Ben Oliverio named to Team Canada Red for World U17 Challenge
Kennewick, WA. – The Tri-City Americans are proud to announce that 2010-born forward Ben Oliverio has been named to Team Canada Red’s roster for the upcoming 2026 World U17 Challenge, being held November 1-7 in Oakville, Ontario.
The event features two teams from Canada, Red and White, along with the United States, Finland, Sweden and Czechia.
Oliverio, from Calgary, Alberta, was drafted by the Americans ninth overall in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft after posting 77 points (37-40-77) in just 28 games with the U15 Calgary Northstars in 2024-25. He then added another 31 points (10-21-31) in 10 playoff games.
Last season Oliverio jumped to the U18 Northstars and scored 47 points (23-24-47) in 36 games along with 114 penalty minutes. His penalty minute total ranked second in the Alberta Elite U18 League last year while his 47 points was the most among all 2010-born players.
Oliverio has appeared in all eight games for Tri-City so far this season, recording an assist in his first WHL game September 19 against Spokane before scoring his first WHL goal October 10 against Penticton.
This marks the fifth straight year the Americans have had a player at the World U17 Challenge as Oliverio joins Aden Bouchard (2025), Cruz Pavao (2024), Jackson Smith (2023) and Jordan Gavin (2022).
