Yahoo Sports What Canada Fans Can Anticipate From OHL Players At The World Junior Championship
As the World Junior Championship approaches, Canadian hockey fans should prepare for an extraordinary display of talent from OHL players like Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie, and projected top pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Matthew Schaefer.
These young stars are more than just athletes; they are the heartbeat of Canadian hockey, poised to shine on the international stage. Expect them to deliver heart-pounding action and skill that will captivate audiences. Their speed, tenacity, and commitment will not only ignite pride but also create unforgettable moments as they compete for glory.
Below we look at the 14 OHL players on Team Canada and what fans can expect to see from them as they look to bring the gold back to home soil.
Related: Team Canada's World Junior Roster Revealed & Dominated By 14 OHL Players
Forwards
#27 Easton Cowan - London Knights
Easton Cowan scored once and had one assist in five games at the 2024 World Juniors. His redemption arc is starting, evident with his spectacular play in the pre-tournament exhibition games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect led Canada with four goals and is ready to drive the offense for this team. Expectations are high for the young man. He is expected to lead this time offensively, drive play at 5-on-5, take advantage of powerplay opportunities, and kill penalties. While Canada needs him to produce, the fans will come to love his dog-on-a-bone mentality and his relentless work ethic when his team doesn’t have the puck.
Easton Cowan = 🎩🎩🎩#WorldJuniors | #MondialJuniorpic.twitter.com/8Sqyl47U9a
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 20, 2024
#21 Calum Ritchie - Oshawa Generals
Apart from Cowan, no Canadian player scored more points in the pre-tournament games than Colorado Avalanche top prospect Calum Ritchie. Canada fans wondering who may be a game-breaking talent on this team, you got one here in the Oshawa Generals centerman.
Ritchie’s manipulative stickhandling skills and impressive playmaking vision make him an offensive threat. His ability to break down defenses and thread passes through seams will be important in Canada’s success in this tournament. If he and Cowan have difficulty producing results, Canada will face significant challenges.
Calum Ritchie with the no-look pass. pic.twitter.com/U8hUMtFAFi
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) December 24, 2024
#12 Jett Luchanko - Guelph Storm
The Guelph Storm center, Jett Luchanko, had a taste of what the NHL was like before returning to junior. The experience and knowledge he absorbed while with the Flyers will be important to transfer into this tournament.
Luchanko should play the role of an important middle-of-the-lineup center who will be used in defensive situations. He’s arguably one of the team’s best 200-foot players. Tons of mistakes that happen at the World Juniors. He doesn’t make mistakes, has incredible attention to detail, and puck management. I wouldn’t expect him to rack up the points, but be that under-the-radar, all-around solid player on the third line.
#13 Luca Pinelli - Ottawa 67’s
Will Luca Pinelli start the tournament playing alongside talented linemates Berkly Catton and Gavin McKenna? He certainly has fought and earned his spot on Canada’s roster, but where he slots in will be a question mark.
There’s reason to believe the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect would thrive playing with Catton and McKenna. Pinelli is a workhorse and has a tireless motor. He’s a vicious forechecker and although small in stature, he’s more than willing to run straight through his man. If he can be the guy to force turnovers, get pucks back, and then get them in the hands of his talented linemates, he’ll stay. But if he struggles out of the gate to do that, he could quickly find himself as the odd man out.
#26 Cole Beaudoin - Barrie Colts
Cole Beaudoin said at the NHL draft combine that he likes to model his game after Boone Jenner. Most young players choose a superstar. He picked a tenacious two-way, grinder center. Why? Because that’s exactly who Cole Beaudoin is, and better yet, he knows it.
The Barrie Colts forward doesn’t have a for-sure spot in Canada’s four forward lines. He may be the 13th forward to start, but could easily move up into a full-time fourth-line role. His physical and defensive presence fit a fourth-line player extremely well. He will wear down the opposition and make their lives a living hell.
Related: Cole Beaudoin Wants To Bring His 200-Foot Game to World Junior Championship Squad
#16 Carson Rehkopf - Brampton Steelheads
Carson Rehkopf is a returnee to Team Canada, but he has bounced around from line to line in practice and the pre-tournament games. Is he going to play on the third line with Luchanko? Fourth line? Or potentially be the 13th forward?
I would be shocked if the Seattle Kraken prospect was the 13th forward. However, he needs to produce to solidify his spot in the lineup. He can use his size to play physically when he chooses to, but he’s known for being a goal-scorer. Canada will need him to provide secondary scoring. Rehkopf is adept at finding the soft spots in coverage and then wastes no time getting his quick snappy release off.
#22 Porter Martone - Brampton Steelheads
The projected top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Porter Martone, is ready to increase his draft stock at the World Juniors. But where does he fit in Canada’s lineup?
Martone recorded two assists playing on a line with Berkly Catton and his Steelheads teammate Rehkopf in Canada’s first pre-tournament game against Switzerland. He missed their next game against Sweden due to a “maintenance day” and then played in their final tune-up match against Czechia on a line with Tanner Howe and captain Brayden Yager.
He’s got an incredible combination of size and elite skill. He can be a game-breaker. However, he’s young and can force the offense too much at times, leading to turnovers. Even if he struggles to produce, he can use his physical abrasiveness to be an effective energy guy for the team.
Defensemen
#25 Matthew Schaefer - Erie Otters
Matthew Schaefer didn’t just make Team Canada as a 17-year-old. He made the team with a very good chance of playing a top-four role for them. Hockey fans, get ready to be blown away by what this young man can do. He’s the ultimate package and play controller on the backend. His skating is already at an elite NHL level.
The projected top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft recorded three assists in the pre-tournament matches. It looks like he will quarterback the projected top powerplay unit. Expect him to make his mark in the transition game, move pucks north swiftly for his team, and jump up into the attack regularly. Schaefer seems to always know where everyone is on the ice and is an extremely efficient puck facilitator.
#5 Oliver Bonk - London Knights
Schaefer’s projected defense partner is the steady-eddie Oliver Bonk, a perfect partner for the 17-year-old. Bonk’s expertise stems from his defensive awareness, positioning, and checking skills. He can let Schaefer make the plays with the puck while he does the heavy lifting on the defensive side of the puck. Bonk is a returnee and you can expect he’ll have that same level of motivation to redeem himself and play with a ton of intensity. He'll want to keep his play with the puck in his own zone simple.
#3 Sam Dickinson - London Knights
Sam Dickinson has been unreal in the OHL this season for the London Knights. Like Schaefer, he can go end-to-end and pull off highlight-reel plays. If Schaefer struggles, I would assume Dickinson will quickly jump up and take his spot alongside his London teammate Bonk.
The San Jose Sharks first-rounder appears to be starting on the team’s third pair alongside either Beau Akey or Sawyer Mynio. He needs to ensure he uses his feet to make clean breakouts and effectively use his big body to close gaps and rub players out of the play along the boards. Dickinson is a threatening skater with the puck, but he may held in check by the coaching staff in the tournament based on some comments made by Head Coach Dave Cameron already.
Related: "Continual Growth" Resulting In Sam Dickinson's Phenomenal Start
#2 Andrew Gibson - Soo Greyhounds
Tanner Molendyk is a smooth-skating, puck-moving, offensive defenseman. What does he need? A stay-at-home defense partner. Molendyk, say hello to Andrew Gibson, the man who cleans up mistakes and takes out the trash.
Ironically, both Molendyk and Gibson are prospects for the Nashville Predators. The Soo Greyhounds defender is going to stir up trouble. He’s a throwback defenseman who loves to play a gritty style of hockey. Physicality is his second language. A championship-winning team needs a right-shot defenseman who will sacrifice his body and do the dirty work. That’s what will be expected out of Gibson. Kill penalties, be physical, and shut down the opposition's best players.
#8 Beau Akey - Barrie Colts
Akey may serve as Dickinson’s defensive partner or be the seventh defenseman, thereby replacing Caden Price in the lineup. Or Price replaces him. Either way, Akey isn’t projected to have a big role in Canada’s lineup.
However, the Edmonton Oilers prospect can boost the team's transition game and rush defense. Akey’s greatest strength is his skating. He’s incredibly mobile and smooth skating backwards and when pivoting. He can take away his opponents’ time and space swiftly and use his separation speed to drive pucks out of his zone.
Goaltenders
#30, Carter George - Owen Sound Attack
Carter George has an exceptionally impressive reputation for performing at a high level when wearing the Canadian flag. He's won gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and at the 2024 U18 World Junior Championship as the starter.
George was flat-out sensational in the U18 gold medal game against USA and was a major factor in why they won. He's a tactical goalie who is used to facing a heavy workload in Owen Sound (averages 34 shots against per game) and has the athleticism to make big-timely saves. George should be the starter for Team Canada. He stopped 32 of 34 shots in his pre-tournament appearances in the crease.
#1, Jack Ivankovic - Brampton Steelheads
Jack Ivankovic has transformed his unexpected invitation to camp into a spot on the roster, and at just 17 years old, he may even become the backup to George. Hockey Canada clearly has a strong belief in this young player.
Ivankovic has an impressive track record of winning as his team's starter. He won gold at the Canada Winter Games for Team Ontario, gold at the 2023 U17 World Hockey Challenge, gold and was the tournament best goaltender at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and he was the third-string goalie at the 2024 U18 World Junior Championship. He possesses that winning mentality you want from a goalie in a short tournament.
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