Canada’s roster for the world juniors is nearly set in stone.
Centre Jake O’Brien, winger Marek Vanacker and defenceman Jackson Smith were all returned to their club teams as Team Canada trims its roster ahead of the tournament puck drop, Hockey Canada announced Thursday.
With the decision to cut the three players, Canada needs to cut only a goalie in order to reach the tournament-mandated 25-player roster when the competition begins on Dec. 26.
All three players were held without a point in Wednesday’s pre-tournament exhibition game against Sweden in Kitchener.
O’Brien, 18, has enjoyed a productive season in the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs, tallying 11 goals and 35 assists in 27 games while helping his side to the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Toronto, Ont., native was selected eighth overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Smith, 18, made the decision to move to Penn State in the NCAA after spending his first three seasons of major-junior hockey in the WHL with the Tri-City Americans.
Playing alongside Gavin McKenna on the Nittany Lions, the Calgary, Alta., native has three goals and six assists in 14 games. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets 14th overall in 2025.
Vanacker, 19, plays with O’Brien on the Bulldogs in the OHL. He has 26 goals and 15 assists in 26 games, lining up primarily on O’Brien’s left wing on the top line.
The Delhi, Ont., native was selected 27th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Here’s how the Team Canada roster looks after the cuts:
Forwards: Michael Misa, Braeden Cootes, Gavin McKenna, Tij Iginla, Carter Bear, Jett Luchanko, Cole Reschny, Porter Martone, Sam O’Reilly, Liam Greentree, Caleb Desnoyers, Cole Beaudoin, Brady Martin, Michael Hage
Defencemen: Kashawn Aitcheson, Harrison Brunicke, Carson Carels, Cameron Reid, Ethan MacKenzie, Ben Danford, Zayne Parekh, Keaton Verhoeff
Goaltenders: Jack Ivankovic, Carter George, Joshua Ravensbergen
