Evaluating Canada's U-18 Selection Camp Roster

Canada has a number of difficult decisions when it comes to selecting their U-18 Summer Series roster to face Team USA.

The competition for roster spots with Canada's U-18 team not only at the Summer Series against USA, but heading toward the 2024 World Championships is intense.

That fact was evident by the depth and parity of talent at the Canadian U-18 selection camp and Summer Showcase. 

Here's a look at the competition for roster spots at each position:

Goaltending

Perhaps no position had more viable options than the net for Team Canada. Hannah Clarke will certainly return and will be Canada's starter after playing and winning four games at last year's U-18 tournament. The Etobicoke Dolphins netminder will give Canada confidence, and takes the pressure off the rest of the selection process in net. Marilou Grenier is a likely second selection in net as the only 2007 goaltender in camp to help the program plan for next season as well. It's not just her age however, as Grenier showed excellent poise in net, was willing to compete for pucks, and read shooters well. Beyond this duo, it's a toss up among Rhyah Stewart, Rebecca Noble, Taylor Belchetz and Clara Juca. Stewart likely has the leg up on the competition, but this could go down to personal preference of the coaching staff.

Defenders

Half of Canada's defensive corps will return from last year's gold medal winning team headlined by Gracie Graham, Emma Venusio, and Avery Pickering. The trio will provide a solid core, padded by Chloe Primerano who is a lock to make the roster, and will certainly be a key contributor for Canada in all situations. She quarterbacked the powerplay for Canada White throughout camp, and is a superstar in the making. Beyond this group, the competition thickens. Depending on how locked in Canada's coaching staff is to a balance of right and left shot blueliners, it could open a spot for a player like Sydney Sawyer or Makayla Watson, as only Pickering is a right shot blueliner among the first four. Leah Wicks, Brooklyn Nimegeers, and Rosalie Breton also made strong cases for themselves in camp, but one thing was clear at this camp, no defender played themselves out of a roster spot. 

Forwards

There were times at this camp where the five returning players from last year's gold medal winning team didn't stand out. Caitlin Kraemer, Abby Stonehouse, Charlotte Pieckenhagen, Mackenzie Alexander, and Morgan Jackson will certainly make up the core of Canada's offense. If any of these players is set to take a step forward, based on this camp, Alexander could be that player, while Abby Stonehouse showed a 200-foot game that will benefit Canada and torture opponents. Beyond this group, Stryker Zablocki, Madison Burr, and Sienna D’Alessandro all showed significant upside up front. Zablocki in particular showed that her elite speed was still impactful against stronger competition, but also that her vision and hockey IQ are on another level. Other forwards including Jessiva Mackinnon, Reese Logan, Sara Manness, Maxim Tremblay, Dorothy Copetti, Maxine Cimoroni, and Grace Outwater all showed flashes in the camp that could entice coaches to bring them along. Canada's forward corps however is filled with versatility as there were others, players like Emma Beauchamp and Jenna Smellie who showed traits that could make them valuable checking line forwards. Similar to the blueline, each forward showed unique traits, and none should be counted out. It's highly likely a forward not mentioned above ends up on Canada's roster.