Canada’s National Junior Team is gearing up for the highly anticipated 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) officially announcing its leadership group on December 19, 2024. Leading the team will be Brayden Yager from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, who has been named captain. Joining him as alternate captains are Tanner Molendyk of the Saskatoon Blades and Calum Ritchie from the Oshawa Generals.
Brayden Yager expressed his excitement about taking on this significant role, stating, "I am honoured to be named captain of Team Canada for the World Juniors on a team with so many great leaders, and I am excited for our group to take the ice in Ottawa and continue working toward our goal of winning a gold medal on home ice." The 19-year-old forward, who hails from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has previously proven his leadership abilities on the ice and is one of four returnees from last year’s squad.
During the past season, Yager showcased his skills with impressive stats, securing 34 points through 23 games split between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Lethbridge. His record includes 12 goals and 22 assists, and throughout his career, Yager has collected multiple WHL accolades, including being named Rookie of the Year and receiving the Sportsmanlike Player of the Year award consecutively.
Tanner Molendyk, who will also don the ‘A’, is having another strong season, currently maintaining a point-per-game pace with 21 points—4 goals and 17 assists—in just 21 games. The defenceman from McBride, British Columbia, is set to represent Canada at the World Juniors for the first time after having been sidelined from the previous tournament due to injury. Last season, he achieved career highs with 56 points and stood out defensively with a remarkable plus/minus of 40.
Making his Junior Team debut is Calum Ritchie, whose scoring prowess has been evident this season, wherein he logged eight goals and 34 points across 18 games. The 19-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, led the Oshawa Generals to the OHL’s Eastern Conference title with an outstanding season, scoring 80 points, positioning himself as one of the top playmakers, and also previously shining on the international stage with gold and bronze medals from international tournaments.
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will take place from December 26 to January 5 in Ottawa, where excitement is building for Canada's participation. Canada will open the tournament against Finland at the Canadian Tire Centre at 7:30 p.m. ET. Their pre-tournament clashes will include matches against Switzerland on December 19, Sweden on December 21, and Czechia on December 23.
The young athletes are well aware of the expectations surrounding Canada’s junior team, particularly playing on home soil, and the hunger for gold remains strong. Hockey Canada and the CHL are thrilled about the names chosen for the leadership group, seeing them as pivotal to Canada's success.
The Canadian fans eagerly anticipate extensive coverage of the championship, as TSN and RDS are confirmed as Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, committed to airing all 29 tournament games along with all three pre-tournament match-ups. The excitement of watching these young talents compete for the coveted gold medal adds to the anticipation of the World Juniors.
Canada's roster will consist of 25 players, with the CHL providing over 95% of these athletes. Yager, Molendyk, and Ritchie will be key figures as the team aims for redemption following last year’s early exit from the tournament.
With the World Juniors just around the corner, all eyes will be on Team Canada and its newly appointed leadership group as they prepare to take on the rest of the world. Hockey enthusiasts are eager to see how their skills and cohesion on ice translate to success.
