Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team

Last updated
Canada
553px-lib maple leaf.png
Nickname(s)Team Canada
(Équipe Canada)
Association Hockey Canada
Head coach Alan Letang
AssistantsSylvain Favreau
Kris Mallette
Top scorer Jeff Friesen (9)
Team colours   
IIHF codeCAN
First international
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 8 – 4 Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
(Piešťany, Slovakia; April 11, 2002)
Biggest win
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 15 – 1 Denmark  Flag of Denmark.svg
(České Budějovice, Czech Republic; April 18, 2005)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 0 – 8 Sweden  Flag of Sweden.svg
(Porrentruy, Switzerland; April 20, 2023)
IIHF World U18 Championship
Appearances21 (first in 2002)
Best resultGold medal world centered-2.svgGold: 6 (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021, 2024, 2025)
Medal record
World U18 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2003 Russia Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2008 Russia Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2013 Russia Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2021 USA Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Finland Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2025 United States Canada
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2005 Czech Republic Canada
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2012 Czech Republic Canada
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2014 Finland Canada
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2015 Switzerland Canada
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2023 Switzerland Canada
Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1992 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1994 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1996 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1997 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1998 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1999 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2000 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2001 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2002 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2004 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2005 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2008 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2009 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2013 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2014 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2015 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2018 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Canada
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1991 Canada
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1995 Canada
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Canada
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1993 Canada
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2025 Canada

The Canadian men's national under 18 ice hockey team is part of a three-stage Program of Excellence beginning with the Under-17 regional teams and ending with the National Junior Team. The primary objectives of the Under-18 program are to identify, evaluate, and condition players to the rigors of international competition by giving first exposure to off-shore officiating, ice-surfaces, and travel.

Contents

The Under-18 squad traditionally competes in the month of August, during the off season, to allow players to further develop skills with their respective junior teams in the winter following a week-long camp. A 22-player roster is chosen by scouts and coaches from Hockey Canada to represent Canada on the international stage.

The first National Men's Under-18 Team was created in 1981 with the development of the Program of Excellence and has since competed in many international competitions. For the first 10 years of the program, the National Men's Under-18 Team participated in exchange camps with the United States to provide both countries the opportunity to refine the skills of their most gifted young players against top caliber international competition. It was not until the Japanese Ice Hockey Federation introduced the Phoenix Cup, a four-nation tournament designed to improve Japan's international hockey program, in 1991 that Canada took part in an international tournament.

The Phoenix Cup (later the Pacific Cup and La Copa Mexico) was a single round robin competition between the national under-18 teams of Canada, Russia, Japan, and the United States. It was competed for between 1991 and 1996, with tournaments in Japan, Mexico City, and Nelson, B.C. In its six-year history, Canada took home three gold medals, two silver and one bronze.

In 1997, the National Men's Under-18 Team competed against Slovakia and the Czech Republic in a three-nation tournament in the Czech Republic. Canada captured gold and repeated their performance the following year in Slovakia against Belarus, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Since 2002, Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team has taken part in the IIHF World Under-18 Championship, winning four gold medals (2003, 2008, 2013 and 2021), one silver medal (2005), and three bronze medals (2012, 2014, and 2015). [1]

Roster

IIHF U18 World Championships roster

Roster for the 2025 IIHF World U18 Championships.

Head coach: Cory Stillman

No.Pos.NameHeightWeightBirthdateTeam
1GJack Ivankovic1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)77 kg (170 lb)May 22, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brampton Steelheads
2DXavier Villeneuve1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)72 kg (159 lb)September 29, 2007 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
3DJackson Smith1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)88 kg (194 lb)May 13, 2007 (age 18) Flag of the United States.svg Tri-City Americans
4DRyan Lin1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)77 kg (170 lb)April 18, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vancouver Giants
5DCarson Carels1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)86 kg (190 lb)July 23, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Prince George Cougars
6DAlex Huang1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)73 kg (161 lb)July 30, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Chicoutimi Saguenéens
7FCole Reschny – A 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)85 kg (187 lb)April 6, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Victoria Royals
10DQuinn Beauchesne1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)83 kg (183 lb)March 1, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Guelph Storm
11FAlessandro Di Iorio1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)84 kg (185 lb)March 17, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sarnia Sting
12FEthan Czata1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)79 kg (174 lb)May 29, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Niagara Ice Dogs
13FTyler Hopkins1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)82 kg (181 lb)January 23, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kingston Frontenacs
14FLiam Kilfoil1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)80 kg (180 lb)March 21, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Halifax Mooseheads
15FLukas Sawchyn1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)77 kg (170 lb)February 27, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Edmonton Oil Kings
16FLev Katsin1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)76 kg (168 lb)May 13, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Guelph Storm
18FBeckham Edwards1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)80 kg (180 lb)January 6, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sarnia Sting
19FCameron Schmidt1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)73 kg (161 lb)April 18, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vancouver Giants
20DKeaton Verhoeff1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)96 kg (212 lb)June 19, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Victoria Royals
22FJack Nesbitt1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)83 kg (183 lb)January 12, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Windsor Spitfires
24F Braeden Cootes C 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)83 kg (183 lb)February 9, 2007 (age 18) Flag of the United States.svg Seattle Thunderbirds
25DDaxon Rudolph1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)88 kg (194 lb)March 6, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Prince Albert Raiders
26F Ryan Roobroeck 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)95 kg (209 lb)September 25, 2007 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Niagara Ice Dogs
27FMatthew Gard1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)87 kg (192 lb)April 7, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Red Deer Rebels
28FBrady Martin – A 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)84 kg (185 lb)March 16, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
29GLucas Beckman1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)88 kg (194 lb)August 23, 2007 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Baie-Comeau Drakkar
30GBurke Hood1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)92 kg (203 lb)April 30, 2007 (age 18) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vancouver Giants

Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster

Roster for the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Head coach: Mathieu Turcotte

No.Pos.NameHeightWeightBirthdateTeam
1GJason Schaubel1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)78 kg (172 lb)August 30, 2008 (age 16) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kitchener Rangers
2DCameron Chartrand1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)92 kg (203 lb)March 3, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Saint John Sea Dogs
3DKeaton Verhoeff – C 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)94 kg (207 lb)June 19, 2008 (age 17) Flag of the United States.svg University of North Dakota
4DRyan Lin1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)80 kg (180 lb)April 18, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vancouver Giants
5DCarson Carels1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)88 kg (194 lb)June 23, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Prince George Cougars
7DGiorgos Pantelas1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)97 kg (214 lb)April 24, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brandon Wheat Kings
8DCallum Croskery1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)80 kg (180 lb)January 29, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
9D Landon DuPont A 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)85 kg (187 lb)May 28, 2009 (age 16) Flag of the United States.svg Everett Silvertips
11FTynan Lawrence1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)83 kg (183 lb)August 3, 2008 (age 17) Flag of the United States.svg Muskegon Lumberjacks
12FLiam Ruck1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)79 kg (174 lb)February 21, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Medicine Hat Tigers
14FMathis Preston1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)80 kg (180 lb)July 21, 2008 (age 17) Flag of the United States.svg Spokane Chiefs
15FCooper Williams1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)75 kg (165 lb)February 18, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Saskatoon Blades
16FEthan Belchetz1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)103 kg (227 lb)March 30, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Windsor Spitfires
17FAlessandro Di Iorio – A 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)85 kg (187 lb)March 17, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sarnia Sting
18FBeckham Edwards1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)81 kg (179 lb)January 6, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sarnia Sting
19FAdam Valentini – A 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)86 kg (190 lb)April 11, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kitchener Rangers
21FPierce Mbuyi1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)71 kg (157 lb)April 17, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Owen Sound Attack
22FJean-Cristoph Lemieux1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)85 kg (187 lb)June 19, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Windsor Spitfires
24FDimian Zhilkin1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)78 kg (172 lb)October 21, 2008 (age 16) Flag of the United States.svg Saginaw Spirit
25DDaxon Rudolph – A 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)92 kg (203 lb)March 6, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Prince Albert Raiders
26FMarkus Ruck1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)75 kg (165 lb)February 21, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Medicine Hat Tigers
27FColin Fitzgerald1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)94 kg (207 lb)April 1, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Peterborough Petes
29FThomas Rousseau1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)77 kg (170 lb)February 12, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sherbrooke Phoenix
30GCarter Esler1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)75 kg (165 lb)November 28, 2008 (age 16) Flag of the United States.svg Spokane Chiefs
31GGavin Betts1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)78 kg (172 lb)April 3, 2008 (age 17) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kingston Frontenacs

International competitions

IIHF World U18 Championships

Hlinka Gretzky Cup

References

  1. "National Men's Under-18 Team". hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved 2011-01-04.