Six WHL alumni to represent Canada at 2025 FISU Winter World University Games, annual World Juniors exhibition series
Six former Western Hockey League players will help Canada chase gold at the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games in Torino, Italy from January 13-23, 2025.
U SPORTS announced the 23-man roster on Tuesday.
Canada claimed gold at the last edition of the games in 2023 in Lake Placid, New York.
Roughly 1,500 student-athletes from across the world will descend on Italy to compete in 11 sports for the 32nd edition of the Games.
The U SPORTS team will also serve as the 2024 U SPORTS Selects, an all-star group that will face off against Canada’s National Junior Team hopefuls as part of their upcoming selection camp for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The two-game series between the U SPORTS All-Stars and aspiring World Juniors participants will take place in Ottawa, Ont. on December 12 and 13.
University of Calgary Dinos Head Coach Mark Howell, who played defence for the Seattle Thunderbirds and Medicine Hat Tigers in his playing days and previously served as an assistant coach for the Brandon Wheat Kings, will reprise his role as Head Coach for the university squad.
“The coaching staff is extremely excited about the group of athletes we have put together who will represent Team Canada at the upcoming 2025 FISU Games in Torino, Italy in January,” Howell said. “We have worked diligently to assemble a team that will play a fast, skilled and relentless style of hockey. As always, there are some extremely difficult decisions when you are evaluating the top players across the country. Yet, it was our mission to put together the best team and not just a collection of players. For a competition like this, you need to be able to play a variety of styles and need players who are talented yet can also check and have a high hockey IQ. We are excited to start our journey next week in Ottawa as we play Canada’s National Junior Team.”
Five WHL graduates will suit up for Canada as the team pursues
F- Connor Bowie, Toronto Metropolitan University (Prince George Cougars ‘A’)
F- Samuel Huo, University of British Columbia (Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri-City Americans)
F- Liam Keeler, University of Saskatchewan (Edmonton Oil Kings, Red Deer Rebels)
F- Sasha Mutala, University of British Columbia (Tri-City Americans ‘A’)
D- Jake Lee, University of British Columbia (Seattle Thunderbirds, Kelowna Rockets)
All five players will be making their FISU debut at the event.
Huo, Mutala and Lee helped the UBC Thunderbirds claim the Canada West Championship in 2023-24, with Lee also earning 2024 U SPORTS All-Canadian Honours.
Team Canada will open its schedule on Saturday, January 11th against South Korea.
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