Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team
| Nickname(s) | Team Canada (Équipe Canada) |
|---|---|
| Association | Hockey Canada |
| Head coach | Alan Letang |
| Assistants | Sylvain Favreau Kris Mallette |
| Top scorer | Jeff Friesen (9) |
| Team colours | |
| IIHF code | CAN |
| First international | |
| Russia 8 – 4 (Piešťany, Slovakia; April 11, 2002) | |
| Biggest win | |
| 15 – 1 Denmark (České Budějovice, Czech Republic; April 18, 2005) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
| 0 – 8 Sweden (Porrentruy, Switzerland; April 20, 2023) | |
| IIHF World U18 Championship | |
| Appearances | 21 (first in 2002) |
| Best result | Gold: 6 (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021, 2024, 2025) |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| World U18 Championships | ||
| 2003 Russia | Canada | |
| 2008 Russia | Canada | |
| 2013 Russia | Canada | |
| 2021 USA | Canada | |
| 2024 Finland | Canada | |
| 2025 United States | Canada | |
| 2005 Czech Republic | Canada | |
| 2012 Czech Republic | Canada | |
| 2014 Finland | Canada | |
| 2015 Switzerland | Canada | |
| 2023 Switzerland | Canada | |
| Hlinka Gretzky Cup | ||
| 1992 | Canada | |
| 1994 | Canada | |
| 1996 | Canada | |
| 1997 | Canada | |
| 1998 | Canada | |
| 1999 | Canada | |
| 2000 | Canada | |
| 2001 | Canada | |
| 2002 | Canada | |
| 2004 | Canada | |
| 2005 | Canada | |
| 2006 | Canada | |
| 2008 | Canada | |
| 2009 | Canada | |
| 2010 | Canada | |
| 2011 | Canada | |
| 2012 | Canada | |
| 2013 | Canada | |
| 2014 | Canada | |
| 2015 | Canada | |
| 2017 | Canada | |
| 2018 | Canada | |
| 2022 | Canada | |
| 2023 | Canada | |
| 2024 | Canada | |
| 1991 Japan | Canada | |
| 1995 Japan | Canada | |
| 2019 | Canada | |
| 1993 Japan | Canada | |
The Canadian men's national under 18 ice hockey team is part of a three-stage Program of Excellence beginning with the Under-17 regional teams and ending with the National Junior Team. The primary objectives of the Under-18 program are to identify, evaluate, and condition players to the rigors of international competition by giving first exposure to off-shore officiating, ice-surfaces, and travel.
The Under-18 squad traditionally competes in the month of August, during the off season, to allow players to further develop skills with their respective junior teams in the winter following a week-long camp. A 22-player roster is chosen by scouts and coaches from Hockey Canada to represent Canada on the international stage.
The first National Men's Under-18 Team was created in 1981 with the development of the Program of Excellence and has since competed in many international competitions. For the first 10 years of the program, the National Men's Under-18 Team participated in exchange camps with the United States to provide both countries the opportunity to refine the skills of their most gifted young players against top caliber international competition. It was not until the Japanese Ice Hockey Federation introduced the Phoenix Cup, a four-nation tournament designed to improve Japan's international hockey program, in 1991 that Canada took part in an international tournament.
The Phoenix Cup (later the Pacific Cup and La Copa Mexico) was a single round robin competition between the national under-18 teams of Canada, Russia, Japan, and the United States. It was competed for between 1991 and 1996, with tournaments in Japan, Mexico City, and Nelson, B.C. In its six-year history, Canada took home three gold medals, two silver and one bronze.
In 1997, the National Men's Under-18 Team competed against Slovakia and the Czech Republic in a three-nation tournament in the Czech Republic. Canada captured gold and repeated their performance the following year in Slovakia against Belarus, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
Since 2002, Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team has taken part in the IIHF World Under-18 Championship, winning four gold medals (2003, 2008, 2013 and 2021), one silver medal (2005), and three bronze medals (2012, 2014, and 2015).[1]
Roster
IIHF U18 World Championships roster
Roster for the 2025 IIHF World U18 Championships.
Head coach: Cory Stillman
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Jack Ivankovic | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | May 22, 2007 | Brampton Steelheads |
| 2 | D | Xavier Villeneuve | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 72 kg (159 lb) | September 29, 2007 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada |
| 3 | D | Jackson Smith | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) | May 13, 2007 | Tri-City Americans |
| 4 | D | Ryan Lin | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | April 18, 2008 | Vancouver Giants |
| 5 | D | Carson Carels | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | July 23, 2008 | Prince George Cougars |
| 6 | D | Alex Huang | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | July 30, 2007 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens |
| 7 | F | Cole Reschny | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | April 6, 2007 | Victoria Royals |
| 10 | D | Quinn Beauchesne | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | March 1, 2007 | Guelph Storm |
| 11 | F | Alessandro Di Iorio | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | March 17, 2008 | Sarnia Sting |
| 12 | F | Ethan Czata | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | May 29, 2007 | Niagara Ice Dogs |
| 13 | F | Tyler Hopkins | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | January 23, 2007 | Kingston Frontenacs |
| 14 | F | Liam Kilfoil | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | March 21, 2007 | Halifax Mooseheads |
| 15 | F | Lukas Sawchyn | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | February 27, 2007 | Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 16 | F | Lev Katsin | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | May 13, 2007 | Guelph Storm |
| 18 | F | Beckham Edwards | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | January 6, 2008 | Sarnia Sting |
| 19 | F | Cameron Schmidt | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | April 18, 2007 | Vancouver Giants |
| 20 | D | Keaton Verhoeff | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) | June 19, 2008 | Victoria Royals |
| 22 | F | Jack Nesbitt | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | January 12, 2007 | Windsor Spitfires |
| 24 | F | Braeden Cootes | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | February 9, 2007 | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 25 | D | Daxon Rudolph | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) | March 6, 2008 | Prince Albert Raiders |
| 26 | F | Ryan Roobroeck | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 95 kg (209 lb) | September 25, 2007 | Niagara Ice Dogs |
| 27 | F | Matthew Gard | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | April 7, 2007 | Red Deer Rebels |
| 28 | F | Brady Martin | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | March 16, 2007 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 29 | G | Lucas Beckman | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) | August 23, 2007 | Baie-Comeau Drakkar |
| 30 | G | Burke Hood | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | April 30, 2007 | Vancouver Giants |
Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster
Roster for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Head coach: Kris Mallette
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Jack Ivankovic | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) | May 22, 2007 | Brampton Steelheads |
| 3 | D | Jackson Smith | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | May 13, 2007 | Tri-City Americans |
| 4 | D | Peyton Kettles | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | September 1, 2007 | Swift Current Broncos |
| 5 | D | Matthew Schaefer – C | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | September 5, 2007 | Erie Otters |
| 6 | D | Reese Hamilton | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | March 26, 2007 | Calgary Hitmen |
| 9 | F | Gavin McKenna – A | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | December 20, 2007 | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| 10 | D | Quinn Beauschene | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | March 1, 2007 | Guelph Storm |
| 12 | D | Alex Huang | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | July 30, 2007 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens |
| 14 | F | Jake O'Brien | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | June 16, 2007 | Brantford Bulldogs |
| 16 | F | Brady Martin | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | March 16, 2007 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 17 | F | Émile Guité | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | May 31, 2007 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens |
| 18 | F | Tyler Hopkins | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | January 23, 2007 | Kingston Frontenacs |
| 19 | D | Cameron Reid | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | April 8, 2007 | Kitchener Rangers |
| 20 | F | Cole Reschny | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | April 6, 2007 | Victoria Royals |
| 21 | F | Ethan Czata | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | May 29, 2007 | Niagara IceDogs |
| 22 | F | Benjamin Kindel | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | April 19, 2007 | Calgary Hitmen |
| 23 | F | Cameron Schmidt | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) | 69 kg (152 lb) | January 19, 2007 | Vancouver Giants |
| 24 | F | Liam Kilfoil | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | March 21, 2007 | Halifax Mooseheads |
| 26 | F | Luca Romano | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | June 25, 2007 | Kitchener Rangers |
| 27 | F | Caleb Desnoyers – A | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) | April 11, 2007 | Moncton Wildcats |
| 29 | F | Braeden Cootes | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | February 9, 2007 | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 30 | G | Lucas Beckman | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | August 23, 2007 | Baie-Comeau Drakkar |
International competitions
IIHF World U18 Championships
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Hlinka Gretzky Cup
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References
- ^ "National Men's Under-18 Team". hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved 2011-01-04.