We all know Canada could send two medal-contending teams to the World Juniors. Possibly three, though it would be arrogant and ignorant to suggest Canada could or would sweep the podium.
Especially after getting eliminated in the quarterfinals last year, but Canada is typically a safe bet to bring home a medal — even more so when hosting the tournament, as is the case this year in Ottawa.
Canada will be the betting favourite for gold again. Yet, as per usual, the debate was more about the snubs than the selections when the camp roster was announced on Monday.
There were some glaring omissions in terms of Top 10 picks and promising first-rounders. That is nothing new, with Canada preferring to ice an older roster for this primarily 19-year-old showcase.
Expect a few underagers to make the cut this year but it was never going to be half the team, or even a handful.
Despite last year’s disappointing result, Canada’s success at this tournament speaks volumes and the second-guessing tends to be a moot point.
That said, the all-snub roster certainly has medal potential on paper.
That’s not to mention the likes of Terik Parascak and Malcolm Spence, who were presumably in consideration for the camp roster.
Landon DuPont, the latest exceptional talent, is likely too young to be impactful at this year’s tournament but he’ll be in the mix and might be a lock by next year.
Gracyn Sawchyn and Carter Sotheran were longer shots but still deserve shout-outs. Even Cameron Schmidt’s shooting ability could have been an asset, along with his blazing speed, as another draft-eligible leading the Dub in goal scoring.
And don’t forget Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and Zach Benson could still suit up for Canada, if they weren’t busy starring in the NHL. It is an embarrassment of riches for the birthplace of hockey — always a hotbed with the quantity to complement the quality.
Indeed, the focus will shift back to who’s auditioning and eventually representing Canada.
The locks start with the four returnees in forwards Brayden Yager, Matthew Wood and Carson Rehkopf, and defenceman Oliver Bonk. Scott Ratzlaff was the third goalie on last year’s roster but didn’t see any playing time and isn’t guaranteed a role this time around.
That leaves room for 10 more forwards, six defenders and three goaltenders.
Gavin McKenna, the CHL’s leading scorer as another exceptional status player, will be a go-to guy despite not being draft eligible until 2026. He’ll be on the top line and the top power play.
Yager has chemistry with Riley Heidt dating back to their minor hockey days and they have won at every level together within the Hockey Canada program, including the under-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Yager was recently traded to Lethbridge in a blockbuster move, preventing their reunion in Prince George for this season’s playoff run.
Bonk will have at least a couple London teammates joining him on Canada’s roster, with Easton Cowan and Sam Dickinson sure to make the cut. Denver Barkey could make it four Knights but he’s looking like a bubble guy.
Rehkopf has familiar faces in camp too, with Brampton teammates Porter Martone and Jack Ivankovic in the mix as draft eligibles. They will have to impress again, picking up where they left off at this year’s U18 worlds/Hlinka, respectively, and the inaugural CHL-USA Prospects Challenge.
If those connections all earn roster spots, it’s down to five forwards, five defencemen and two goaltenders.
Calum Ritchie and Ethan Gauthier were leading scorers, in points and goals, for that Hlinka championship team from 2022. Ritchie started this season in the NHL, suiting up for seven games with Colorado and scoring a highlight-reel goal before being returned to junior.
Andrew Cristall also had a strong showing for Canada at that Hlinka before shining with Washington in this year’s preseason. He has since been tearing up the WHL as that league’s player of the month for November.
Berkly Catton led Canada to the Hlinka title in 2023, leading that tournament in goals and points en route to becoming another Top 10 pick.
Jett Luchanko has NHL experience too, sticking with the Philadelphia Flyers for a four-game stint to start this season.
Bradly Nadeau is in the AHL, having also made his NHL debut, and could be competing with Barkey for the final spot as similar forwards on the smaller side.
There will be five forward cuts, with Cole Beaudoin, Mathieu Cataford, Tanner Howe and Luca Pinelli rounding out the camp roster.
The decisions appear more difficult on defence with Bonk as the lone returnee. Dickinson has been dominating the OHL and will likely be leaned on by Canada in all situations.
Tanner Molendyk is the only other first-rounder attending camp, along with those two. Molendyk is signed by Nashville and came close to starting the season in the NHL. He is a tremendous skater and should carve out a significant role for Canada.
Matthew Schaefer might be the hottest prospect in hockey right now, entering the conversation for first overall in 2025 after standout performances at this year’s Hlinka and the recent CHL-USA showcase. He is two years younger than most of his competition for Canada’s roster but he has proven to be an elite talent who rises to the occasion.
Harrison Brunicke is another smooth skater who got a long look with Pittsburgh in the preseason. He may be just scratching the surface on his upside.
Beau Akey has recovered from surgery on both shoulders and offers mobility, puck-moving ability and offensive instincts to quarterback the power play.
Brunicke and Akey are second-rounders who can be effective at both ends. They are both right-handed, which also helps their chances in the numbers game.
They will be pushed by third-rounders Caden Price and Sawyer Mynio, who offer similar skill-sets as lefties. Brunicke has a slight height advantage and Akey is arguably a bit more offensive than Price, while Mynio might be safest or steadiest of those four. At least one of them will wind up among the odd men out.
Cam Allen captained Canada to the Hlinka title in 2022 as their top-producing defender at that tournament — ahead of Price and Molendyk — before his stock dropped during his draft year, falling to Washington in the fifth round.
Andrew Gibson will be the biggest blueliner in camp, listed at 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds as another right-handed option. He was a second-rounder for Detroit and his size could be coveted in a shutdown capacity.
It really depends how Dave Cameron and his staff want to construct this roster. Cameron coaches in the OHL, so he’ll be more familiar with and perhaps comfortable with Allen, Gibson and Akey in comparison to WHLers Brunicke, Price and Mynio.
One of the more surprising omissions, or snubs, was another WHL defender in Carter Yakemchuk, who almost made the Senators this season and no doubt was looking forward to starring in Ottawa again as a big righty with offensive tools and plenty of physicality. Canada could have used his heavy shot and a heavy hitter. Albeit high risk at times, Yakemchuk is a bit of a unicorn and his presence might be missed.
Goaltending is the biggest question mark for Canada, as it will be for the senior men’s team at the Four Nations tournament in February. It is anybody’s crease entering this junior camp.
All four options have won on the international stage.
Carter George backstopped Canada to U18 gold in April as that tournament’s top goaltender.
Jack Ivankovic did the same at the Hlinka in August, where he was equally stellar.
They are both from the OHL, so Cameron is well aware of them, but they are both undersized by today’s standards — both around six-feet tall.
Carson Bjarnason, from WHL Brandon, will be the biggest goaltender in camp at 6-foot-3 and just over 200 pounds. He also went the highest in the draft at 51st overall in 2023. George went 57th this year. Both were second-rounders.
Canada settled for bronze with Bjarnason between the pipes at the U18 worlds in 2023 but he partnered with Ratzlaff for the Hlinka championship in 2022.
Ratzlaff was the starter there and the third-stringer at last year’s World Juniors, so he might enter camp with a slight edge from that experience. Or maybe not.
Another WHLer worthy of auditioning was Joshua Ravensbergen, the 6-foot-5 projected first-rounder from Prince George who stood tall in nearly pitching a shutout for the CHL All-Stars.
Time will tell who makes the cut and how the roster takes shape when the dust settles from selection camp, but this lineup could do a lot of damage.
That all-WHL top line combines Catton’s speed and playmaking with Cristall’s creativity and McKenna’s many skills that cease to amaze. Combining a trio of offensive catalysts could be unstoppable.
Ritchie would be the perfect fit to complement Yager and Heidt’s chemistry.
Cowan could help mentor Martone in raising his game to the U20 level, with Gauthier or Wood flanking them interchangeably for added energy and intensity.
Rehkopf and Luchanko would be another potent OHL pairing, joined by Wood or Gauthier to form a trio capable of checking or scoring.
All four lines could contribute offensively, with Barkey or Nadeau rotating in from top to bottom as the extra forward or in the event of injuries/ejections/suspensions.
On the back end, Bonk could shelter Schaefer as the defensive stalwart, allowing the youngster to play to his strengths. Not that Schaefer needs a lot of sheltering.
Dickinson and Akey would be a dynamic duo, pushing the pace and tilting the ice in Canada’s favour.
Molendyk and Brunicke would also be terrific in transition, with Price providing the same traits when called upon.
The top four are OHLers but the WHLers would leave a lasting impression as well.
In goal, it’s easy to envision George getting the first start against Finland on Boxing Day. Assuming he doesn’t falter, Canada can stick with George through the New Year’s Eve showdown against the rival Americans. The United States are the defending champions.
Ivankovic or Bjarnason could get an opportunity against Latvia or Germany in the preliminary round. But Ratzlaff can’t be ruled out either.
There are pre-tournament games against Switzerland, Sweden and Czechia too. So the goaltending will sort itself out before the medal round, starting with the selection camp from Dec. 10-13 in Ottawa, which will include a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.
Between now and then, it’s all speculation, so let the debates rage on over this year’s roster decisions.
Fishbowl Sports 
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