Minutes after Canada’s 2026 World Junior training camp roster was revealed, the sentiment of all in attendance was practically the same: it’s hard to find an issue with the selections.
Canada typically has the most depth each year. They are usually one of the only countries with active U-20 NHLers, too. Canada will get a few back for this tournament in San Jose’s Michael Misa, Calgary’s Zayne Parekh and Pittsburgh’s Harrison Brunicke. If they’re lucky, maybe San Jose’s Sam Dickinson will be loaned out later this month, too.
As it stands, three players – one forward, one defender and one goalie – will need to be cut before the team flies to Minnesota on Dec. 22. But what about the players who didn’t even get a chance to prove themselves at camp? Today, we’re looking at 10 prospects who had shots to make Canada’s World Junior team but were ultimately left off for one reason or another:
I liked the idea of Canada bringing Carbonneau for his shot and speed. Concerns about his hockey sense and off-puck play likely didn’t do him many favors. But, man – he can score. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada forward is on pace for 60 goals this year. Only three QMJHLers have managed to do that in Carbonneau’s lifetime. I think he would have been a good fit on the third line, personally. Carbonneau’s late 2006 birthday means we won’t see him get the call next year, but I still feel confident that he has top-line NHL potential.
Boisvert would have made sense as the fourth-line center or the 13th forward, but his exclusion isn’t the end of the world. He was a bubble player anyway, despite proving to be a dangerous setup man with Boston University. He also missed time due to injury and wasn’t part of Canada’s U-18 program, which made it felt like he was an outsider to begin with, just like…
Mustard’s hot first half in the NCAA helped get him on Hockey Canada’s radar, but he ultimately ran out of time. He had never represented Canada internationally in the past, and if you believe in all the political talk, the fact that he has spent his entire junior career in the United States likely didn’t help his case. His recent cold streak – one point in his last six games – was poorly timed, too.
Vanacker’s exclusion means the top scorer in the OHL has not been invited two years in a row (Michael Misa wasn’t invited to camp last year). Vanacker has been downright lethal with the Brantford Bulldogs. Some scouts have expressed concerns about his game away from the puck, though, and with a handful of skilled shooters, some wondered if he was redundant on this group. I would have taken him, personally.
Elick is having a good season and is pacing for about 30 points. His real bread and butter is his defensive zone game, though – he hits hard, pokes pucks away and is quite mobile for a 6-foot-4 blueliner. Canada had a few other bigger defenders, though, and ultimately chose a bit more hockey sense and skill. I think he’ll be a good third-pairing defender in the NHL, but he won’t get to prove that with Hockey Canada.
Pickford never seemed to really be in deep contention, from my understanding. That doesn’t discredit how dominant he has been in the WHL, though. The Medicine Hat Tiger is tracking for 47 goals – as a defenseman. For reference, he had 47 points in the regular season last year. He’s one of the most productive defenders, but Canada had no shortage of puck-moving defenseman to choose from – including a few from the NHL. His skating still needs work, but you can’t say Pickford didn’t do everything in his power (with the puck) to get himself noticed.
Protz was a surprise addition to Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase roster, but he impressed in Minnesota. In the end, they elected to go with more skill, which wasn’t overly shocking. Protz is having a good season with the Brantford Bulldogs and will likely take on a bigger role while multiple blueliners are in Minnesota. That might be best for his development – but Canadiens fans will still be disappointed.
Parascak is outstanding with the puck and is as smart as they come. But many scouts feel his feet and hands were often disconnected, and that his skating was his biggest detriment. There’s a lot to like about his game with the puck, but he still lacks refinement away from the puck. It almost felt like he was an outsider from the beginning. There wasn’t much he could have done to have changed that.
Walton was the second-highest-scoring OHLer who didn’t make the roster (behind New York Rangers prospect Nathan Aspinall). Walton had a breakthrough 38 goals and 92 points a year ago and is tracking for just fewer than 50 goals and 100 points in his fourth year with Sudbury. Walton has never represented Canada internationally, though, and that won’t change this year.
Xavier Villeneuve, D (2026 NHL Draft)
Many people had Villeneuve on their prospective rosters heading into December. Given his pure dominance in the QMJHL, it was hard to disagree. Standing at 5-foot-10, Villeneuve is one of the smallest defenders in the draft class. But skill-wise, he’s near the top. Villeneuve is tracking for 75 points with the Armada this year after putting up 62 last year. Add in great numbers at the U-18 World Championship, and it’s hard to argue that he isn’t one of the most skilled defenders Canada could have targeted. He’ll be a top-four defender for Canada next year.
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