Canada sends three players back to club teams as world juniors roster narrows
Canada is finalizing its roster for the World Junior Championship, with recent cuts impacting three players. Centre Jake O’Brien, winger Marek Vanacker, and defenceman Jackson Smith have been sent back to their respective club teams, as confirmed by Hockey Canada on Thursday. The team now needs to cut just one goalie to meet the tournament’s 25-player limit, with the competition set to begin on December 26.
Details on the Players Cut
All three players did not register any points in a pre-tournament exhibition against Sweden held in Kitchener. Here’s a closer look at each player:
- Jake O’Brien (Centre)
– Age: 18
– Club: Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
– Season Stats: 11 goals, 35 assists in 27 games
– Drafted: 8th overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2025 NHL Draft - Marek Vanacker (Winger)
– Age: 19
– Club: Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
– Season Stats: 26 goals, 15 assists in 26 games
– Drafted: 27th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Draft - Jackson Smith (Defenceman)
– Age: 18
– Club: Penn State (NCAA)
– Season Stats: 3 goals, 6 assists in 14 games
– Drafted: 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2025 NHL Draft
Current Team Canada Roster
Following these cuts, the Canadian roster is shaping up as follows:
Forwards
- Michael Misa
- Braeden Cootes
- Gavin McKenna
- Tij Iginla
- Carter Bear
- Jett Luchanko
- Cole Reschny
- Porter Martone
- Sam O’Reilly
- Liam Greentree
- Caleb Desnoyers
- Cole Beaudoin
- Brady Martin
- Michael Hage
Defencemen
- Kashawn Aitcheson
- Harrison Brunicke
- Carson Carels
- Cameron Reid
- Ethan MacKenzie
- Ben Danford
- Zayne Parekh
- Keaton Verhoeff
Goaltenders
- Jack Ivankovic
- Carter George
- Joshua Ravensbergen
As the competition approaches, Team Canada is adjusting its lineup strategically. Fans are eagerly awaiting the tournament start, where they hope to see their favorite players shine on the international stage.
