Trio of Storm players invited to Canada’s World Junior Selection Summer Showcase
Storm’s Ethan Czata, Tyler Hopkins, and Ryan Roobroeck have been selected to attend Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase ahead of the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Throughout the showcase, four goaltenders, 10 defencemen, and 18 forwards will take part in practices, scrimmages, and a trio of exhibition games against Finland, Sweden, and the United States in preparation for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
Ethan, the 2007-born forward, was originally selected in the first round (5th overall) by the IceDogs in the 2023 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. In three seasons in the OHL, the 6-foot-2, 190 lbs forward has recorded 125 points (53 goals, 72 assists) in 193 regular season games. Czata served as the IceDogs captain for the 2025-26 season. Czata represented his country on three occasions – once during the 2023 U17 World Hockey Challenge, once at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and again during the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championships – winning a gold medal at all three events. Czata and Storm Head Coach Cory Stillman won gold with Team Canada at the 2025 U18 World Championships, where the Brampton, ON native finished the tournament with five points (one goal and four assists), including a goal in the gold medal game.
Hopkins was acquired by the Storm at the 2025/2026 trade deadlines and originally selected in the first round, 4th overall by the Frontenacs in the 2023 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. In three seasons in the OHL, the 6-foot-1, 185 lbs forward has recorded 89 points (38 goals, 51 assists) in 155 regular season games. Tyler has appeared in 27 games eith the Storm, adding 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. The Campbellville, Ontario native was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (86thoverall) in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Hopkins has represented Canada three times on the international stage – winning a gold medal on all three occasions – the 2023 U17 World Hockey Challenge, 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and with Storm head coach Cory Stillman at the 2025 U18 World Championships.
Roobroeck, the newly acquired Storm forward, was originally selected in the first round (2nd overall) by the IceDogs in the 2023 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. In three seasons in the OHL, the 6-foot-4, 215 lbs forward has recorded 99 goals and 97 assists for 196 points in 176 regular season games. Roobroeck has added another 6 points (3 goals and 3 assists) in 5 career OHL playoff games. Roobroeck’s 99 career OHL goals lead all 2007-born players over the last three seasons. The London, ON native represented his country twice on the world stage – once at the 2023 U17 World Hockey Challenge and again at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championships. At the 2025 U18 tournament, Roobroeck won gold with current Storm players Tyler Hopkins, Ethan Czata, and Head Coach Cory Stillman recording four goals and five assists for nine points in seven games.
The team will practice July 27 and 28 before taking on Sweden on July 29, Finland on July 30 and the United States on Aug. 1.Every game at the World Junior Summer Showcase will be livestreamed at HNLive.ca (subscription required).
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