29 WHL-drafted players to attend Canada’s National Under-17 Development Camp
Calgary, Alta.- Twenty-nine players drafted to the Western Hockey League have been invited to participate in Hockey Canada’s National Under-17 Development Camp.
It’s the first step towards earning a spot on Team Red or Team White at the 2026 U17 World Challenge.
The WHL contingent features 26 skaters who have signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement and comprises three goaltenders, 12 defencemen and 14 forwards.
Eighteen of the invitees were selected in the first round of the WHL Prospects Draft, including eight top-10 selections, highlighted by 2025 second overall pick Holden Wouters (Edmonton Oil Kings).
Fellow Oil Kings prospect Christopher Kokkoris also clocks in as the second-tallest player attending the camp at a staggering 6-foot-6.
Seventeen WHL clubs are represented, with the Red Deer Rebels leading the way with four participating players.
Red Deer is followed by the Kamloops Blazers with three draft picks earning invitations. The Brandon Wheat Kings, Edmonton Oil Kings, Regina Pats, Seattle Thunderbirds, Vancouver Giants and Wenatchee Wild all have two players attending.
The reigning WHL Champion Everett Silvertips, 2026 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets, Medicine Hat Tigers, Moose Jaw Warriors, Penticton Vees, Prince Albert Raiders, Saskatoon Blades, Tri-City Americans and Victoria Royals have one player heading to camp.
Thirteen players appeared in WHL games in the 2025-26 regular season, led by Holowaychuk and Crosby Mateychuk (Vancouver Giants / Dominion City, Man.) with seven outings each.
Six-foot-2 forward Kalen Miles (Wenatchee Wild / Edmonton, Alta.) notably posted two goals and two assists in six call-up appearances, including a game-winning goal against the powerhouse Silvertips on March 20, 2026.
The camp roster features four members of the 2025 WHL Cup All-Star team, including forward Reid Nicol (Everett Silvertips / Brandon, Man.), forward Kalen Miles (Wenatchee Wild / Edmonton, Alta.), defenceman Cruz Jim (Brandon Wheat Kings / Grande Prairie, Alta.) and defenceman Crosby Mateychuk, Manitoba (Vancouver Giants / Dominion City, Man.), as well as tournament leading-scorer Athens Shingoose (Prince Albert Raiders / Waywayseecappo, Man.).
The camp runs from July 17-21 in Oakville, Ontario.
The 2026 U17 World Challenge is set for November 1-7 in Oakville.
Saskatoon Blades Head Coach Dan DaSilva is the bench boss for Canada Red, with Lethbridge Hurricanes assistant coach Ryan Aasman also on staff, while Edmonton Oil Kings assistant coach Kyle Chipchura will serve as an assistant coach for Canada White.
Players will continue to be evaluated through the 2026-27 regular season before final rosters are announced.
2026 Hockey Canada National Under-17 Development Camp- WHL Roster
| Last name | First name | WHL Club | Hometown | Height | Weight | Position |
| Meyer | Ben | Medicine Hat | Regina, Sask. | 5’11 | 170 | G |
| Mingo | Dylan | Moose Jaw | Peachland, B.C. | 6’3 | 190 | G |
| Nielson* | Chase | Red Deer | Fort Macleod, Alta. | 6’1 | 170 | G |
| Archer | Owen | Red Deer | Hamilton, Ont. | 6’3 | 205 | D |
| Ferreira | Mateo | Kamloops | Winnipeg, Man. | 5’10 | 161 | D |
| Greschuk | Roan | Victoria | Sturgeon County, Alta. | 6’0 | 168 | D |
| Haile | Brook | Seattle | Calgary, Alta. | 5’11 | 172 | D |
| Jim | Cruz | Brandon | Grande Prairie, Alta. | 5’9 | 161 | D |
| Kelts | Will | Kelowna | Consort, Alta. | 6’3 | 198 | D |
| Kokkoris | Christopher | Edmonton | Langley, B.C. | 6’6 | 187 | D |
| Liffiton | Thor | Penticton | Calgary, Alta. | 6’3 | 172 | D |
| Mateychuk | Crosby | Vancouver | Dominion City, Man. | 6’0 | 185 | D |
| Nicolay | Cruz | Regina | Rocky Mountain House, Alta. | 6’1 | 170 | D |
| Wolitski | Nolan | Red Deer | St. Albert, Alta. | 6’4 | 185 | D |
| Wouters | Holden | Edmonton | Vancouver, B.C. | 6’4 | 174 | D |
| Bouchard | Teagen | Kamloops | Falher, Alta. | 5’7 | 165 | F |
| Brown* | Riley | Wenatchee | Milestone, Sask. | 6’3 | 185 | F |
| Fayad* | Ahmad | Brandon | Edmonton, Alta. | 5’10 | 174 | F |
| Henry | Logan | Regina | Prince George, B.C. | 5’10 | 187 | F |
| Holowaychuk | Louis-Oscar | Vancouver | Vancouver, B.C. | 5’9 | 141 | F |
| Landreville | Cole | Edmonton | St. Claude, Man. | 5’9 | 146 | F |
| Martiniuk | Cain | Saskatoon | Peachland, B.C. | 5’11 | 157 | F |
| Miles | Kalen | Wenatchee | Edmonton, Alta. | 6’2 | 181 | F |
| Nicholas | Kane | Seattle | Campbell River, B.C. | 5’9 | 146 | F |
| Nicol | Reid | Everett | Brandon, Man. | 6’1 | 194 | F |
| Oliverio | Ben | Tri-City | Calgary, Alta. | 5’9 | 165 | F |
| Ondrus | Brady | Kamloops | Sherwood Park, Alta. | 5’9 | 165 | F |
| Shingoose | Athens | Prince Albert | Waywayseecappo, Man. | 5’8 | 139 | F |
| Turchak | Chace | Red Deer | Calgary, Alta. | 5’11 | 161 | F |
*- Player has not signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement
