2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting Canada’s roster

Nov 6, 2025, 09:00 EST

2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting Canada’s roster

Credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

Canada has a problem.

A total of 13 U-20 NHLers have played at least one game in the NHL. With Russia’s Matvei Gridin being the lone exception, all of them are Canadian. A few have been loaned back already, including Nashville’s Brady Martin, Philadelphia’s Jett Luchanko and Vancouver’s Braeden Cootes.

But that means there are another nine still actively in the big leagues: Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke, Calgary’s Zayne Parekh, the New York Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer, Pittsburgh’s Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke, and San Jose’s Sam Dickinson, Michael Misa and Macklin Celebrini (who was never being loaned back under any circumstance).

All that talent. And, maybe outside of one or two of them, there’s a real chance the rest could stay in the NHL. Schaefer, in particular, is already one of the most productive defenders – there’s no chance he’s going down.

Of those with a chance of getting sent back? I’d look at Parekh and Catton, with the chance of getting both Kindel and Brunicke. The rest seem destined to stay in the NHL, and rightfully so.

After two quarterfinal losses, Canada won’t accept anything less than gold at the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minnesota. In lieu of a traditional selection camp, Hockey Canada will host a 10-day training camp with their actual roster in Niagara, with a pair of exhibition games in Kitchener and London. There are still some roster decisions to be made, but it’s looking like a stout group, regardless.

Here’s a projection of what Canada’s roster could look like in 2026 with just over a month to go until camp begins:

Forwards

Gavin McKenna (2026) – Berkly Catton (SEA) – Porter Martone (PHI)
Liam Greentree (LAK) – Michael Hage (MTL) – Braeden Cootes (VAN)
Brady Martin (NSH) – Caleb Desnoyers (UTA) – Justin Carbonneau (STL)
Cole Beaudoin (UTA) – Jett Luchanko (PHI) – Tij Iginla (UTA)
Jake O’Brien (SEA), Sacha Boisvert (CHI)

Also considered: Cole Reschny (CGY); Marek Vanacker (CHI), Ryder Ritchie (MIN), Malcolm Spence (NYR), Sam O’Reilly (TBL), Roger McQueen (ANA), John Mustard (CHI), Cayden Lindstrom (CBJ)

If any position gets ravaged the most on an annual basis, it’s Canada’s forwards. This year, though? It definitely doesn’t feel that way. This is still a strong group that hasn’t had to deal with many surprises, roster-wise. It’s not far off from my summer prediction, either. I have Catton getting sent back in time to play in the tournament – he has a legit chance of helping the team win gold, and then stealing the WHL title with Spokane. If the Kraken aren’t going to play him a ton, it might be the way to go.

As for Kindel, I think Pittsburgh will keep him around. If he starts to slow down from the NHL grind later this month, maybe they will loan him out to maximize his playing time and chase a medal. Winning is good for anyone – a mini mid-season detour won’t be a bad thing for him. At this point, there’s little reason to send him back as long as he continues to play a big role for the Pens. I just wouldn’t completely rule him out – I feel like the odds of him going to Minnesota are maybe around 45 percent.

The big draw will be McKenna, the top prospect in 2026. He had a quiet showing at this event a year ago, but don’t expect that this time around, as he takes his role up a notch. He and Martone have experience playing together internationally, nearly breaking the all-time scoring record together at the 2024 U-18 World Championship. Keep them together here – keep it simple.

Hage was one of Canada’s best players at the World Junior Summer Showcase and is absolutely lighting up the NCAA. He has never played a major event for Hockey Canada – that’s about to change. Greentree is as good a shooter as you’ll find – I like the idea of having Hage setting him up. Then there’s Cootes, who can lean on his NHL experience from the start of the year.

As for the third – again, a bit of everything. Desnoyers has dealt with injury concerns over the past two years, but he’s a great two-way player who can beat you with his pure hockey sense. Carbonneau loves to shoot, but his speed makes him intriguing as a secondary scorer with the ability to dominate on the power play. I’m a big Martin fan and love his ability to disrupt the plays and still make things happen on the scoresheet.

The rest of the lineup features forwards who’ll grind you to the death. Iginla can score, but he’ll also outwork you. Luchanko is a two-way forward with NHL experience, which should come in handy. Beaudoin has been lights out in Barrie this year, and his pure strength is an asset. Boisvert is a toolsy forward, while Reschny is an outstanding playmaker who can be thrust higher in the lineup if needed. Lindstrom would be a good fit deeper in the lineup too, but his lack of production could keep him off the roster in favor of more skill.

Defensemen

Kashawn Aitcheson (NYI) – Zayne Parekh (CGY)
Keaton Verhoeff (2026) – Harrison Brunicke (PIT)
Ben Danford (TOR) – Jackson Smith (CBJ)
Cameron Reid (NSH) – Charlie Elick (CBJ)

Also considered: Xavier Villeneuve (2026), Owen Protz (MTL), Spencer Gill (PHI), Landon Dupont (2027), Tarin Smith (ANA)

This is where things get interesting. Schaefer is in the NHL with basically no chance of coming back. Dickinson is still up in San Jose and could potentially be loaned out – but there’s nothing to truly indicate that for now. Brunicke has had some growing pains in Pittsburgh, and I feel like they’d rather have him figure it out in the WHL at some point in the not-so-distant future. That means being a big part of this Canadian WJC team – if he’s available, he’s a lock.

Given how little the Flames have used Parekh this season, it feels like he could join Canada and perhaps head back to the OHL to focus on getting stronger. If the move instead is to keep him in Calgary, I think Canada will pick up Xavier Villeneuve to help boost the team’s puck-moving game.

For now, I’m keeping Parekh on this roster. As for the other locks, Aitcheson, Verhoeff and Smith give Canada a ton of size, mobility and hockey sense to work with in the top four. Verhoeff is projected to go in the top three of the 2026 NHL Draft, but he’s mature beyond his years and should have a big role with Canada. I could see him playing on the top pair if Parekh isn’t around. Smith and Aitcheson, meanwhile, have looked good for Canada in the past and will look to live up to their first-round billing.

Beyond that, the team could go a bunch of different ways. I like Reid’s skating, while Danford can shut down just about anyone. Elick can be paired up with anyone and bring toughness and a willingness to win every shift. Overall, there’s still a lot of “wait and see” with the D-corps – and I don’t think that’s a bad thing, given the depth available to them.

Goaltenders

Carter George (LAK)
Jack Ivankovic (NSH)
Evan Gardner (CBJ)

Also considered: Joshua Ravensbergen (SJS), Gabriel D’Aigle (PIT), Lucas Beckman (OTT), Ryerson Leenders (BUF)

The first two goalies are the easiest choices. George was the starter a year ago and has played well enough in the OHL (and the AHL) to make his job as the No. 1 an easy one. Ivankovic has been absolutely lights out for Hockey Canada at all levels (and was great in the loss to Latvia last December) and will be the No. 1 when the tournament returns to Canada for 2027. George will have the edge heading into the event, but Ivankovic is more than capable of stealing the spotlight if needed.

The third goalie spot (assuming Canada takes one) is where things get interesting. Ravensbergen feels like the easy choice as the big goaltender with future star potential. But Gardner has been so good in the WHL over the past two years and deserves to be part of the equation. Either way, Canada can’t go wrong.

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2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting Canada’s roster

Forwards

Defensemen

Goaltenders

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