[{"id":86168,"date":"2026-04-22T12:27:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T16:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-phoenix\/?p=86168"},"modified":"2026-04-22T12:27:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T16:27:12","slug":"36-chl-developed-players-are-set-to-compete-at-the-2026-iihf-u18-mens-world-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/lhjmq-phoenix\/en\/article\/36-chl-developed-players-are-set-to-compete-at-the-2026-iihf-u18-mens-world-championship","title":{"rendered":"36 CHL-developed players are set to compete at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men\u2019s World Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CHL leads all development leagues with 36 players from 26 clubs representing six countries in Bratislava and Tren\u010d\u00edn, Slovakia<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As the 2026 IIHF U18 Men\u2019s World Championship gets underway today in Bratislava and Tren\u010d\u00edn, Slovakia, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to celebrate its strong international presence, with 36 players developed through the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) set to represent their countries at the tournament from April 22 to May 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those 36 players \u2014 including 35 who are currently playing in the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL \u2014 give the CHL the largest player contingent of any development league at the tournament. The CHL is also the only development league in the world with players on six of the 10 participating nations\u2019 rosters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Canada leads all countries with 23 CHL-developed players as it looks to capture a third straight gold medal, while Czechia follows with seven. Latvia and the United States each have two CHL-developed players on their rosters, while Germany and Slovakia each have one. By league, the WHL and OHL each account for 13 players at the tournament, while the QMJHL has 10, underscoring the CHL\u2019s depth across all three member leagues and its continued role in developing elite talent for the international stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the club level, the Ottawa 67\u2019s (OHL) and Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) lead all CHL teams with three players each competing at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men\u2019s World Championship, while the Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL), Qu\u00e9bec Remparts (QMJHL), Red Deer Rebels (WHL), Saginaw Spirit (OHL), Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL), and Vancouver Giants (WHL) each have two players represented. In total, 26 CHL clubs have at least one player competing at the tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n

Canada opens the 2026 IIHF U18 Men\u2019s World Championship today (April 22) facing Slovakia at 12 p.m. ET \/ 9 a.m. PT. Canada will also play Latvia, Norway and Finland in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, 25 CHL players helped Canada capture a second straight gold medal at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men\u2019s World Championship,<\/a> marking the first time in program history that Canada won back-to-back gold at the event. Among the returning players from that championship team are Vancouver Giants (WHL) defenceman Ryan Lin, Victoria Royals (WHL) defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, and Sarnia Sting (OHL) forward Alessandro Di Iorio.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information on the 2026 IIHF U18 Men\u2019s World Championship, please visit the official tournament website at <\/span>IIHF.com<\/span><\/a>. For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada\u2019s National Men\u2019s Under-18 Team, please visit<\/span> HockeyCanada.ca<\/span><\/a> or follow along via social media on<\/span> Facebook<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> X<\/span><\/a>, and<\/span> Instagram<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

QUICK FACTS<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n