The 2025 Canadian World Juniors squad is set to see many new faces, with only seven players who played in 2024 eligible to return. This provides the Team Canada brass a fairly clean slate when it comes to creating their roster. Last year, the team had a disappointing tournament, failing to capture a medal for the first time since 2019.
Canada always has incredibly high expectations heading into the World Juniors, but this is especially true after the poor showing in 2024. In terms of Ontario-born players, there are a lot of exciting potential players who could play key roles on the team. There are a few returnees eligible, some high picks in 2023/2024, and some exciting 2025 draft prospects that could have helped Canada attempt to win gold. Out of eligible Ontarians, these are the players near the top of my list.
First up, we’ll start with the returnees:
Easton Cowan, F
DOB: May 20, 2005
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185lbs
Position: C/W
Easton Cowan was the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 2024 OHL Playoffs MVP and Most Outstanding Player award recipient has a great chance at a do-over. Much like the team, Cowan had a fairly underwhelming showing last year, with only a goal and assist through five tournament games. This year after being sent back to the London Knights, he’s eclipsed Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour’s OHL-record 54-game point streak.
Cowan plays a high-energy style of game, coupled with his impressive on-ice vision. He has all the tools to be an impactful player for Canada at this tournament. He is capable of logging a ton of minutes on both the powerplay and penalty kill. Cowan should be a returnee and should play a major role with Canada this year.
Carson Rehkopf, F
DOB: January 7, 2005
Height: 6-2
Weight: 201lbs
Position: LW/C
Carson Rehkopf was picked in the second round by the Seattle Kraken in 2023. He is a returnee but had a much better showing at the 2024 WJC than the aforementioned Cowan. Through five games, he scored two goals and two assists. In league play, he was a standout on a dominant Kitchener Rangers team, scoring 52 goals and 95 points in 60 games played.
Rehkopf is one of the OHL’s most lethal goal-scorers with the ability to rip the puck. He combines this with the skill needed to dangle opponents, open up space, and create chances. In the right situation, he could be a big point producer for Canada and a key part of their offence.
Oliver Bonk, D
DOB: January 9, 2005
Height: 6-2
Weight: 198lbs
Position: RHD
A first-round pick, 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023, Oliver Bonk is another returnee for Team Canada at the 2025 WJC. His performance over his OHL career has made him one of the better defensive prospects in the league with a solid two-way game.
Last year for Canada, Bonk played a more sheltered third-pair role with some power-play usage. He produced three helpers in his five games played. This season, as the only blueliner eligible to return, I expect that he would play a larger role for the team. His defensive abilities should earn him time on the penalty kill and as a top-four guy who can match up against other countries’ top players.
These are the only three players eligible to return from the Ontario region and all three should be impact players on the squad. Luckily for Canada, there is an embarrassment of riches and plenty of candidates to make the cut. Below I will go through quite a few more players. It will be a mix of 2023/2024 draftees and a couple 2025 Draft eligible players. Starting from the net out:
Carter George, G
DOB: May 20, 2006
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190lbs
Position: G
Carter George was a second-round pick, 57th overall by the Los Angeles Kings at the 2024 NHL Draft. Despite playing for a struggling Owen Sound Attack club, he is a bright spot on the roster and one of the main reasons the team stays in games many nights. He is a relatively small goaltender by conventional standards, but he’s a strong netminder who has a history of playing a starting role for Canada at international tournaments. For example, in last season’s U-18 WJC and Hlinka Gretzky Cup, George captured gold both times as well as earning top goaltender honours at the U-18s.
George was one of four goalies named to the World Junior Summer Showcase. This signals that he is in the running for a job this winter. Although the starter’s net will be won in training camp and mostly preliminary round matches, if the early season performances are any indication, George seems to have a good shot at winning the top job. He will be facing heavy competition from other netminders throughout the CHL, such as the WHL’s Scott Ratzlaff and Carson Bjarnason. Additionally, fellow OHLer and 2025 Draft-eligible Jack Ivankovic made Team Canada’s preliminary camp. Given there has not been a draft-eligible goaltender to make the cut in years, I do not expect Ivankovic to make it. He will surely be a staple for the next two years, though.
Sam Dickinson, D
DOB: June 7, 2006
Height: 6-3
Weight: 209lbs
Position: LHD
Dickinson is a smooth-skating, two-way defender who is not only leading all defencemen in OHL scoring but is also among the top producers in the league overall. He was seen as a top-10 pick by many publications heading into the 2024 NHL Draft but fell to 11th overall and was snapped up by the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.
The 18-year-old defender is the #1 on one of the best teams in the CHL, consistently logging over 30 minutes a night and playing on both special teams. He boasts the size and skill to be a top-pair defender for Canada at the WJC and should be a near-lock to make the cut.
Zayne Parekh, D
DOB: February 15, 2006
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185lbs
Position: RHD
Zayne Parekh was the third defenceman chosen in the 2024 Draft and the first from the OHL, being taken ninth overall by the Calgary Flames. The right-shot defender took off last year, scoring 33 goals and 63 assists for 96 points in 66 games. He won the 2024 Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit. His play earned him a bunch of individual hardware such as the OHL and CHL Defenseman of the Year. So far this year, he has shown no signs of slowing down, being on pace for over 90 points.
Parekh is one of Canada’s most dynamic defencemen, possessing elite vision and creativity that he uses to manipulate opponents and create offence. Thankfully, he was added late to the camp roster.
Calum Ritchie, F
DOB: January 21, 2005
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190lbs
Position: C
The Oshawa Generals brass was probably very excited when the Colorado Avalanche sent their 27th overall pick in 2023 back to the OHL after a seven-game stint with the club. Since returning, Calum Ritchie has scored at a 2.0 point-per-game rate, further solidifying his position as one of the best players in junior hockey.
Ritchie is an incredibly smart player whose defining attribute is his high-end playmaking ability, as evidenced by his 52 assists in only 50 games last year. His skill level mixed with his size, defensive acumen, and center-ice playing position should make him highly coveted by Hockey Canada. He has represented Canada twice before at the U-18 WJC and Hlinka Gretzky to great success. Ritchie was one of Canada’s most productive players at both tournaments. He won gold and led the tournament in scoring at the Hlinka Gretzky. Ritchie seems like a lock for Canada at this winter’s World Juniors.
Beckett Sennecke, F
DOB: January 28, 2006
Height: 6-4
Weight: 194lbs
Position: RW
Beckett Sennecke was the surprise of the 2024 NHL Draft when the Anaheim Ducks chose him third overall. He boasts a large 6-4 and 194 lbs frame while having the individual skill and production to be one of the OHL’s top forwards. He is on pace to produce nearly 90 points this year, a solid jump from his 68 points in 63 games last season.
His only experience at the international level was at the 2022-23 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. There, he represented Canada White and notched three assists in five games. Sennecke was also a late-add to the camp roster.
Jett Luchanko, F
DOB: August 21, 2006
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190lbs
Position: C
In the earlier parts of the season, it looked like Jett Luchanko may have been staying in the NHL for the year, following in the footsteps of former teammate Matthew Poitras. After only a four-game stint with the Philadelphia Flyers, he was sent back to the Guelph Storm. Drafted 13th overall in 2024, Luchanko seemed like a bit of a reach on the draft floor. Yet, it’s not hard to see the positives that GM Daniel Briere and the Flyers scouts saw.
Luchanko is a fast player who plays with good pace and has an IQ that puts him above many players his age. He is consistently making small plays that advance the puck up ice for his team. He also has a history of representing Canada at both the U-17 World Hockey Challenge and the U-18s. He won gold and scored seven points in as many games at the latter. If selected for the World Juniors, Luchanko would be a valuable piece, capable of playing centre and killing penalties.
After the returnees and drafted players, there is one draft-eligible player that I predict has a chance at being an impact player. It is always hard to project due to the fact that Team Canada tends to bring very few draft-eligibles. Since 2010, Canada has only brought 18, but with a few set to attend camp this year, they could buck the trend.
Porter Martone, F
DOB: October 26, 2006
Height: 6-3
Weight: 207lbs
Position: RW
Right behind Michael Misa for second in OHL scoring is 2025 draft-eligible Brampton Steelheads winger Porter Martone. He has even more experience than Misa on the international stage, having played at both of the same tournaments as him, but he has also represented the nation at two U-18s. In 2023, he scored six points in seven games at the U-18s, but earlier this year, he was team captain and had 17 points in seven games. His trophy case is already stocked full with U-17 silver, U-18 bronze, Hlinka Gretzky gold, and U-18 gold.
Martone is a playmaking power forward who boasts great size at 6-3, 207 lbs. He’s drawn comparisons to players such as Matthew Tkachuk for his similar playstyle and high-end individual skills. His size and skills give him the ability to play in multiple scenarios and positions on the ice. If he can make the cut after camp, he should be a useful piece for the team.
Omissions
After Team Canada announced their 2025 World Juniors camp roster, many picked the list apart and felt that there were a number of players wrongfully omitted. On my own personal list, there were a few players that I felt deserved a look at who were not selected to attend camp. Starting from the defence to the forwards, here are the players who I feel were notable omissions.
Luca Marrelli, D
DOB: October 4, 2005
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185lbs
Position: RHD
The Toronto-born right-shot defenceman was chosen in the third round, 86th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024. Luca Marrelli has seen a major jump in production this season for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, currently ranking second in points by defencemen.
Marrelli has a very mature, aggressive, two-way style and boasts a solid 6-2 185lbs frame that allows him to challenge opponents at this stage. His boost in numbers and his style of play stood out to me and I figured he would have been given a chance to play in camp.
Michael Hage, F
DOB: April 14, 2006
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190lbs
Position: C/W
Selected 21st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2024, Michael Hage has been a dominant force for the University of Michigan Wolverines as a Freshman in the NCAA. Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Hage is eligible to represent Canada but has yet to in previous international tournaments.
Hage plays the always coveted centre position, revolving his game around his high intelligence and elite vision. He is a dual-threat player on offense while supporting this with adept defensive play. With proven scoring abilities against mature opponents, as well as at the junior level, I thought Hage would have been a worthy candidate for Team Canada. However, his lack of international experience with the organization seems to indicate a different view from Team Canada’s brass.
Michael Misa, F
DOB: February 16, 2007
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185lbs
Position: C
Michael Misa is the eighth player to be granted exceptional status in CHL history, being chosen by the Saginaw Spirit first overall at the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Now, Misa is in his NHL DY and has set the league and draft rankings on fire by putting his name firmly into the conversation for first overall in June. As of right now, the Spirit forward leads the OHL in scoring and is hovering around 2.0 points per game as a 17-year-old.
Misa is a dual-threat center, proficient at both playmaking and scoring himself. He is an elite skater with the intelligence to consistently drive play. In terms of international experience, Misa has about as much as he can given his age. He has represented Canada twice at the U-17 and Hlinka Gretzky winning silver and gold, respectively. Both times, Misa was one of Canada’s better performers finishing top-four in team scoring.
It’s not particularly common for draft-eligible players to make the Team Canada roster, but with his scoring rate and overall phenomenal play this year, Misa should have gotten some consideration, at least.
Liam Greentree, F
DOB: January 1, 2006
Height: 6-3
Weight: 216lbs
Position: LW
The Windsor Spitfires captain boasts a unique skillset which led to him being drafted 26th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2024. Last season, Liam Greentree was named captain of his team and had the most productive DY of any Spitfires player since Taylor Hall in 2010. This year, Greentree is on pace to eclipse the 100-point mark and surely rank amongst the top in league scoring.
Greentree has represented Canada in the past at both the U-18s and Hlinka Gretzky, capturing gold both times. His toolkit lends itself well to being used in a versatile role. Greentree is capable of being a play-driver or power forward and can play on either or both special teams units and on all four forward lines. Had he been chosen, Greentree would have undoubtedly been a valuable piece.
Malcolm Spence, F
DOB: September 22, 2006
Height: 6-2
Weight: 201lbs
Position: LW
Malcolm Spence has a strong history of representing Canada, with great performances and gold medals at both the U-18 and Hlinka Gretzky tournaments. He has been a point-per-game player at both and has been a dominant force with his heavy forechecking game.
Spence boasts pro-ready size at 6-2, 201lbs, and uses it in a variety of ways, notably stripping pucks from unsuspecting players. He has a solid two-way game as well as adept offense. Namely, there’s his shot, which gives him the versatility to fit into any forward line and any special teams unit. Again, his history with Hockey Canada and making the World Junior Summer Showcase roster made his call seem likely. Unfortunately, the team decided to choose other 2025 draft-eligible players.
Conclusion
Canada has a large amount of talent spread out throughout the entire CHL, Jr. A, NCAA, USHL, and beyond. Many joke that Canada could ice at least two competitive teams to international tournaments, and it’s true. Some Ontario-based players that I left off this list that could have been in consideration include Ryerson Leenders (G), Henry Mews (RHD), Quinton Burns (LHD), Nick Lardis (F), Jacob Battaglia (F), Kevin He (F), Colby Barlow (F), and Anthony Romani (F).
Check back here at RecruitScouting.com for more coverage of the WJC, 2025 NHL Entry Draft, and beyond as the year goes on.
All statistics and information via eliteprospects.com