Canada Roster For World Junior Summer Showcase Highlighted By Gavin McKenna
Canada Roster For World Junior Summer Showcase Highlighted By Gavin McKenna
Canada announced its roster for the World Junior Summer Showcase, which is underway in Minneapolis, Minn. Among invites is 2026 top prospect Gavin McKenna.
Canada’s first steps towards erasing back-to-back World Junior Championship disappointments will begin at the World Junior Summer Showcase, which is underway in Minneapolis, Minn., and will run through Aug. 2.
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Forty-four players have been named to Canada’s Summer Showcase roster including 2026 NHL Draft top prospect Gavin McKenna, 2025 No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer and a number of high-profile picks from the 2024 and 2025 NHL Drafts.
The team will be led by head coach Dale Hunter, who returns to the bench five years after leading Canada to gold at the 2020 World Junior Championship and on the heels of leading to the London Knights to the Memorial Cup.
He will be joined on the bench by recently-installed Hockey Canada VP of hockey operations and national teams coach Misha Donskov, Moncton Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall, and Spokane Chiefs coach Brad Lauer.
Hockey Canada’s GM of the Program of Excellence, Alan Millar will be among the key decision makers, while London Knights GM Mark Hunter is also part of the management group that will be selecting players for the World Juniors.
Canada should enter the 2026 WJC as the odds-on favorite after disappointing quarterfinal exits in each of the last two World Junior tournaments at the hands of Czechia, including last year on home ice in Ottawa. The pressure is on to bring home Canada’s 21st gold medal at this tournament.
Here is a look at the players that are currently part of the decision process.
Team Canada World Junior Summer Showcase Roster 2025
Forwards
- Cole Beaudoin, Barrie Colts (UTA)
- Sacha Boisvert, North Dakota (CHI)
- Justin Carbonneau, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (STL)
- Berkly Catton, Spokane Chiefs (SEA)
- Braden Cootes, Seattle Thunderbirds (VAN)
- Michael Hage, Michigan (MTL)
- Ollie Josephson, Red Deer Rebels (SEA)
- Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen (PIT)
- Cayden Lindstrom, Medicine Hat/Michigan State (CBJ)
- Brady Martin, Soo Greyhounds (NSH)
- Porter Martone, Brampton Steelheads/Michigan State (PHI)
- Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers/Penn State (2026)
- Michael Misa, Saginaw Spirit (SJS)
- Jake O'Brien, Brantford Bulldogs (SEA)
- Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (WSH)
- Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals/North Dakota (CGY)
- Ryder Ritchie, Medicine Hat Tigers/Boston University (MIN)
- Malcolm Spence, Erie Otters/Michigan (MYR)
- Marek Vanacker, Brantford Bulldogs (CHI)
- Carson Wetsch, Kelowna Rockets (SJS)
Defense
- Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie Colts (NYI)
- Harrison Brunicke, Kamloops Blazers/WBS Penguins (PIT)
- Ben Danford, Oshawa Generals (TOR)
- Sam Dickinson, London Knights (SJS)
- Charlie Elick, Tri-City Americans (CBJ)
- Spencer Gill, Rimouski Oceanic (PHI)
- Henry Mews, Sudbury Wolves/Michigan (CGY)
- Zayne Parekh, Saginaw Spirit (CGY)
- Owen Protz, Brantford Bulldogs (MTL)
- Cameron Reid, Kitchener Rangers (NSH)
- Matthew Schaefer, Erie Otters (NYI)
- Tarin Smith, Everett Smith (ANA0
Goalies
- Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades (CBJ)
- Carter George, Owen Sound Attack/Ontario Reign (LAK)
- Jack Ivankovic, Brampton Steelheads/Michigan (NSH)
- Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars (SJS)
Invited, Unable To Attend
- Carter Bear, Everett Silvertips (DET)
- Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton Wildcats (UTA)
- Liam Greentree, Windsor Spitfires (LAK)
- Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets (UTA)
- Jett Luchanko, Guelph Storm (PHI)
- Roger McQueen, Brandon Wheat Kings (ANA)
- Sam O'Reilly, London Knights (TBL)
- Beckett Sennecke, Oshawa Generals (ANA)
Instant Analysis
Canada has by far the most talent on paper in this event. Even with all of the injuries, there are 22 first-round draft picks named to the camp roster.
The group includes top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna, who is bound for Penn State next year and will be looking to make a return appearance at the World Juniors. So, too, will No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer who is playing his first high-level hockey since he was injured at the 2025 World Juniors, costing him the second half of his season.
Canada is also dealing with a number of significant injuries to players, many of whom are expected to be ready for the season, but were unavailable for this event including recent draftees Caleb Desnoyers and Roger McQueen, who would both have a great shot at making this team in their first year after being drafted.
Canada's strength is up front, but it also has quality goaltending with two returnees from last year's team, Carter George and Jack Ivankovic. Joshua Ravensbergen also gets another chance after not making it last year despite being in the World Junior Summer Showcase a year ago.
Among the notable omissions is Jackson Smith (CBJ), who was not included on the camp roster as Canada looks like it wants to lean more heavily on experience. Only two defensemen invited to the WJSS are 2007-born. The rest are going to be 19-year-olds at the tournament, which is something that has been important to Canada in the past unless one of the younger guys blows them away.
World Junior Summer Showcase Game Schedule
Sunday, July 27
- USA White vs. Finland, 1 p.m. CT
- USA Blue vs. Sweden, 4:30 p.m. CT
Monday, July 28
- Finland vs. USA Blue, 1 p.m. CT
- Sweden vs. USA White, 4:30 p.m. CT
Tuesday, July 29
- Canada Red vs. Canada White, 4:30 p.m. CT
Wednesday, July 30
- Sweden vs. USA, 1 p.m. CT
- Canada vs. Finland, 4:30 p.m. CT
Friday, Aug. 1
- Canada vs. Sweden, 1 p.m. CT
- Finland vs. USA, 4:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Aug. 2
- Sweden vs. Finland, 1 p.m. CT
- USA vs. Canada, 4:30 p.m. CT
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