Canada is set to start their march towards the World Junior Championship Wednesday night with their first pre-tournament game. The team still has a few cuts to make and those could come soon as they gear up for the tournament that begins Dec. 26.

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Kitchener, Ontario is the scene for the opening pre-tournament contest between Canada and fellow gold-medal contender Sweden, as the two teams will square off at The Aud at 7 p.m. Wednesday night. The game is slated to air on TSN and stream on TSN+.

Canada is still without Michael Misa, who had remained in San Jose while rehabbing a minor injury. Misa joined Canada at camp Wednesday, but will not play in the game.

Also sitting out tonight will be Cole Beaudoin, Porter Martone, Tij Iginla, Harrison Brunicke, and Ben Danford. All of those players are expected to be on Canada's final roster as they look to get some last-minute evaluations in for the final remaining roster spots.

Here’s a look at how Team Canada is projected to line up against Sweden on Wednesday per TSN’s Mark Masters.

Team Canada Lineup Vs. Sweden WJC Pre-Tournament Game 1

Forwards

Gavin McKenna (2026) – Michael Hage (MTL) – Brady Martin (NSH)

Ethan Bear (DET) – Cole Reschny (CGY) – Braeden Cootes (VAN)

Caleb Desnoyers (UTA) – Jett Luchanko (PHI) – Liam Greentree (LAK)

Marek Vanacker (CHI) – Jake O’Brien (SEA) – Sam O’Reilly (TBL)

Defense

Ethan MacKenzie – Zayne Parekh (CGY)

Kashawn Aitcheson (NYI) – Keaton Verhoeff (2026)

Cameron Reid (NSH) – Jackson Smith (CBJ)

Carson Carels (2026)

Goalies

Carter George

Jack Ivankovic

Joshua Ravensbergen

Not Dressed For Game 1: Cole Beaudoin (UTA), Tij Iginla (UTA), Porter Martone (PHI), Harrison Brunicke (PIT), Ben Danford (TOR).

Canada’s Pre-Tournament Schedule

• Dec. 17: Canada vs. Sweden, 7 p.m. ET, in Kitchener
• Dec. 20: Canada vs. Sweden, 7 p.m. ET, in London
• Dec. 23: Canada vs. Denmark, 8 p.m. ET, in Mannkato, Minn.

Canada’s World Junior Championship Schedule

• Dec. 26: Czechia vs. Canada, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Dec. 27: Latvia vs. Canada, 4:30 p.m. ET
• Dec. 29: Denmark vs. Canada, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Dec. 31: Canada vs. Finland, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Jan. 2: Quarterfinals TBD
• Jan. 4: Semifinals TBD
• Jan. 5: Medal Games TBD

2026 World Junior Championship Teams

View the list of teams, by group, for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Group A

• USA
• Germany
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• Slovakia

Group B

• Canada
• Czechia
• Latvia
• Denmark
• Finland

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FloHockey will be on site for complete coverage of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can expect game-by-game coverage of both Team USA and Team Canada from FloHockey's experts, interviews with key players and coaches and much more. Follow FloHockey's WJC coverage here.

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