67’s teammates Marrelli, Mews, join Steelheads’ Ivankovic as additions to Canadian Men’s Under-18 Team
Hockey Canada announced Monday that a trio of OHL players have been added to Canada’s National Men’s Under-Team roster for the upcoming 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship that begins April 25th in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.
The three additions increase the number of OHL players on Canada’s roster to 13, part of a larger total of 24 CHL players representing Canada.
Marrelli and Mews were both part of Canada’s gold medal winning squad at the 2023 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last summer. The Ottawa teammates are listed among the Top-50 ranked North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, with Mews coming in at 37th followed by Marrelli at 46th.
Mews finished the 2023-24 season with a club-leading 61 points (15-46–61) in 65 games among defenders. The 18-year-old from Ottawa has amassed 92 points (27-65–92) over 120 regular season games since being chosen by Ottawa with the seventh overall pick of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.
Marrelli compiled 25 points (9-16–25) and a club-leading plus-30 rating over 60 games for Ottawa this season. The 67’s’ first round (21st overall) pick in 2022, Marrelli has 41 points (13-28–41) over 110 career regular season games in Barber Poles.
Sixteen-year-old netminder Jack Ivankovic has also previously won gold representing Canada on the world stage, having been a part of Canada White’s first-place finish at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November. Ivankovic registered a 14-5-4-0 record playing for the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads this season, finishing with a 2.72 goals-against average (GAA) and a .915 save percentage. His 2.72 GAA was the lowest by an OHL rookie during the 2023-24 campaign, earning him the F.W. “Dinty” Moore Trophy.
Canada will play its final pre-tournament game against Norway on Tuesday. Canada’s quest for a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship begins April 25 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT against Sweden. Canada will play Czechia on April 26, Switzerland on April 28, and Kazakhstan on April 30 to close out preliminary-round action. The semifinals are set for May 4 before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 5.
TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners will broadcast select tournament games, including all Team Canada games and all playoff-round games. Check your local listings for details. Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), in addition to one silver (2005) and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
OHL Players Representing Canada at 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship
Goaltenders:
Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga Steelheads)
Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)
Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Defencemen:
Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts)
Frankie Marrelli (Ottawa 67’s)
Henry Mews (Ottawa 67’s)
Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters)
Forwards:
Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts)
Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Jett Luchanko (Guelph Storm)
Porter Martone (Mississauga Steelheads)
Malcolm Spence (Erie Otters)
Marek Vanacker (Brantford Bulldogs)