# 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.
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).

## Roster
### IIHF U18 World Championships roster

Roster for the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships.
Head coach: Gardiner MacDougall
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
| 1 | G | Ryerson Leenders | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (2006-06-01) June 1, 2006 (age 18) | Mississauga Steelheads |
| 2 | D | Kashawn Aitcheson | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | (2006-09-21) September 21, 2006 (age 18) | Barrie Colts |
| 3 | D | Matthew Schaefer | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | (2007-09-05) September 5, 2007 (age 17) | Erie Otters |
| 4 | D | Harrison Brunicke | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | (2006-05-08) May 8, 2006 (age 18) | Kamloops Blazers |
| 5 | D | Henry Mews | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | (2006-03-09) March 9, 2006 (age 18) | Ottawa 67's |
| 6 | D | Reese Hamilton | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | (2007-03-26) March 26, 2007 (age 17) | Calgary Hitmen |
| 8 | D | Frankie Marrelli | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | (2006-02-16) February 16, 2006 (age 18) | Ottawa 67's |
| 9 | F | Gavin McKenna | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (2007-12-20) December 20, 2007 (age 16) | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| 10 | F | Marek Vanacker | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | (2006-04-12) April 12, 2006 (age 18) | Brantford Bulldogs |
| 11 | F | Malcolm Spence – A | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | (2006-09-22) September 22, 2006 (age 18) | Erie Otters |
| 12 | F | Maxim Massé | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | (2006-04-07) April 7, 2006 (age 18) | Chicoutimi Saguenéens |
| 13 | F | Roger McQueen | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (2006-10-02) October 2, 2006 (age 18) | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 14 | F | Jett Luchanko | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (2006-08-21) August 21, 2006 (age 18) | Guelph Storm |
| 16 | F | Ollie Josephson | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | (2006-07-22) July 22, 2006 (age 18) | Red Deer Rebels |
| 20 | D | Spencer Gill | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) | (2006-08-17) August 17, 2006 (age 18) | Rimouski Océanic |
| 21 | F | Ryder Ritchie | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | (2006-08-03) August 3, 2006 (age 18) | Prince Albert Raiders |
| 22 | F | Porter Martone – C | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 89 kg (196 lb) | (2006-10-26) October 26, 2006 (age 18) | Mississauga Steelheads |
| 23 | F | Carson Wetsch – A | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | (2006-05-04) May 4, 2006 (age 18) | Calgary Hitmen |
| 24 | F | Tij Iginla | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | (2006-08-04) August 4, 2006 (age 18) | Kelowna Rockets |
| 25 | F | Caleb Desnoyers | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 74 kg (163 lb) | (2007-04-11) April 11, 2007 (age 17) | Moncton Wildcats |
| 26 | F | Liam Greentree | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | (2006-01-01) January 1, 2006 (age 18) | Windsor Spitfires |
| 27 | D | Charlie Elick | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 91 kg (201 lb) | (2006-01-17) January 17, 2006 (age 18) | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 28 | F | Cole Beaudoin | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | (2006-04-24) April 24, 2006 (age 18) | Barrie Colts |
| 29 | G | Jack Ivankovic | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | (2007-05-22) May 22, 2007 (age 17) | Mississauga Steelheads |
| 30 | G | Carter George | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (2006-05-20) May 20, 2006 (age 18) | Owen Sound Attack |

### Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster

Roster for the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Head coach: Kris Mallette
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
| 1 | G | Jack Ivankovic | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) | (2007-05-22) May 22, 2007 (age 17) | Brampton Steelheads |
| 3 | D | Jackson Smith | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (2007-05-13) May 13, 2007 (age 17) | Tri-City Americans |
| 4 | D | Peyton Kettles | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (2007-09-01) September 1, 2007 (age 17) | Swift Current Broncos |
| 5 | D | Matthew Schaefer – C | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | (2007-09-05) September 5, 2007 (age 17) | Erie Otters |
| 6 | D | Reese Hamilton | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | (2007-03-26) March 26, 2007 (age 17) | Calgary Hitmen |
| 9 | F | Gavin McKenna – A | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | (2007-12-20) December 20, 2007 (age 16) | Medicine Hat Tigers |
| 10 | D | Quinn Beauschene | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (2007-03-01) March 1, 2007 (age 17) | Guelph Storm |
| 12 | D | Alex Huang | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | (2007-07-30) July 30, 2007 (age 17) | Chicoutimi Saguenéens |
| 14 | F | Jake O'Brien | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | (2007-06-16) June 16, 2007 (age 17) | Brantford Bulldogs |
| 16 | F | Brady Martin | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | (2007-03-16) March 16, 2007 (age 17) | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 17 | F | Émile Guité | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | (2007-05-31) May 31, 2007 (age 17) | Chicoutimi Saguenéens |
| 18 | F | Tyler Hopkins | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | (2007-01-23) January 23, 2007 (age 17) | Kingston Frontenacs |
| 19 | D | Cameron Reid | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (2007-04-08) April 8, 2007 (age 17) | Kitchener Rangers |
| 20 | F | Cole Reschny | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (2007-04-06) April 6, 2007 (age 17) | Victoria Royals |
| 21 | F | Ethan Czata | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | (2007-05-29) May 29, 2007 (age 17) | Niagara IceDogs |
| 22 | F | Benjamin Kindel | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (2007-04-19) April 19, 2007 (age 17) | Calgary Hitmen |
| 23 | F | Cameron Schmidt | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) | 69 kg (152 lb) | (2007-01-19) January 19, 2007 (age 17) | Vancouver Giants |
| 24 | F | Liam Kilfoil | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (2007-03-21) March 21, 2007 (age 17) | Halifax Mooseheads |
| 26 | F | Luca Romano | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | (2007-06-25) June 25, 2007 (age 17) | Kitchener Rangers |
| 27 | F | Caleb Desnoyers – A | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) | (2007-04-11) April 11, 2007 (age 17) | Moncton Wildcats |
| 29 | F | Braeden Cootes | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | (2007-02-09) February 9, 2007 (age 17) | Seattle Thunderbirds |
| 30 | G | Lucas Beckman | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | (2007-08-23) August 23, 2007 (age 17) | Baie-Comeau Drakkar |