Liam Greentree headlines Canada entry for the 2024 World Under-18s
Liam Greentree, a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft, will headline Canada’s entry at the 2024 World Under-18s later this month.
The 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship will be held from April 25-May 5, in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.
Greentree, No. 14 in FCHockey’s Midterm ranking for the 2024 draft, led the Windsor Spitfires and finished tied for 11th in Ontario Hockey League scoring with 90 points (36 goals, 54 assists) in 64 games. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound right wing also helped Canada to gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup last August.
“Greentree was so effective this season because he was able to combine his skills and his physical traits to be an effective all-around player,” FCHockey’s chief Ontario scout Austin Broad said. “He has an elite shot and high-end puck skills, which make him a great offensive weapon, but he can attack the opposition in so many different ways that it is tough to defend against. Greentree can get to the slot with skill or with power, and has shown that he can do both at a high-end level.
“I think his draft stock has steadily rose because he was able to show he can handle the pressure of being Windsor’s best player and carrying that team on a nightly basis. He can play in all situations and play multiple roles in a lineup which will help him translate his game to the pro level rather smoothly in my opinion.”
Ryder Ritchie of the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League will join Greentree at the World Under-18’s.
Ritchie, ranked No. 22, had 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 47 games.
Charlie Elick (No. 31) of the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL, Cole Beaudoin (No. 45) of the Barrie Colts in the OHL, and Jett Luchanko (No. 47) of the Guelph Storm in the OHL and were also named to the team.
Berkly Catton (No. 5) of the Spokane Chiefs and Cayden Lindstrom (No. 7) of the Medicine Hat Tigers and were invited to play but are unable to participate.
Gavin McKenna, Lindstrom’s teammate in Medicine Hat, will play in the tournament. He’s projected to be a potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He’s joined by 2025 NHL Draft eligibles Kashawn Aitcheson of the Barrie Colts, Reese Hamilton of the Calgary Hitmen, Porter Martone of the Mississauga Steelheads and Roger McQueen of the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Here is set to suit up for Canada at the 2024 World Under-18s:
GOALTENDERS
Carter George, Owen Sound (OHL); Ryerson Leenders, Mississauga (OHL).
DEFENSE
Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie (OHL); Harrison Brunicke, Kamloops (WHL); Charlie Elick, Brandon (WHL); Spencer Gill, Rimouski (QMJHL); Reese Hamilton, Calgary (WHL); Matthew Schaefer, Erie (OHL).
FORWARDS
Cole Beaudoin, Barrie (OHL); Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton (QMJHL); Liam Greentree, Windsor (OHL); Jett Luchanko, Guelph (OHL); Porter Martone, Mississauga (OHL); Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat (WHL); Roger McQueen, Brandon (WHL); Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert (WHL); Marek Vanacker, Brantford (OHL); Malcolm Spence, Erie (OHL); Carson Wetsch, Calgary (WHL).