Eight CHL players earn medals at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship
CHL talent helped Slovakia and Czechia reach the podium in Slovakia, while several CHL skaters finished among the tournament’s top performers
On Saturday, eight players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) earned medals at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship in Slovakia.
Headlining the group was Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) defenceman Filip Kovalcik, who helped host Slovakia capture silver after a 4-2 loss to Sweden in the gold medal game. Serving as an alternate captain, Kovalcik recorded one assist in seven tournament games as Slovakia reached the final for the first time since 2003 and secured only its second silver medal in program history at the event.
Earlier in the day, Czechia and its seven CHL players claimed bronze with a 4-1 victory over Latvia. The result gave Czechia its first IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship medal since 2014, with CHL players represented across its lineup. That group included Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) goaltender Jan Larys, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) goaltender Marek Sklenicka, Red Deer Rebels (WHL) defenceman Jiri Kamas, Ottawa 67’s (OHL) defenceman Ondrej Ruml, Tri-City Americans (WHL) defenceman Jakub Vanecek, Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) forward Adam Klaus, and Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) forward Jan Trefny.
Latvia, which featured Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL) forward Martins Klaucans and Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) forward Olivers Murnieks, narrowly missed out on its first-ever medal at the U18 level, but still produced the country’s best finish in tournament history. Klaucans scored Latvia’s lone goal in the bronze medal game and finished the tournament with five goals, tied for the most among CHL skaters and one shy of the tournament lead.
Saginaw Spirit (OHL) and Team Canada forward Dima Zhilkin also scored five goals while leading all CHL skaters with seven points (5G-2A). In goal, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) netminder Gavin Betts was among the tournament’s top performers for Canada, leading the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship in both goals-against average (1.07) and save percentage (.947), while also recording a tournament-best two shutouts in four games played. On the blue line, Vancouver Giants (WHL) defenceman Ryan Lin of Canada and Ottawa 67’s (OHL) rearguard Ondrej Ruml of Czechia each registered six points, finishing tied for the tournament lead among defencemen.
Additionally, five CHL skaters were selected among the top three players of the tournament for their respective countries: Ruml for Czechia, Klaucans and Murnieks for Latvia, and Zhilkin and Lin for Canada.
In total, 36 CHL-developed players competed at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. Those 36 players — including 35 who are currently playing in the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL — gave the CHL the largest player contingent of any development league at the tournament. The CHL was also the only development league in the world with players on six of the 10 participating nations’ rosters.
Canada led the way with 23 CHL-developed players, followed by Czechia with seven. Latvia and the United States each featured two, while Germany and Slovakia each had one.
36 CHL-developed players to compete at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship
SILVER – SLOVAKIA (1)
(D) Filip Kovalcik (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL)
BRONZE – CZECHIA (7)
(G) Jan Larys (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL)
(G) Marek Sklenicka (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(D) Jiri Kamas (Red Deer Rebels / WHL)
(D) Ondrej Ruml (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)
(D) Jakub Vanecek (Tri-City Americans / WHL)
(F) Adam Klaus (Cape Breton Eagles / QMJHL)
(F) Jan Trefny (Moose Jaw Warriors / WHL)
CANADA (23)
(G) Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL)
(G) Carter Esler (Spokane Chiefs / WHL)
(G) Patrick Déniger (Québec Remparts / QMJHL)
(D) Lucas Ambrosio (Erie Otters / OHL)
(D) Cameron Chartrand (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL)
(D) Callum Croskery (Soo Greyhounds / OHL)
(D) Kohyn Eshkawkogan (Ottawa 67/s / OHL)
(D) Carter Hicks (Brampton Steelheads / OHL)
(D) Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants / WHL)
(D) Ben MacBeath (Calgary Hitmen / WHL)
(D) Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria Royals / WHL; University of North Dakota / NCAA)
(F) Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion / OHL)
(F) Maddox Dagenais (Québec Remparts / QMJHL)
(F) Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting / OHL)
(F) Beckett Hamilton (Red Deer Rebels / WHL)
(F) Jaxon Jacobson (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL)
(F) Alexis Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL)
(F) Jean-Cristoph Lemieux (Sudbury Wolves / OHL)
(F) Zach Olsen (Saskatoon Blades / WHL)
(F) Mathis Preston (Vancouver Giants / WHL)
(F) Thomas Rousseau (Sherbrooke Phoenix / QMJHL)
(F) Thomas Vandenberg (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)
(F) Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
GERMANY (1)
(D) Darian Rolsing (Wenatchee Wild / WHL)
LATVIA (2)
(F) Martins Klaucans (Sherbrooke Phoenix / QMJHL)
(F) Olivers Murnieks (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL)
UNITED STATES (2)
(D) Levi Harper (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
(F) Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals / OHL)
