One returnee among group headed to Germany to defend gold medal

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has unveiled the 25 players named to Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team for the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship, April 23-May 1 in Landshut and Kaufbeuren, Germany.

The three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards who will look to defend Canada’s 2021 gold medal were selected by Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), manager of hockey operations, with assistance from Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of hockey operations.

The roster includes one player who won gold at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship (Bedard), three players who participated in the 2021 Capital City Challenge (Dragicevic, Howe, Wood) and three players who won bronze at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games (Delic, Fantilli, Fimis).

“We are excited to unveil the 25 players that will wear the Maple Leaf at the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship and take on the challenge of winning a second-consecutive gold medal,” said Millar. “For many of these players, this is the first time they will represent their country in international competition, and we know they are excited for the opportunity to compete on the world stage.”

Canada will open the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship against the United States on April 23 at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT, and will also take host Germany on April 24 and Czechia on April 26.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast 13 games throughout the tournament, including all Team Canada preliminary-round games, four quarterfinals, both semifinals, and the bronze and gold medal games.

Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), in addition to one silver (2005) and three bronze (2012, 2014, 2015).

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.

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