A few weeks before the Hlinka Gretzky tournament is set to kick off in early-to-mid August, Team Canada has put together a master list of 40 players who will fight for the right to earn their name on the back of a Canadian jersey.
Only six of these players have QMJHL ties, five of which are forwards and one is a defenseman.
On the blueline is Saint John Sea Dogs 19th overall pick Cameron Chartrand, a 6-foot-1 right shot defenseman. Chartrand played the entirety of last season outside of the QMJHL with Bishop Kearney U16 selects, scoring at a near point per game pace, before having a two game stint in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. He'll debut with the Sea Dogs next season, before jumping into the NCAA at 19 with Boston College.
Front and center among QMJHL forward invitees is 2024 first overall pick Maddox Dagenais. After plenty of hype, inconsistency and injuries turned his rookie season sour. However, the 6-foot-4 forward still finished with 26 points (12+14) through 43 games on a depleted Quebec Remparts team. All this being said, Dagenais will likely go into the tournament--and next season--with something to prove.
Hidden between the lines is the non-mention of Chicoutimi draft pick Tynan Lawrence, who was invited but not advertised as a QMJHL selection. Lawrence, arguably the most touted Quebec-born prospect of the 2026 NHL draft class so far, notched 54 points (25+29) through 56 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. So far, there's been plenty of rumours on whether he will come over, or whether he'll remain in Muskegon. Based off of the subtext there, it's safe to say for Chicoutimi fans that you shouldn't expect it.
Other invites include Thomas Rousseau (Sherbrooke), William Yared (Saint John), Jayden Plouffe (Shawinigan) and Chad Lygitsakos (Shawinigan).
A notable left uninvited is 2024 second overall pick Benjamin Cosette-Ayotte (Val-d'Or). 'BCA' is coming off of a strong rookie season, scoring 24 points (4+20) through 56 games as a blueline with the Foreurs.
Alexis Joseph Among 24 QMJHL Players Named To Canadian Under 17s Camp
While the Under 17s tournament may be a few months away in November,<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international"> Team Canada</a> is already gearing up for the tournament. The team just released its 79 player training camp list, which will take place from July 19th to the 23rd.
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