Cali named to Canada’s U18s
NORTH BAY, Ont. — Ryder Cali of the North Bay Battalion has been named to Canada’s roster for the Under-18 World Championship, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.
The addition of Cali brings to 10 the number of Ontario Hockey League players on the roster for the tournament, to be held at Bratislava and Trencin, Slovakia, starting Wednesday and running until May 2.
Canada faces Slovakia at noon ET Wednesday, Latvia, Norway and Finland in group play as it seeks to win a third consecutive championship.
“Following a competitive camp, we are pleased to announce this group of 25 players who will begin the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship for Canada,” said general manager Alan Millar, who spent 12 years in the OHL as general manager of the Guelph Storm and Sarnia Sting and director of hockey operations of the defunct Toronto St. Michael’s Majors.
“We are excited about our group’s competitiveness, talent and character as we prepare to open the tournament tomorrow against the host Slovaks. This team will represent Canada and their respective home towns with pride and humility.”
There are 14 forwards, eight defencemen and three goaltenders on the Canadian roster.
Cali, who played centre and left wing with the Battalion in 2025-26, left for Slovakia after the Troops lost 5-3 last Wednesday night to the visiting Brantford Bulldogs, who captured their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal in four games. He scored a shorthanded goal in a 6-2 exhibition victory Sunday over Czechia.
Cali scored 16 goals and earned 20 assists for 36 points in 47 games this season, being named the OHL’s Rookie of the Week for the period ended Oct. 19. He had one goal and three assists for four points in 10 playoff games.
A resident of Penetanguishene, Ont., Cali was a first-round pick, 18th overall, by the Soo Greyhounds in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection from the Markham Majors U16s. After he declined to report, North Bay acquired his rights in a trade Sept. 13, 2024. Playing in 2024-25 with the junior A Milton Menace, he was called up to the Battalion for five games, in which he didn’t register a point.
Cali, who turns 18 on Sept. 6, is No. 25 in final rankings of North American-based skaters by the National Hockey League’s central scouting department in advance of the NHL Draft to be held June 26-27 at Buffalo.
“Ryder is someone who has come in at a young age and has really impressed us with the daily discipline he brings to honing his craft,” said Adam Dennis, the Battalion’s director of hockey operations. “He was impactful in his first OHL season here in North Bay and is very deserving of this opportunity to represent Canada.
“We look forward to watching him compete in Slovakia and wish him and his teammates all the best in their quest for gold.”
A total of 16 tournament games, including Canada’s group games, the quarterfinals, semifinals and medal games, are to be televised nationally by TSN and RDS.
