Vanacker added to Canada’s 2026 World Juniors training camp roster
Brantford Bulldogs forward Marek Vanacker has been added to Canada’s 2026 World Juniors training camp roster.
Vanacker leads all CHL skaters with 26 goals this season while his 41 points are tied for the fourth most in the OHL.
The 27th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Vanacker has played 194 games for the Bulldogs where he’s potted 90 goals and tallied 181 points. He joins fellow Bulldogs stars Ben Danford (TOR), Jett Luchanko (PHI) and Jake O’Brien (SEA) on Canada’s roster.
The 19-year-old was part of Canada’s gold medal winning team at the 2024 U18 World Championships.
Canada’s National Junior Team will host training camp from December 12-22 in Niagara Falls. It will also face off against Sweden on Dec. 17 and 20 in Kitchener and London, Ont., before taking on Denmark on December 23 in Mankato, Minnesota, in pre-tournament action.
Canada have been drawn into Group B at this year’s World Juniors where they will face Czechia, Latvia, Denmark and Finland. The tournament begins Dec. 26 in Minneapolis, MN., with the final set for Jan. 5.
LIST OF PAST AND PRESENT CHL PLAYERS & STAFF ON CANADA’S 2026 NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM
Goalies (3)
(G) Carter George (Owen Sound Attack / OHL)
(G) Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads / OHL; University of Michigan / NCAA)
(G) Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George Cougars / WHL)
Defencemen (9)
(D) Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(D) Harrison Brunicke (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
(D) Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars / WHL)
(D) Ben Danford (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
(D) Ethan MacKenzie (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL)
(D) Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
(D) Cameron Reid (Kitchener Rangers / OHL)
(D) Jackson Smith (Tri-City Americans / WHL; Penn State University / NCAA)
(D) Keaton Verhoeff (Victoria Royals / WHL; University of North Dakota / NCAA)
Forwards (15)
(F) Carter Bear (Everett Silvertips / WHL)
(F) Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts / OHL)
(F) Braeden Cootes (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL)
(F) Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL)
(F) Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires / OHL)
(F) Tij Iginla (Kelowna Rockets / WHL)
(F) Jett Luchanko (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
(F) Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds / OHL)
(F) Porter Martone (Brampton Steelheads / OHL; Michigan State University / NCAA)
(F) Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL; Penn State University / NCAA)
(F) Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit / OHL)
(F) Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
(F) Sam O’Reilly (London Knights / OHL)
(F) Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals / WHL; University of North Dakota / NCAA)
(F) Marek Vanacker (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
Head Coach – Dale Hunter (London Knights / OHL)
Assistant Coach – Brad Lauer (Spokane Chiefs / WHL)
Assistant Coach – Gardiner MacDougall (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL)
Goaltending Consultant – Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
Video Coach – Ethan O’Rourke (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL)
Management Group – Mark Hunter (London Knights / OHL)
Athletic Therapist – Terence Robertson (Red Deer Rebels / WHL)
Team Physician – Michael Conrad (Victoria Royals / WHL)
Equipment Manager – Chris Cook (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
Equipment Manager – Chris Maton (London Knights / OHL)
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Sean Young (Ottawa 67’s / OHL)
