2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting Canada’s Roster
Canada is poised to compete for the gold medal in Minnesota at the 2026 World Junior Championship, though several important roster decisions are still pending. Among the players, 13 under-20 NHLers have appeared in at least one NHL game. Except for Russia’s Matvei Gridin, all are Canadian.
Current Player Status
Some players have already been loaned back to their junior teams, including Nashville’s Brady Martin, Philadelphia’s Jett Luchanko, and Vancouver’s Braeden Cootes. However, nine players remain active in the NHL:
- Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke
- Calgary’s Zayne Parekh
- New York Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer
- Pittsburgh’s Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke
- San Jose’s Sam Dickinson, Michael Misa, and Macklin Celebrini
Macklin Celebrini, in particular, is certain to stay in the NHL without being loaned back. Most of these players, especially Schaefer—already a top-performing defenseman—are very likely to remain in the NHL.
Potential Roster Moves
Players who might be sent back to junior teams include Zayne Parekh and Catton, with a possibility of both Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke also returning. The others appear destined to stay with their NHL clubs, which is seen as justified.
After two quarterfinal losses, Canada won’t accept anything less than gold at the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minnesota.
Preparation Strategy
Instead of a traditional selection camp, Hockey Canada plans to hold a 10-day training camp in Niagara with the finalized roster. This will be followed by two exhibition games held in Kitchener and London.
Summary: Canada enters the 2026 World Junior Championship with a strong core of NHL-ready players, aiming firmly for gold and preparing intensely through a focused camp and exhibition matches.
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