2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting Canada’s Roster
Canada is poised to compete for gold at the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minnesota, though some important roster decisions remain unresolved.
Thirteen U-20 NHL players have appeared in at least one NHL game. Except for Russia’s Matvei Gridin, all are Canadian. Several players have already been loaned back to junior teams, including Nashville’s Brady Martin, Philadelphia’s Jett Luchanko, and Vancouver’s Braeden Cootes.
Players Currently 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 was never considered for loan back, and it’s likely most of the others will remain in the NHL. Schaefer, noted as one of the most productive defensemen, is very unlikely to be sent down.
Potential Loan Candidates
The players most likely to be loaned back include Zayne Parekh and Catton, with some possibility for Kindel and Brunicke to join them. The remainder are expected to stay in the NHL, a logical move given Canada's ambition for gold after two quarterfinal losses.
Preparation Plan
Instead of a traditional selection camp, Hockey Canada will conduct a 10-day training camp with the confirmed roster in Niagara, followed by two exhibition games held in Kitchener and London.
"After two quarterfinal losses, Canada won’t accept anything less than gold at the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minnesota."
Summary: Canada intends to field a strong roster for the 2026 World Junior Championship, balancing experience from NHL players while preparing rigorously to secure gold on home ice.
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