I think is really another positive thing for him. And not everything has to turn out to be roses. Sometimes you get the thorn and it’s not negative, you’re still part of the vine. And he is. He’s a good player.”
Lawrence was another member of the 2024 Canada White team that won U17 gold and the bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer.
Alexis Joseph - Forward
One of the few 2027 draft-eligible players on the Canadian roster, Joseph is coming off a big rookie season in the QMJHL.
With the Saint John Sea Dogs, the 16-year-old, who stands at 6-foot-5 and 201 pounds, scored 24 goals with 60 points in 54 games this season. He also added three assists in four playoff games before the Sea Dogs were eliminated.
“He could be the first pick in the draft next year,” said Button of Joseph. “He’s got a [Evgeni] Malkin-esque ability and presence. Excellent player. He’s got a great confidence about him. He’s got the ability to assert himself, to take control of the game. He’s no wallflower.”
Joseph led Canada Red to U17 gold in November, scoring six goals with 13 points in five games.
Brock England - Forward
Joining Joseph as the one of the 16-year-olds on the roster is Seattle Thunderbirds centre Brock England.
England scored 21 goals with 51 points in 64 games this season with Seattle and chipped in three points in five playoff games.
“Brock is a good player,” said Button. “He’s fast, he’s quick, he’s got that ability to open up the game quickly. He puts defenders on their heels. He starts and they’re backed up.
“That type of intimidating, threatening speed is an attribute that he uses to great advantage.”
England was also on the Canada Red squad alongside Joseph that won the U17 title.
Dima Zhilkin - Forward
Forward Dima Zhilkin is coming off a big season with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit.
The 17-year-old, who was named Saginaw’s captain in January, scored 36 goals with 75 points in 59 regular-season games and had three goals and an assist in four playoff contests.
Prior to the season, he helped Canada to bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
“He’s a diminutive player that plays with energy and skill,” said Button of Zhilkin. “He kills penalties. He plays on the power play.
“He’s got kind of got a competitive edge like [Brendan] Gallagher, and kind of an offensive ability like [Alex] DeBrincat.”
Zhilkin is a late birthday who is not eligible until the 2027 draft.
Mathis Preston - Forward
It was a roller-coaster season for forward Mathis Preston, who came into the year as one of the top prospects available for the 2026 draft.
Preston was drafted third overall by the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs in 2023. He shone as a rookie in 2024-25, scoring 23 goals with 45 points in 53 games and was big for Canada White at the U17s, recording six goals and one assist to capture the gold medal.
He was also productive in Canada’s bronze-medal effort at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with four goals and seven points.
This season, the 17-year-old had 14 goals and 32 points in 36 games before he was dealt in a big trade to Vancouver. He appeared in just 10 games with Vancouver as he missed eight weeks with a knee injury, where he had four goals and 12 points.
Button had Preston ranked at No. 57 on his draft ranking in March.
“Mathis had a real promising 16-year-old season,” said Button. “And you see this happen with players. Comes into this year with high expectations, and then certainly [has] a skill level that merits those expectations.
“He’s a really good skater. He’s got a dynamic quickness to him. Can shoot the puck. But he comes in and he ends up getting traded from Spokane to Vancouver, in a pretty big trade. Then he gets hurt, and it’s like he’s trying to catch up to the expectations now. He’s a very interesting player because he’s talented.”
