44 CHL players named to Canada's U17 World Challenge rosters
Photo by Canadian Hockey League (CHL)
TORONTO — Canada's two rosters for the 2026 Under-17 World Challenge will be built almost entirely by the Canadian Hockey League, with 44 players and prospects from 35 of the league's 61 clubs named to Canada Red and Canada White for the Nov. 1-9 tournament in Oakville, Ont.
The split runs 18 players drafted by OHL clubs, 17 by WHL clubs and nine by QMJHL clubs. The rosters were picked by Hockey Canada head scout Byron Bonora, Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar and under-17 assistant general manager Mike Johnston of the Portland Winterhawks.
Alberta's fingerprints are on the benches. Calgary Hitmen assistant coach Brad Moran and Lethbridge Hurricanes assistant Ryan Aasman are on Canada Red's staff under head coach Dan Dasilva of the Saskatoon Blades, and Lethbridge team physician Dr. Hafeez Kurji is on Red's support staff. Edmonton Oil Kings assistant Kyle Chipchura is on Canada White's staff under Barrie Colts head coach Dylan Smoskowitz. Chipchura will also serve as an assistant coach for Team CHL at the 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge.
All four of the CHL's most recent first overall draft picks are going. Canada Red has Thomas Boisvert of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, the first pick in the 2026 QMJHL Draft. Canada White has Kane Cloutier of the Oshawa Generals (2026 OHL Draft), Madden Daneault of the Kelowna Rockets (2026 WHL Draft) and Maddox Schultz of the Regina Pats (2025 WHL Draft).
Regina sends a tournament-high three players, and two of them will be on opposite sides. Schultz returns to Canada White for his second U17 World Challenge after winning silver last year, while Pats teammate Liam Pue, who won that silver alongside him, suits up for Canada Red. The pair led Canada to gold at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Schultz tying for the tournament scoring lead and Pue finishing third. Logan Henry, picked 23rd overall by Regina in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, rounds out the Pats contingent.
Seven other clubs send two players each: Vancouver, Barrie, Owen Sound, Saginaw, Sudbury, Rouyn-Noranda and Victoriaville.
Canada has won gold at each of the last three U17 World Challenges, and the last two finals were all-Canadian, Red against White. Across that run, 107 CHL players have won medals at the event, 66 of them gold. Nineteen members of this year's coaching and support staffs also hold CHL roles.
The tournament opens Nov. 1 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, with Canada White facing Czechia and Canada Red meeting Finland. Each team plays two preliminary-round games. The group winners advance directly to the Nov. 6 semifinals, the second- and third-place teams cross over for the Nov. 5 quarter-finals, and the medal games are Nov. 7. Pre-tournament games are Oct. 30.