Hockey Canada has made significant roster decisions as the World Junior Championship approaches. Three players have been released back to their respective club teams, finalizing Canada’s lineup ahead of the tournament. The players cut from the team include centre Jake O’Brien, winger Marek Vanacker, and defenceman Jackson Smith.
Roster Adjustments Ahead of the World Juniors
The announcement was made on Thursday, indicating that only one more player, a goaltender, needs to be cut to meet the tournament’s required roster limit of 25 athletes. The roster decisions come after Canada’s recent pre-tournament exhibition game against Sweden, where none of the three players scored points.
Player Performance and Backgrounds
- Jake O’Brien (18 years old): Played with the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL, recording 11 goals and 35 assists in 27 games this season. O’Brien was drafted eighth overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2025 NHL Draft.
- Marek Vanacker (19 years old): Also a member of the Bulldogs, Vanacker has been a standout player with 26 goals and 15 assists in 26 games. He was selected 27th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Draft.
- Jackson Smith (18 years old): Transitioned to Penn State after competing with the Tri-City Americans in the WHL. This season, he has tallied three goals and six assists in 14 games. Smith was drafted 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Current Team Canada Roster
Following these cuts, Team Canada’s roster is predominantly set. Below is the updated roster for the upcoming World Juniors:
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
The World Junior Championship is set to commence on December 26, making these roster changes crucial as Canada prepares for the competition.
