Hockey Canada has unveiled the 27 players who are in the running to represent Canada at the upcoming 2026 World Junior Championship from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
The training camp roster is headlined by top prospect Gavin McKenna, who returns for a second straight year. McKenna, who is the favourite to go first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, has four goals and 18 points in 16 games with Penn State in the NCAA.
Canada also has three draft-eligible defencemen on the roster in Keaton Verhoeff (University of North Dakota), Carson Carels (Prince George) and Ethan MacKenzie (Edmonton).
McKenna and forwards Jett Luchanko, Porter Martone and Cole Beaudoin all return from last year’s team, along with goaltenders Carter George and Jack Ivankovic.
There are 19 first-round picks on the roster – eight from 2024 and 11 that went in June’s draft. Seven players on the team are skating in the NCAA this season, with the other 16 in the CHL. Dale Hunter of the London Knights will serve as the head coach.
The roster features three players skating in the NHL this season in Calgary Flames defenceman Zayne Parekh, San Jose Sharks forward Michael Misa, and Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Harrison Brunicke.
Parekh, 19, has one assist in 11 games this season with Calgary and is currently on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Misa is skating in the AHL on a conditioning loan as he is coming off an ankle sprain. He has one goal and two assists in seven games with the Sharks after being taken second overall in June.
Brunicke, a second-round pick by the Penguins in 2024, has one goal in nine games with Pittsburgh this season and has skated in three AHL games, notching two assists.
“We are extremely excited to unveil the 27 players who will begin the road to the World Juniors at training camp in Niagara Falls,” said National Junior Team general manager Alan Millar. “This group represents the very best of Canadian junior hockey— skill, speed, sense, character, and a strong commitment to team success and the pride in representing Canada at this prestigious world championship.
“Our staff has worked tirelessly to identify a roster that embodies the identity we want Canada to play, and we’re confident these athletes are ready for the challenge ahead. This process and team build came with many difficult decisions. We are confident in this group as we begin our preparations for Minneapolis on Dec. 12.”
Canada has finished fifth in the past two years at the tournament after winning back-to-back gold medals in 2022 and 2023.
Full roster:
FORWARDS
Gavin McKenna
Brady Martin
Michael Misa
Tij Iginla
Carter Bear
Cole Beaudoin
Cole Reschny
Braeden Cootes
Jett Luchanko
Jake O’Brien
Caleb Desnoyers
Liam Greentree
Porter Martone
Michael Hage
Sam O’Reilly
DEFENCE
Cameron Reid
Kashawn Aitcheson
Carson Carels
Ethan MacKenzie
Jackson Smith
Harrison Brunicke
Zayne Parekh
Ben Danford
Keaton Verhoeff
GOALIES
Carter George
Jack Ivankovic
Joshua Ravensbergen
