Canada Announces World Junior Championship Camp Roster

 

MON DEC 2ND: Hockey Canada has revealed the 32-player training camp roster for the 2025 World Junior Championship, spotlighting an impressive mix of young talent, including Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan and 16-year old phenom Gavin McKenna, the WHL's current scoring leader. 

The roster notably excludes five top-10 picks from the 2024 NHL Draft: Beckett Sennecke (third overall), Cayden Lindstrom (fourth overall), Tij Iginla (sixth), Carter Yakemchuk (seventh), and Zayne Parekh (ninth). Lindstrom, sidelined since April, is recovering from back surgery performed in November. 

Returning Stars and Emerging Talents

Four players - Cowan, Carson Rehkopf, Matthew Wood, and Brayden Yager - are set to return from last year's World Junior roster. While Macklin Celebrini, Canada's scoring leader from the 2024 tournament, remains with the San Jose Sharks and is unlikely to participate, the roster showcases eight first-round NHL Draft picks among its forwards, including Luca Pinelli, Bradly Nadeau, and Tanner Howe. 

Cowan enters the camp on a remarkable streak, having recorded points in 54 consecutive regular season OHL games. While this spans two seasons and won't officially break Doug Gilmour's record of 55 games, it underscores his offensive dominance.   

Generational Stars in the Making 

Gavin McKenna, a standout for the 2026 NHL Draft, continues to turn heads with his stellar play. After tallying 20 points in seven games at the under-18 World Championship, the Medicine Hat Tigers star is proving his readiness for the World Junior stage. Meanwhile, Porter Martone, a leading candidate for the 2025 NHL Draft's top pick, is second in OHL scoring this season. 

Andrew Cristall, another forward to watch, leads the CHL with eye-popping 2.61 points per game, making him a central figure in Canada's offensive strategy. 

A Defence Promising Great Potential 

Canada's blueline is anchored by Sam Dickinson, who has exploded offensively in the OHL, with 15 goals and 45 points in 24 games. He is joined by standout prospects like Oliver Bonk and Tanner Molendyk, both first-round NHL picks. Matthew Schaefer, projected as the top defenseman in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft, adds a mix of poise and dynamic play to the core. 

Goaltending Competition  

The camp roster features four goaltenders, with Carson Bjarnasson leading the group as the highest drafted net-minder (51st overall by Philadelphia in 2023). Jack Ivankovic, who backstopped Canada to gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and Scott Ratzlaff, a returnee from last year's team, round out the competition. 

Challenges and Opportunities 

Despite leaving off big names like Michael Misa, the 2025 Draft eligible OHL scoring leader, and some top-tier 2024 draft picks, Canada's depth and proven mix of proven performers and rising stars position the team as a strong contender. The final roster announcement will be highly anticipated as the tournament moves closer.   

With the WJC a month away, hockey fans have plenty to look forward to as Canada looks to defend its place atop the international stage.