Sara Manness is Canada's youngest player at the U-18 World Championships, but the 16-year-old Winnipeg produce is also one of the most talented.

Sara Manness is the youngest player on Hockey Canada's U-18 national team this year. She might turn out to be one of the brightest stars on the roster as well. 

At the 2023 U-18 national championships, Manness single handedly kept Team Manitoba competitive playing big minutes in all situations and showing her versatility. Creative with the puck, Manness has quick hands and is strong in possession. At that tournament she scored 10 points in five games.

“She obviously knew her role was going to be more offensive and we tried to put her in positions where she could capitalize on that — and she certainly did,” Manitoba head coach Maggie Litchfield-Medd told the Winnipeg Free Press. “And she did it against top teams, which is hard. Especially when her line was going out against their top lines…

Playing for the Burlington Barracudas in the OWHL this season, Manness sits third in league scoring with 21 goals and 52 points in 18 games. 

Manness is more than six months younger than any other player on Canada's U-18 national team. The September born player is one of only five 2007 birth years on the roster, and the only not born in January or February. 

Alongside Burlington and soon to be Canadian teammate Claire Murdoch, Manness will be one of Canada's most dangerous forwards. 

Manness also made her NCAA decision this season committing to play for the University of Minnesota. She made the move this year from Balmoral Hall to play in the OWHL with Burlington, and it's helped elevate her game to another level.