Hockey Canada recently unveiled its combined 44-man rosters for the two teams it will send to this season’s U17 World Hockey Challenge. The links to those rosters can be found below. This year’s event will take place November 1-7 in Oakville, Ontario, and features 2010 birth-year (or younger) players eligible for the 2028 draft. While Canada fields two teams for the event (Red and White), the other participating countries – the US, Czechia, Finland & Sweden – each enters one squad in the tournament. As it has in prior tournaments, the United States will send its National Team Development Program squad, the roster for which also can be accessed using the below link.
With respect to the Team Canada rosters, four names jumped out to me during my review. The first is d-man Ryan Beaulieu, who is pulling double duty this season for St. Thomas in the GOHL and London in the OHL. The 16-year-old already has 5 points (2G 3A) in 5 games for his junior B club, highlighting why the GOHL is the OHL’s league of choice for player development. The second name is current USHL player Zaac Charbonneau, who I had the privilege of watching in that league’s annual Fall Classic several weeks ago. The ultra-talented forward already has 10 points (6G 4A) through 8 games this season. Finally, there are returning forwards Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue, who, unlike last year’s event, will be facing each other this season (Pue is on Red’s roster, Schultz White). The WHL Regina teammates have combined for 17 points through 7 games this season in league play.
Regarding Team USA, the player I’m most interested in seeing in Oakville is Joey Cullen, who earlier this season became the first sub-17-year-old player to ever play for the United States’ Hlinka Gretzky Cup squad. Much like older brother Wyatt (10th overall in 2026 to NSH), he has absolutely mesmerizing puck skills, and averaged a point-per-game for the Americans in Edmonton. He is committed to attending The University of Minnesota in 2027-28, forming a most productive tandem with his brother.
https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/roster/show/9554063?subseason=964212
