2026 U-17 World Challenge: Železný, Schultz highlight top standouts from Day 1
OAKVILLE, Ont. – The U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Oakville is underway, and the host nation probably isn’t thrilled with the final scores.
Canada White started off on the right foot, scoring twice in the first to get things rolling. But five goals from Czechia – including a hat-trick from 2029 draft prospect Dominik Železný – flipped the game on its head in the second period, stunning the near sell-out crowd. Canada would bounce back a little in the third, but Czechia ultimately got the best of the hosts, winning 6-4.
In the evening game, Canada Red dominated the puck possession, outshooting the Finns 16-5. But Finland scored first – and then second – to put the Canadians in a bind in the second half. Lucas Matheson would end Canada’s woes after Hannu Packalen and Joose Lahtinen found the net earlier in the day, but third-period goals from Valtti Mäenpää and Robin Tenhunen, as well as an empty-netter from Elias Oskanen, gave the Finns the 5-1 win.
Here’s a look at the top standouts from the pair of games at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex:
Canada White 4, Czechia 6
Canada White
#2 Adrian Sgro, LHD: Sgro took a huge hit in the first period, but he still managed to snag a goal and an assist. He’s great on the power play because he’s always scanning for outlets, and rarely makes a bad feed. Sgro isn’t big, but he puts a ton of power behind his shot and doesn’t let anyone push him around. I’m not sure he played at 100 percent in the second half of this one but I still liked what I saw from him.
#18 Kain Martinuik, RW: I love Martinuik’s energy. He hits everyone and is great on the PK. He’s a role player on this team but he knows how to handle it so well. The Saskatoon Blades forward made a good impression at summer camp because he was as relentless as they came, even in intra-squad scrimmages. You can always rely on his effort and ability to make things happen around the crease. I could see him getting promoted from his third-line role if Canada can’t get things going.
#19 Maddox Schultz, C: When Canada needed him to stand up, Schultz did. He had a goal and an assist, with his goal coming early in the third when Canada needed something to wake them up. He’s clearly one of the most skilled players in the tournament, which is why many scouts consider him the top prospect in 2028. Schultz’s hockey sense and quick hands make him so tough to contain in 1-on-1 situations, and he’s physically capable of being a nuisance, as well.
#21 Madden Daneault, RW (2029): It’s not easy being the youngest guy on the team, but you couldn’t tell based on the way he has played. He was the one driving the play all night for Canada White, and he was rewarded with a goal and an assist in the opening period. I loved his energy, hands and his ability to get the puck into high-danger scoring situations, even when Canada was struggling in the second period. Daneault is the projected top pick for 2029 thanks to his high-end hockey sense and remarkable skill. It’s good seeing him thrive at this event already.
Czechia
#6 Matyas Michalek, LHD: It felt like Michalek never left the ice in this one. He was Czechia’s power-play quarterback, he blocked shots on the penalty kill and played against Canada’s top line all night long. The 6-foot-3 defender is hard to miss out there because he’s always making things happen, both offensively and physically. He reminds me a bit of watching Radim Mrtka at the same age – there’s high-end two-way talent there, which isn’t always easy to find out of a bigger blueliner.
#11 David Jahn, LHD: Jahn didn’t get a ton of love on the scoresheet, but I loved his game today. He does an excellent job of shutting plays down without getting too eager to land a hit. He just makes countless smart plays – nothing fancy, but he gets the puck where it needs to be. Jahn has been highly productive at all levels, both internationally and domestically. He’s small, but he can eat a ton of minutes at this level because he’s always looking to make something happen.
#21 Dominik Železný, LW (2029): Talk about a tournament debut. Železný was good in the pre-tournament on Friday, but he upped the ante with a hat-trick in the second period today before nearly scoring a beautiful goal early in the third. He was in the right spot at the right time so frequently, allowing him to become Czechia’s leading play-driver today.Železný is an absolute monster on the forecheck, but he’s also reliable defensively, too. I could see Železný finishing as one of the top scorers when the tournament is all said and done.
#29 Lucas Andrejko, RW: A three-point second period? Not too shabby. The HC Dynamo Pardubice forward is one of the more high-impact forwards on this Czech team because he’s always buzzing at full speed. He can make passes that so few others can at this age, and he doesn’t let stronger competition push him around. At 5-foot-8, scouts are obviously a little concerned about him, but he’s a blast to watch at an event like this because he’s as skilled as they come.
Canada Red 1, Finland 5
Canada Red
#22 Lucas Matheson, RHD: Matheson was one of Canada’s best defenders tonight, even before he finally got them on the board late in the second. I really liked Matheson’s positioning and mobility, and he was one of the few Canadian defenders who could consistently get the puck into scoring position. He has been getting rave reviews for his play in Barrie this year, especially in the final few games prior to the tournament. It feels like he’s moving and playing in a way few other 16-year-old defenders are.
#8 Kash Kwajah, LW: It didn’t feel like many Canadian players were capable of creating much offensively today. Kwajah was a standout with the puck, though, using his trademark skill and puck control to make sure his line was in the O-zone more often than not. He had a few excellent chances in this one, including a great tick-tac-toe play in the second that was ultimately stopped. But from a chance-generator perspective, Kwajah was easily one of Canada’s most noticeable forwards.
#15 Landon Roulston, RW: Roulston was one of my favorite players during the pre-tournament and he continued that today. His physical game is already high-end for this age group and he gives opponents little time to make decisions. The big, Peterborough Petes forward isn’t offensively gifted, but he makes up for it by winning most of his battles and clearing space around his own net. He’s also playing in front of some hometown fans – that can’t hurt for the confidence.
#17 Thomas Boisvert, C: It was far from a perfect two-way effort for Boisvert, but he made some excellent plays around the Finnish net and nearly netted a pair in the third period. The younger cousin of Chicago Blackhawks prospect Sacha Boisvert was so involved with the puck, both offensively and defensively. He’s a great skater who loves to play through the middle of the ice – something that’s easier said than done for a younger player. I imagien he’ll pop off in one of these games this week.
Finland
#1 Sami Sinkko, G: Sinkko absolutely stood on his hand – and judging by his previous international experience, it might have been his most impressive Finnish national team game ever. He stopped 16 shots in the first period, and then stunned the crowd with a massive blocker save in the second period on Kwajah. He eventually allowed a goal on a Canadian power-play goal in the second, but otherwise was spectacular all night long. The Finns don’t have a deep offensive squad, but if you can trust a goalie like the Finns did with Sinkko, it might not matter.
#9 Joose Lahtinen, LHD: Lahtinen was Finland’s best defender for most of the night, and the goal was a nice addition. He continuously went up against Canada’s top speedsters all night and did a good job of stifling their shots and forcing them to the outside. The mid-sized defender was one of the few Finns I liked in the blowout loss to Sweden on Friday, and he carried that momentum into a great 200-foot effort today.
#22 Eddie Wallin, C: Wallin had a two-assist effort today – and it felt like nobody was better at getting passes into high-danger scoring areas than him. Wallin has been strong internationally the past two years for the Finns, playing at a point-per-game pace between the U-16 and U-17 squads. And it’s easy to see why – he has great hands and is always keeping his head on a swivel.
#24 Leo Esko, LW: Esko wasn’t overly noticeable in the offensive zone today. Instead, he was better defensively and physically – his bread and butter. The fourth-liner typically plays down the middle but is skating on the left wing here in Oakville. The coaching staff clearly value his two-way game and ability to pin opponents to the boards whenever they feel a sense of relaxation. Esko is a tough dude who skates well and knows his strengths – I liked what I saw tonight.
#29 Hannu Packalen, LW: The Kingston, Ontario native was everywhere in this one. He scored the opening goal on Finland’s third shot of the game (all on the power play at that time) and then nearly scored again to make it a 3-0 game late in the second. Packalen has an excellent shot, but he’s known more for his playmaking (he had assists on both of Finland’s goals on Friday). Today, it felt like he was playing with as much confidence as we’ve seen from him – and I actually really liked his play last year at the U-16 level. We’ll see if he can keep this up the rest of the week.
PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF GEAR
Daily Faceoff has new merch. Rep the game you love with premium Nation Gear x Levelwear tees, hoodies, hats and layers — designed for hockey fans on game day and every day. The home for hockey fans.
SHOP DAILY FACEOFF → nationgear.ca