Canada will open the 2026 World Junior Championship against Czechia, the team that has been responsible for Canada’s early exit at each of the last two World Juniors. A few of Canada’s players are returning from last year’s team and will have plenty of motivation, while everyone else will be looking to make an impression in the opening game.

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Canada has been fairly consistent in their lineups leading up to the World Juniors, with only minor tweaks here and there. It appears they have their top six dialed in a bit better and are still tinkering a bit with their defense structure, but this is where things stand so far.

Keep in mind, this is only a projected lineup based on what we’ve seen from Canada in training camp and things are subject to change.

Of note, Canada did not register three players named to its final roster when it came time to turn in rosters with the IIHF. Carter Bear (DET), Keaton Verhoeff (2026) and Joshua Ravensbergen (SJS) remain unlisted on the official roster. This isn’t uncommon. Some teams like to keep roster flexibility and will not register their extras until they are needed, but this is to suggest Bear is viewed as the 14th forward, Verhoeff is their eighth defenseman and Ravensbergen is their No. 3 goalie. You can only dress 22 at a time and it appears these three are on the outside looking in for now.

Here’s what we’re anticipating Canada to look like for a big opener against Czechia at 8 p.m. ET at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. 

Team Canada Projected Lineup Vs. Czechia

This is a projected lineup and is not official until teams submit lineup cards approximately one hour before game time.

Forwards

Tij Iginla (UTA) – Michael Misa (SJS) – Porter Martone (PHI)

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

Cole Reschny (CGY) – Cole Beaudoin (UTA) – Jett Luchanko (PHI)

Liam Greentree (LAK) – Braeden Cootes (VAN) – Sam O’Reilly (TBL)

Caleb Desnoyers (UTA)

Defense

Cameron Reid (NSH) – Zayne Parekh (CGY)

Carson Carels (2026) – Harrison Brunicke (PIT)

Kashawn Aitcheson (NYI) – Ben Danford (TOR)

Ethan MacKenzie

Goalies

Carter George (LAK)

Jack Ivankovic (NSH)

Canada’s projected power-play units (via TSN’s Mark Masters)

Brady Martin, Michael Hage, Cole Reschny, Gavin McKenna, Zayne Parekh

Porter Martone, Jett Luchanko, Michael Misa, Tij Iginla, Harrison Brunicke

Team Canada World Junior Championship 2026 Schedule

Friday, December 26

• 8:30 p.m. ET - Czechia vs Canada

Saturday, December 27

• 4:30 p.m. ET - Latvia vs Canada

Monday, December 29

• 8:30 p.m. ET - Canada vs Denmark

Wednesday, December 31

• 8:30 p.m. ET - Canada vs Finland

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

Follow FloHockey's Coverage Of The 2026 World Junior Championship

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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