More than half of the roster comes from the W-H-L as Hockey Canada announced the 25 young men that will wear the Maple Leaf at the upcoming 2022 I-I-H-F World Under-18 Championship in Germany.
The group is led by Regina centre Connor Bedard (pictured) after the Pats failed to qualify for the W-H-L playoffs. Other notable W-H-Lers on the Canadian roster are Bedard’s Regina line-mate Tanner Howe, a Prince Albert product, plus Tisdale native and Swift Current Broncos’ forward Connor Hvidston and Clavet product and Victoria Royals’ defenceman Kalem Parker. In addition, five more members of the Broncos are part of the team in goaltender Reid Dyck, defenceman Owen Pickering plus forwards Josh Davies, Josh Filmon and Matthew Ward. The World Under-18 Championship starts Saturday with Canada playing the United States. Following is the news release from the W-H-L…..
THIRTEEN WHL PLAYERS TO REPRESENT CANADA AT 2022 IIHF WORLD U18 CHAMPIONSHIP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022
Calgary, Alta. – 13 Western Hockey League players have been named to the Team Canada roster for the upcoming 2022 IIHF World U18 Championship, scheduled for April 23 – May 1 in Landshut and Kaufbeuren, Germany.
Hockey Canada announced the roster of 25 players Monday afternoon.
WHL Players – Canadian IIHF World U18 Championship Roster
| Last Name | First Name | Team | Hometown | Height | Weight | Position |
| Buenaventura | Ethan | Calgary Hitmen | Winnipeg, Man. | 6’1” | 198 | G |
| Dyck | Reid | Swift Current Broncos | Winkler, Man. | 6’4” | 193 | G |
| Dragicevic | Lukas | Tri-City Americans | Richmond, B.C. | 6’2” | 181 | D |
| Parker | Kalem | Victoria Royals | Clavet, Sask. | 6’0” | 188 | D |
| Pickering | Owen | Swift Current Broncos | St. Adolphe, Man. | 6’5” | 178 | D |
| Siepmann | Grayden | Calgary Hitmen | Abbotsford, B.C. | 5’11” | 180 | D |
| Bedard | Connor | Regina Pats | North Vancouver, B.C. | 5’9” | 181 | F |
| Davies | Josh | Swift Current Broncos | Airdrie, Alta. | 5’10” | 195 | F |
| Filmon | Josh | Swift Current Broncos | Winnipeg, Man. | 6’2” | 159 | F |
| Howe | Tanner | Regina Pats | Prince Albert, Sask. | 5’8” | 176 | F |
| Hvidston | Connor | Swift Current Broncos | Tisdale, Sask. | 6’1” | 165 | F |
| Schuurman | Brayden | Victoria Royals | Abbotsford, B.C. | 5’9” | 188 | F |
| Ward | Mathew | Swift Current Broncos | Kamloops, B.C. | 5’8” | 153 | F |
Of the 13 WHL players invited, one (Bedard) is a returnee from the Team Canada squad that won the gold medal at the 2021 IIHF U18 Championship in Frisco and Plano, Texas.
The Swift Current Broncos boast six invitees, while the Calgary Hitmen, Regina Pats and Victoria Royals will be represented with two players each. The Tri-City Americans have one player named to the Canadian roster for the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship.
Seven of the WHL players named to the Canadian roster were named to NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Season Rankings ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft.
In addition to the 13 players taking part in the National Junior Team Selection Camp, the WHL will be further represented by goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary Hitmen).
Canada will open preliminary round play at the 2022 U18 World Championship Saturday, April 23 versus the United States. The Canadian squad will then face hosts Germany Sunday, April 24 before winding up the round-robin portion of the event Tuesday, April 26 against Czechia.
