Smith, Martin top eligibles for Canada at U18 Worlds

Jackson Smith and Brady Martin will lead Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Smith, no. 15 in FCHockey’s Spring ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft, led all draft-eligible defensemen in the Western Hockey League in scoring with 54 points (11 goals, 43 assists) in 68 games with Tri-City. He had three points, all assists, in five games with Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Martin, ranked no. 18, had 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists) in 57 games with Sault Ste. Marie in the Ontario Hockey League. He also had four assists in five games for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The U18 Worlds will be held in Frisco and Allen Texas from April 23 to May 3.

Canada’s entry at the tournament is comprised entirely of players skating in the Canadian Hockey League this season.

Joining Smith and Martin is Braeden Cootes, Cameron Schmidt, and Cole Reschny.

Cootes, ranked no. 22, had 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 60 games with Seattle in the WHL. Schmidt, ranked no. 24, had 78 points (40 goals, 38 assists) in 61 games with Vancouver in the WHL. Reschny, ranked no. 25, was second amongst draft-eligibles in scoring in the WHL with 92 points (26 goals, 66 assists) in 62 games with Victoria.

Here is who will compete for Canada at the U18 Worlds:

Forwards

Braeden Cootes (Seattle, WHL);  Ethan Czata (Niagara, OHL);  Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia, OHL); Beckham Edwards (Sarnia, OHL);  Matthew Gard (Red Deer, WHL);  Lev Katzin (Guelph, OHL);  Liam Kilfoil (Halifax, QMJHL);   Tyler Hopkins (Kingston, OHL);  Brady Martin (Sault Ste. Marie (OHL);  Jack Nesbitt (Windsor, OHL);  Cole Reschny (Victoria, WHL);  Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara, OHL);  Lucas Sawchyn (Edmonton, WHL);  Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver, WHL).

Defensemen

Quinn Beauchesne (Guelph, OHL);  Carson Carels (Prince George, WHL);  Alex Huang (Chicoutimi, QMJHL);  Ryan Lin (Vancouver, WHL);  Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert, WHL);  Jackson Smith (Tri-City, WHL);  Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria, WHL);  Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL).

Goaltenders

Lucas Beckman (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL); Burke Hood (Vancouver, WHL); Jack Ivankovic (Brampton, OHL).

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