Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team

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.

Canada
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Team Canada
(Équipe Canada)
AssociationHockey Canada
Head coachAlan Letang
AssistantsSylvain Favreau
Kris Mallette
CaptainCameron Allen
Top scorerJeff Friesen (9)
Team colours     
IIHF codeCAN
First international
 Russia 8 – 4 Canada 
(Piešťany, Slovakia; April 11, 2002)
Biggest win
 Canada 15 – 1 Denmark 
(České Budějovice, Czech Republic; April 18, 2005)
Biggest defeat
 Canada 0 – 8 Sweden 
(Porrentruy, Switzerland; April 20, 2023)
IIHF World U18 Championship
Appearances21 (first in 2002)
Best resultGold Gold: 5 (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021, 2024)
Medal record
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place2003 RussiaCanada
Gold medal – first place2008 RussiaCanada
Gold medal – first place2013 RussiaCanada
Gold medal – first place2021 USACanada
Gold medal – first place2024 FinlandCanada
Silver medal – second place2005 Czech RepublicCanada
Bronze medal – third place2012 Czech RepublicCanada
Bronze medal – third place2014 FinlandCanada
Bronze medal – third place2015 SwitzerlandCanada
Bronze medal – third place2023 SwitzerlandCanada
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold medal – first place1992Canada
Gold medal – first place1994Canada
Gold medal – first place1996Canada
Gold medal – first place1997Canada
Gold medal – first place1998Canada
Gold medal – first place1999Canada
Gold medal – first place2000Canada
Gold medal – first place2001Canada
Gold medal – first place2002Canada
Gold medal – first place2004Canada
Gold medal – first place2005Canada
Gold medal – first place2006Canada
Gold medal – first place2008Canada
Gold medal – first place2009Canada
Gold medal – first place2010Canada
Gold medal – first place2011Canada
Gold medal – first place2012Canada
Gold medal – first place2013Canada
Gold medal – first place2014Canada
Gold medal – first place2015Canada
Gold medal – first place2017Canada
Gold medal – first place2018Canada
Gold medal – first place2022Canada
Gold medal – first place2023Canada
Silver medal – second place1991 JapanCanada
Silver medal – second place1995 JapanCanada
Silver medal – second place2019Canada
Bronze medal – third place1993 JapanCanada

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 edit

IIHF U18 World Championships roster edit

Roster for the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships:

Head coach: Gardiner MacDougall

No.Pos.NameHeightWeightBirthdateTeam
1GRyerson Leenders1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)80 kg (180 lb) (2006-06-01) June 1, 2006 (age 18) Mississauga Steelheads
2DKashawn Aitcheson1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)87 kg (192 lb) (2006-09-21) September 21, 2006 (age 17) Barrie Colts
3DMatthew Schaefer1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)73 kg (161 lb) (2007-09-05) September 5, 2007 (age 16) Erie Otters
4DHarrison Brunicke1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)85 kg (187 lb) (2006-05-08) May 8, 2006 (age 18) Kamloops Blazers
5DHenry Mews1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)84 kg (185 lb) (2006-03-09) March 9, 2006 (age 18) Ottawa 67's
6DReese Hamilton1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)77 kg (170 lb) (2007-03-26) March 26, 2007 (age 17) Calgary Hitmen
8DFrankie Marrelli1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)85 kg (187 lb) (2006-02-16) February 16, 2006 (age 18) Ottawa 67's
9FGavin McKenna1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)83 kg (183 lb) (2007-12-20) December 20, 2007 (age 16) Medicine Hat Tigers
10FMarek Vanacker1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)77 kg (170 lb) (2006-04-12) April 12, 2006 (age 18) Brantford Bulldogs
11FMalcolm Spence1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)87 kg (192 lb) (2006-09-22) September 22, 2006 (age 17) Erie Otters
12FMaxim Massé1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)84 kg (185 lb) (2006-04-07) April 7, 2006 (age 18) Chicoutimi Saguenéens
13FRoger McQueen1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)86 kg (190 lb) (2006-10-02) October 2, 2006 (age 17) Brandon Wheat Kings
14FJett Luchanko1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)83 kg (183 lb) (2006-08-21) August 21, 2006 (age 17) Guelph Storm
16FOllie Josephson1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)82 kg (181 lb) (2006-07-22) July 22, 2006 (age 17) Red Deer Rebels
20DSpencer Gill1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)81 kg (179 lb) (2006-08-17) August 17, 2006 (age 17) Rimouski Océanic
21FRyder Ritchie1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)78 kg (172 lb) (2006-08-03) August 3, 2006 (age 17) Prince Albert Raiders
22FPorter Martone1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)89 kg (196 lb) (2006-10-26) October 26, 2006 (age 17) Mississauga Steelheads
23FCarson Wetsch1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)85 kg (187 lb) (2006-05-04) May 4, 2006 (age 18) Calgary Hitmen
24FTij Iginla1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)84 kg (185 lb) (2006-08-04) August 4, 2006 (age 17) Kelowna Rockets
25FCaleb Desnoyers1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)74 kg (163 lb) (2007-04-11) April 11, 2007 (age 17) Moncton Wildcats
26FLiam Greentree1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)90 kg (200 lb) (2006-01-01) January 1, 2006 (age 18) Windsor Spitfires
27DCharlie Elick1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)91 kg (201 lb) (2006-01-17) January 17, 2006 (age 18) Brandon Wheat Kings
28FCole Beaudoin1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)93 kg (205 lb) (2006-04-24) April 24, 2006 (age 18) Barrie Colts
29GJack Ivankovic1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)77 kg (170 lb) (2007-05-22) May 22, 2007 (age 17) Mississauga Steelheads
30GCarter George1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)83 kg (183 lb) (2006-05-20) May 20, 2006 (age 18) Owen Sound Attack

Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster edit

Roster for the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Head coach: Alan Letang

No.Pos.NameHeightWeightBirthdateTeam
1GRyerson Leenders1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)70 kg (150 lb) (2006-06-01) June 1, 2006 (age 18) Mississauga Steelheads
2DSam Dickinson – A1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)88 kg (194 lb) (2006-06-07) June 7, 2006 (age 18) London Knights
3DBen Danford1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)85 kg (187 lb) (2006-02-06) February 6, 2006 (age 18) Oshawa Generals
4DFrankie Marrelli1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)87 kg (192 lb) (2006-02-16) February 16, 2006 (age 18) Ottawa 67's
5DAnthony Cristoforo1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)82 kg (181 lb) (2006-02-23) February 23, 2006 (age 18) Windsor Spitfires
6DCharlie Elick1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)86 kg (190 lb) (2006-01-17) January 17, 2006 (age 18) Brandon Wheat Kings
7FMaxim Massé1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)82 kg (181 lb) (2006-04-07) April 7, 2006 (age 18) Chicoutimi Saguenéens
8FMalcolm Spence1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)81 kg (179 lb) (2006-09-22) September 22, 2006 (age 17) Erie Otters
9FJustin Poirier1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)82 kg (181 lb) (2006-09-04) September 4, 2006 (age 17) Baie-Comeau Drakkar
10FRoger McQueen1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)83 kg (183 lb) (2006-10-02) October 2, 2006 (age 17) Brandon Wheat Kings
11DHenry Mews1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)81 kg (179 lb) (2006-03-09) March 9, 2006 (age 18) Ottawa 67's
12FBerkly Catton – C1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)74 kg (163 lb) (2006-01-14) January 14, 2006 (age 18) Spokane Chiefs
13FJordan Gavin1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)66 kg (146 lb) (2006-11-13) November 13, 2006 (age 17) Tri-City Americans
14FRyder Ritchie1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)71 kg (157 lb) (2006-08-03) August 3, 2006 (age 17) Prince Albert Raiders
15FCole Beaudoin1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)91 kg (201 lb) (2006-04-24) April 24, 2006 (age 18) Barrie Colts
16FOllie Josephson1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)80 kg (180 lb) (2006-07-22) July 22, 2006 (age 17) Red Deer Rebels
17FPorter Martone – A1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)79 kg (174 lb) (2006-10-26) October 26, 2006 (age 17) Mississauga Steelheads
18FLiam Greentree1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)90 kg (200 lb) (2006-01-01) January 1, 2006 (age 18) Windsor Spitfires
19DZayne Parekh1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)77 kg (170 lb) (2006-02-15) February 15, 2006 (age 18) Saginaw Spirit
22FMichael Misa1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)73 kg (161 lb) (2007-02-16) February 16, 2007 (age 17) Saginaw Spirit
23FCarson Wetsch1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)84 kg (185 lb) (2006-05-04) May 4, 2006 (age 18) Calgary Hitmen
25FCayden Lindstrom1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)93 kg (205 lb) (2006-02-03) February 3, 2006 (age 18) Medicine Hat Tigers
30GGabriel D'Aigle1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)95 kg (209 lb) (2006-11-21) November 21, 2006 (age 17) Victoriaville Tigres
31GCarter George1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)73 kg (161 lb) (2006-05-20) May 20, 2006 (age 18) Owen Sound Attack

International competitions edit

IIHF World U18 Championships edit

Hlinka Gretzky Cup edit

References edit

  1. ^ "National Men's Under-18 Team". hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved 2011-01-04.

External links edit