TORONTO, Ontario – Powered by TELUS, Hockey Canada has unveiled 27 players who will take part in Canada’s National Junior Team training camp at the Gale Center in Niagara Falls, Ontario, prior to the start of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26-Jan.5 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
The initial roster, which includes three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards was selected by National Junior Team general manager Alan millar (Tottenham, ON), head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and Mark Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL), U20 lead with the Program of Excellence management group, with input from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations.
Head coach Dale Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL), associate coach Misha Donskov (London, ON), and assistant coaches Brad Lauer (Humboldt, SK/Spokane, WHL) and Gardiner MacDougall (Bedeque, PE/Moncton, QMJHL), as well as goaltending consultant Dan De Palma (kamloops, BC/Kamloops, WHL), also provided input.
“We are extremely excited to unveil the 27 players who will begin the road to the World Juniors at training camp in Niagara Falls,” said Millar.”This group represents the very best of Canadian junior hockey-skill, speed, sense, character, and a strong commitment to team success and the pride in representing Canada at this prestigious world championship. Our staff has worked tirelessly to identify a roster that embodies the identity we want Canada to play, and we’re confident these athletes are ready for the challenge ahead.This process and team build came with many tough decisions. We are confident in this group as we begin our preparations for Minneapolis on December 12.”
Hockey Canada will continue to work with national Hockey League (NHL) teams regarding players who are eligible for the IIHF World Junior Championship, and roster additions will be announced as necessary, pending player availability.
2026 IIHF World Junior Championship Set to Begin December 26th, with Broadcast and Ticket Data Available
The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship is scheduled to begin on December 26th, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.The tournament will feature 29 games, including Team Canada’s first two pre-tournament contests. fans can follow all the action on TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, which will be covering every game of the championship. https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/wm20
The 2026 tournament will be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/wm20
Ticket Information for the 2027 Championship
For those eager to secure tickets for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be hosted in Edmonton & Red Deer, Alberta, the priority draw is now open. Fans can register for free at HC.ca/prioritydraw to increase their chances of obtaining tickets, as demand is expected to be high.
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For the latest updates on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, visit HockeyCanada.ca. You can also follow Hockey Canada on social media:
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