2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Updates

Day 8 — Nov. 11, 2023

Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver Giants / WHL) scored the game-winner 9:18 into overtime as Canada White edged the United States 2-1 to secure Canada’s first gold medal at the World U17 Hockey Challenge since 2015. Goaltender Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga Steelheads / OHL) was named Player of the Game for Canada White, as he turned aside 34-of-35 shots in the final. Ivankovic finished the tournament with a 2.51 GAA and a .923 SV%, the latter of which ranked first among all goalies at the World U17.

Joby Baumuller (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL) scored his first of the tournament on what was the first shot of the game for Canada White thanks to a great pass from Ethan Czata (Niagara IceDogs / OHL) who was credited with an assist.

With seven goals and 10 points in eight games, forward Émile Guité (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL) led Canada White in both of those categories. His seven goals were tied for the most of any skater at the World U17 tournament, while his 10 points placed him in a tie for second — they were just two points shy of tournament-leader William Moore from the United States.

Following their strong performance over the tournament, Guité, Ivankovic and defenceman Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters / OHL) of Canada White were all named to the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge All-Star team alongside one of Canada Red’s leading scorers — forward Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL).

John Dean (Don Mills, ON/Sault Ste Marie, OHL) served as the head coach of the champion Canada White squad, while Eric Bouchard (Montreal, QC/Shawinigan, QMJHL) and Brennan Sonne (Maple Ridge, BC/Saskatoon, WHL) were his assistant coaches (STATS / CANADA WHITE ROSTER).

Day 7 — Nov. 10, 2023

Propelled by four consecutive goals in the second period, Canada White punched its ticket to Saturday’s gold medal game by defeating Sweden 6-1 on Friday night. Leading the way for Canada White was once again Émile Guité (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL), who led all scorers with three points (2G-1A). Guité scored his two goals just 22 seconds apart from one another towards the end of the second frame.

Right behind him was Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver Giants / WHL) who tallied a pair of goals, while Owen Griffin (Oshawa Generals / OHL) and Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL) each registered two points (1G-1A) as well.

Cole Temple (Regina Pats / WHL) also had a pair of points with two assists on the night. Canada White netminder Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga Steelheads / OHL) was once again stellar, turning aside 37 of the 38 shots Sweden threw his direction. Guité’s three-point night pushes his total 10 points (7G-3A) through seven games in the tournament — the most goals and points of any skater on Canada White.

Canada White will now face the United States in the gold medal game on Saturday at 5 p.m. AT in Charlottetown (STATS / SCHEDULE).

Earlier in the day, Nathan Lecompte (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL) tallied the winner in overtime as Canada Red edged Finland 5-4 to secure fifth place at the World U17 Hockey Challenge. Both Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs / OHL) and Ryan Brown (Sarnia Sting / OHL) recorded a goal and assist, while Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada / QMJHL) had a pair of helpers in Canada Red’s victory.

Between the pipes, Canada Red netminder Isaac Gravelle (Oshawa Generals / OHL) made 31 saves. Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) registered an assist on the game-winning goal and Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals / WHL) scored one of his own — bringing both players to eight points in seven games at the World U17 tournament. McKenna (5G-3A) and Reschny (3G-5A) both finished the event as the leading scorers for Canada Red (STATS / SCHEDULE).

Day 6 — Nov. 9, 2023

In an all-Canadian quarterfinal clash in Charlottetown, Émile Guité (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL) scored the overtime winner to give Canada White a 3-2 victory against Canada Red. Canada White captain Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters / OHL) registered an assist on the game-winning goal, while Mateo Nobert (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada / QMJHL) tallied a goal to help book his team a place in Friday’s semifinals.

Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds / OHL) and Chase Harrington (Spokane Chiefs / WHL) were the goal scorers for Canada Red on Thursday night. 

Canada Red netminder William Lacelle (Rimouski Océanic / QMJHL) and Canada White goalie Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga Steelheads / OHL), who were both named the Player of the Game for their respective teams, were excellent. Lacelle made 27 saves, while Ivankovic turned aside 31 of the 33 shots he faced to lift Canada White to victory.

By scoring on Thursday night, Guité is now up to seven points (5G-2A) through six games, which is the most of any skater on Canada White. Additionally, Guité’s five goals place him in a tie for second among all players at the World U17 Hockey Challenge — a group that includes Canada Red’s Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) who also sits at five goals and two assists for the tournament.

Canada White will next play Sweden on Friday (Nov. 10) at 7 p.m. AT for a chance to play in the gold medal game, while Canada Red will face Finland in the fifth place game scheduled for 1 p.m. AT on Friday (Nov. 10) (STATS / SCHEDULE).

Day 5 — Nov. 7, 2023

Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) potted his fifth goal of the tournament in overtime to help lift Canada Red (1-2-2-0) to a 4-3 win against the United States on Tuesday night. Nathan Lecompte (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL) led all scorers with a pair of points (0G-2A), while Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds / OHL), Braeden Cootes (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL), and Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs / OHL) tallied the other markers for Canada Red.

After allowing two goals in the first period, netminder Isaac Gravelle (Oshawa Generals / OHL) turned aside 16-of-17 shots the rest of the way to help Canada Red to victory. McKenna’s five goals during the tournament currently place him in a tie for second, trailing only Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg (6 goals). McKenna and Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals / WHL), who recorded an assist on McKenna’s GWG tonight, both continue to pace Canada Red with seven points.

Meanwhile, in Summerside, Canada White (0-2-2-1) tallied three third-period goals but ultimately fell 5-3 to Finland on Tuesday. Émile Guité (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL), Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters / OHL), and Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL) each registered a goal for Canada White, while Tyler Hopkins (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL), Cole Temple (Regina Pats / WHL) and Alex Huang (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL) each tallied an assist.

Guité leads all Canada White scorers with six points (4G-2A) through five games at the U17 World Hockey Challenge. 

With Canada Red placing third and Canada White in sixth following round-robin play, the pair of Canadian teams will face-off in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 7 p.m. AT for a spot in Friday’s semifinals (STATS / SCHEDULE).

Day 4 — Nov. 6, 2023

Émile Guité (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL) registered a goal and a pair of assists, while his Saguenéens teammate Alex Huang (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL) scored the shootout winner, as Canada White (0-2-1-1) rallied from behind to snap the United States (3-0-0-1) three-game winning streak with a 4-3 shootout victory.

Tyler Hopkins (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL) tallied two helpers. Blake Fiddler (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) and Cole Temple (Regina Pats / WHL) potted the other goals for Canada White against Team USA. Lethbridge 2022 third-round pick Koen Cleaver (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL) came on in relief, stopping all nine shots he faced and three more in the shootout for the victory. Canada White next faces Finland (1-0-2-1) on Tuesday (Nov. 7) at 7 p.m. AT.

Meanwhile, Canada Red (1-1-2-0) was bested 8-5 by Sweden (2-0-1-1) on Monday. Braeden Cootes (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL), Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) and Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals / WHL) each recorded a goal and an assist for Canada Red. Owen Conrad (Charlottetown Islanders / QMJHL) and Jackson Smith (Tri-City Americans / WHL) chipped in with two assists each.

McKenna (4G-2A) and Reschny (2G-4A) each have six points through four games, placing them both in a tie for fifth among all skaters at the tournament. McKenna’s four goals also rank second in the tournament behind only Sweden’s Ivar Stenberg (6 goals). Canada Red is back on the ice Tuesday (Nov. 7) at 7 p.m. AT for a matchup against the United States.

Day 3 — Nov. 4, 2023

Cameron Reid (KIT) scored the overtime winner as Canada White edged past Sweden 4-3.

Reid scored the winner at 3:55 while Caleb Desnoyers (MON), Emile Guite (CHI) and Cole Temple (REG) scored in regulation. Jack Ivankovic (MISS) made 12 saves in relief of Koen Cleaver (LET), who also stopped 12 shots.

In their third game of the tournament, Canada Red were shutout 4-0 by Czechia. Oshawa Generals draft pick Isaac Gravelle made 17 saves in defeat as Canada Red dropped to 2-1-0 in the tournament.

Day 2 — Nov. 3, 2023

Canada Red claimed bragging rights over Canada White as Luca Romano (KIT) scored the game-winner in a 4-3 victory.

Cole Reschny (VIC), Gavin McKenna (MH) and Ryan Brown (SAR) also scored for Canada Red while William Lacelle (RIM) stopped 21 shots.

Emile Guite (CHI) and Cameron Schmidt (VAN) had given Canada White a 2-0 lead inside the opening 4:26 before Canada Red rattled off three straight goals. Schmidt’s second goal of the game tied things up at 7:10 of the third before Romano scored the decider at 12:23.

Day 1 — Nov. 2, 2023

Canada Red got their tournament off to a perfect start after a 3-2 shootout victory over Finland.

Gavin McKenna (MH) scored twice for Canada Red in regulation, as well as in the shootout, alongside Cole Reschny (VIC) and Braeden Cootes (SEA). William Lacelle, the 10th overall pick by Rimouski in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, made 24 saves as Canada won in the fifth round of the shootout.

In their tournament opener, Canada White fell 4-3 to Czechia in a shootout.

Jack Nesbitt (WSR) and Mateo Nobert (BLB) had goals for Canada White, who held a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. Czechia secured the win in the seventh round of the shootout while Jack Ivankovic (MISS) made 31 saves.

Earlier in the day, Matthew Schaefer (ER) was named captain of Canada While while Quinn Beauchesne (GUE) was given the honour for Team Red.