The IIHF U18 World Championship gets underway in Finland in the coming weeks, and Canada has released their roster — it includes ten current OHL players.
As we are in the early parts of the second round of the OHL playoffs, it is time to start thinking about the U18 World Championships in the coming weeks. This year's U18 tournament is in Espoo & Vantaa, Finland.
Canada has announced it's final roster for the tournament, and on it there is a lot of talent to be excited about in the coming years. Ten current OHL players have been placed on the roster including:
Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts)
Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Jett Luchanko (Guelph Storm)
Porter Martone (Mississauga Steelheads)
Malcolm Spence (Erie Otters)
Marek Vanacker (Brantford Bulldogs)
Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts)
Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters)
Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)
This tournament doesn't fully represent the talent class in Canada, as many players are still participating in CHL playoffs. Nonetheless, this is an exciting roster that not only represents this year's draft class, but also the 2025 and 2026 draft classes.
Porter Martone, Malcolm Spence, Matthew Schaefer, and Kashawn Aitcheson are not eligible until the 2025 NHL Draft. Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL), is on the roster and he is not eligible until 2026.
Martone and Spence are expected to hear their names called very early in next year's draft, justifying their positions on this roster. They are also both late 2006-born players.
This team has a lot of electric, entertaining players on it. From Liam Greentree's highlight reel plays, to Jett Luchanko's speed, to Ryerson Leenders' athletic goaltending, this team will not lack excitement.
All of the players named to this roster are very well-deserving of their spots, and a lot of these players will hear their names called early in the 2024 NHL Draft that is on the horizon in June.
The U18 World Championships are typically a tournament that the USA wins a large majority of the time, but this year Canada has a remarkable roster that could most definitely challenge that trend.