The first roster announced for the 2025 World Junior Championship (WJC) is here. Hockey Canada named their final 25-man roster to represent Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa from Dec 26th to Jan 5th.
Goaltenders
Jack Ivankovic, Carter George, Carson Bjarnson
Jack Ivankovic has played 21 games for the Bramptom Steelheads in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this year. He’s posted a 3.49 goals-against average (GAA) and a save percentage (SV%) of .898%. Ivankovic brings experience representing Team Canada at the World Hockey Championship (WHC) U17 tournament in 2024 and was roster for Canada’s U18 roster at the 2024 WJC. Ivankovic is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Carter George has played 23 games for the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL this year. He’s posted a 3.49 GAA and a .905 SV%. George has international experience representing Team Canada at the 2024 U18 WJC tournament where he played six games and posted a 2.33 GAA and a .915 SV%. George is a 2024 second-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Kings.
This year, Carson Bjarnson has played 16 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He’s posted a 2.90 GAA and a .913 SV%. His international experience came in the 2023 WJC U18 tournament where he played six games and posted a 3.51 GAA and a .849 SV%. Bjarnson is a 2023 second-round draft selection (51st overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Defencemen
Andrew Gibson, Sam Dickinson, Caden Price, Oliver Bonk, Tanner Molendyk, Sawyer Mynio, Beau Akey, Matthew Schaefer
Andrew Gibson is a defenseman for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. He’s posted seven points (4G, 3A) in 26 games this season. The 6-foot-4 defender is a 2023 second-round draft pick (42nd overall) by the Nashville Predators and last represented Team Canada at the WJC U18 tournament in 2023 where he posted three assists in seven games.
Sam Dickinson is a defenseman for the London Knights of the OHL. He’s posted 46 points (15G, 31A) in 26 games this season. The 6-foot-3 defender is a 2024 11th overall draft pick by the San Jose Sharks and last represented Team Canada at the 2023 WHC U17 tournament.
Caden Price is a defenseman for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. He’s posted 32 points (6G, 26A) in 26 games this season. The 6-foot-1 defender is a 2023 third-round draft pick (84th overall) by the Seattle Kraken and last represented Team Canada at the 2023 WJC U18 tournament.
Oliver Bonk is a defenseman for the London Knights of the OHL. He’s posted 21 points (6G, 15A) in 24 games this season. The 6-foot-2 defender is a 2023 22nd overall draft pick by the Philadelphia Flyers and last represented Team Canada at the 2024 WJC U20 tournament.
Tanner Molendyk is a defenseman for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. He’s posted 21 points (4G, 17A) in 21 games this season. The 6-foot defender is a 2023 24th overall draft selection by the Nashville Predators and has only represented Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Sawyer Mynio is a defenseman for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. He’s posted 19 points (5G, 14A) in 18 games this season. The 6-foot-1 defender is a 2023 third-round draft selection (89th overall) by the Vancouver Canucks and has never represented Team Canada in international competition.
Beau Akey is a defenseman for the Barrie Colts of the OHL. He’s posted 19 points (4G, 15A) in 25 games this season. The 6-foot defender is a 2023 second-round draft selection (56th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers and has never represented Team Canada in international competition.
Matthew Schaefer is a defenseman for the Erie Otters of the OHL. He’s posted 22 points (7G, 15A) in 17 games this season. The 6-foot-2 defender is a top prospect available for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team Canada at the 2023 U18 WJC and the 2023 U17 WHC tournament.
Forwards
Gavin McKenna, Bradly Nadeau, Brayden Yager, Jett Luchanko, Luca Pinelli, Berkly Catton, Carson Rehkpof, Ethan Gauthier, Calum Ritchie, Porter Martone, Tanner Howe, Cole Beaudoin, Easton Cowan, Mathieu Cataford
Gavin McKenna is a forward for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. He’s posted 60 points (19G, 41A) in 30 games this season. The 6-foot forward is a top prospect available for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He last represented Team Canada at the 2024 U18 WJC and the 2024 U17 WHC tournaments.
Bradly Nadeau is a forward for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL). He’s posted 15 points (6G, 9A) in 22 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward is a 2023 30th overall draft selection by the Carolina Hurricanes and has never represented Team Canada in international competition.
Brayden Yager is a forward for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL. He’s posted 34 points (12G, 22A) in 23 games this season. The 6-foot forward is a 2023 14th overall draft selection by the Pittsburgh Penguins and last represented Team Canada at the 2024 WJC U20 tournament.
Jett Luchanko is a forward for the Guelph Storm of the OHL. He’s posted 20 points (7G, 13A) in 16 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward is a 2024 13th overall draft selection by the Philadelphia Flyers and last represented Team Canada at the 2023 WJC U18 tournament.
Luca Pinelli is a forward for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL. He’s posted 37 points (21G, 16A) in 26 games this season. The 5-foot-9 forward is a 2023 fourth-round draft selection (114th overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets and has never represented Team Canada in international competition.
Berkly Catton is a forward for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL. He’s posted 47 points (14G, 33A) in 28 games this season. The 5-foot-10 forward is a 2024 eighth-overall draft selection by the Seattle Kraken and last represented Team Canada at the 2023 WJC U18 and WHC U17 tournaments.
Carson Rehkopf is a forward for the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL. He’s posted 47 points (20G, 27A) in 27 games this season. The 6-foot-2 forward is a 2023 second-round draft selection (50th overall) by the Seattle Kraken and last represented Team Canada at the 2024 WJC U20 tournament.
Ethan Gauthier is a forward for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He’s posted 35 points (13G, 22A) in 24 games this season. The 6-foot forward is a 2023 second-round draft pick (37th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning and has never represented Team Canada in international competition.
Calum Ritchie is a forward for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. He’s posted 34 points (8G, 26A) in 18 games this season. The 6-foot-2 forward is a 2023 27th overall draft pick by the Colorado Avalanche and last represented Team Canada in the 2023 WJC U18 tournament.
Porter Martone is a forward for the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL. He’s posted 54 points (21G, 33A) in 26 games this season. The 6-foot-3 forward is a top prospect eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Canada at the 2023 WJC U18 tournament.
Tanner Howe is a forward for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. He’s posted 16 points (9G, 7A) in 16 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward is a 2024 second-round draft selection (46th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins and last represented Team Canada at the 2023 WJC U18 tournament.
Cole Beaudoin is a forward for the Barrie Colts of the OHL. He’s posted 29 points (13G, 16A) in 24 games this season. The 6-foot-2 forward is a 2024 24th overall draft selection by the Utah Hockey Club and last represented Team Canada at the 2023 WJC U18 tournament.
Easton Cowan is a forward for the London Knights of the OHL. He’s posted 28 points in 20 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward is a 2023 28th overall draft selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs and last represented Team Canada at the 2024 WJC U20 tournament.
Mathieu Cataford is a forward for the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL. He’s posted 38 points (11G, 27A) in 27 games this season. The 6-foot forward is a 2023 third-round draft selection (77th overall) by the Vegas Golden Knights and has never represented Team Canada in international competition.
Who Didn’t Make The Final Cut?
Matthew Wood, Cameron Allen, Zayne Parekh, Riley Heidt, Andrew Cristall, Denver Barkey, Beckett Sennecke and Scott Ratzlaff.
Final Thoughts on Team Canada’s Roster
Hockey Canada constructed a deep roster with three players with NHL experience (Calum Ritchie, Jett Luchanko and Bradly Nadeau). They’re also adding Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone, who are expected to be Canada’s heaviest hitters in the tournament, but it doesn’t completely fall on the two top prospects in 2025 and 2026.
Returners Brayden Yager and Easton Cowan will bring leadership and strengthen the group’s chemistry. Yager was one of the most outstanding players for Team Canada in the 2024 tournament while Cowan has been his steady self.
There were many surprise cuts, like Beckett Sennecke, but this team shouldn’t struggle to generate offence and play a fast, hard-hitting game if it hopes to win gold this year.
Line Projections
McKenna – Catton – Martone
Cowan – Yager – Nadeau
Ritchie – Luchanko – Rehkopf
Howe – Beaudoin – Gauthier
Cataford – Pinelli
Dickinson – Bonk
Molendyk – Gibson
Mynio – Schaefer
Price – Akey
George
Bjarnason
Ivankovic
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