Giants’ Lin Named to Hockey Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase Roster
Calgary, Alta. – Vancouver Giants defenceman Ryan Lin (Richmond, B.C.) has been named to Hockey Canada’s roster for the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase, set for July 26-Aug. 1 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario.
Hockey Canada announced the 32-man roster on Friday morning, where Lin was one of 10 defencemen and 12 skaters with WHL experience invited to the seven-day camp.
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.
Lin, 18, was selected by the San Jose Sharks with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft earlier this summer.
During the 2025-26 Western Hockey League season, Lin led the Giants in scoring with 57 points in 53 games, on 14 goals and 43 assists. The 5-foot-11 defenceman ranked fourth amongst all WHL skaters in average ice-time per game (25:58). His 1.08 points-per-game were the third-highest by a Giants defenceman in franchise history, trailing only Jonathon Blum (1.29 in 2008-09) and Mazden Leslie (1.09 in 2024-25).
Canada’s camp roster features eight players who are eligible to return from Canada’s 2026 National Junior Team and 17 players who have won gold at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, including Lin. The Richmond, B.C. product looks to become the first Giant to represent Canada at the World Juniors since Zack Ostapchuk in 2023, who won a Gold Medal in Halifax. Ostapchuk and current Giants Head Coach and General Manager Michael Dyck won Gold together in 2022 in Edmonton as well.
Lin has represented Canada five times already, most recently at the 2026 IIHF U-18 World Championship, where he won a Bronze medal. Lin also won Bronze at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Gold at the 2025 U-18 Men’s Worlds, Gold at the 2024 U17 World Challenge (Canada White) and played for Canada at the 2023 Youth Olympic Games.
Last week, Giants Athletic Therapist Mike Burnstein was named to Canada’s World Junior staff.
The player selection process was led by Alan Millar, general manager of the National Junior Team, alongside Byron Bonora, Program of Excellence (POE) head scout, and Dave Brown, assistant general manager of the National Junior Team. Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy, director of hockey operations, also provided input.
“We’re excited to announce the 32 players who will attend the World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor as we begin our preparation for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship,” said Millar. “This is an important opportunity for our staff to evaluate a talented group of players against top international competition while continuing to build our identity as a team. We’re looking forward to seeing this group compete and bringing this showcase to Windsor in front of passionate Canadian hockey fans.”
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.
