Cootes, Carels among players named to Canada’s 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase roster

The troop of talent looking to represent their country at one of hockey’s marquee events has been announced.

On Friday, Hockey Canada released its roster for the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase, set to take place in Windsor, Ont. The event is set to begin on Sunday.

Among the big names on the roster, there are a few who look to play for their country at the IIHF World Junior Championship once again. Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes and Calgary Flames draft pick Cole Reschny are a couple of the notable “veterans” set to play at the WJSS. Reschny scored four goals and five points in last year’s World Juniors in Minnesota, while Cootes found the back of the net twice.

Fellow Flames prospect Carson Carels is expected to lead the blue line, along with San Jose Sharks draft pick Keaton Verhoeff and Nashville Predators prospect Cameron Reid. They were all part of the group that helped Canada reach the semifinals last January, the first time in three years, only to lose to Czechia. Yet, the team bounced back to win the bronze medal, giving the country its first podium finish since its back-to-back gold medals in 2022 and 2023.

The WJSS is more or less a dress rehearsal for Canada, as most of the players competing over the next week are expected to be on the team that heads to Edmonton in December.

The 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase is set to begin on July 26, though Canada isn’t in action until they take on Sweden on July 29. The Canadians will also face Finland on July 30 before facing the United States to cap off the event on Aug. 1. All games will take place at DFCU Center, home of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires.