The two Canadian teams have a combined six Saskatchewan-born players, with five players toiling for Saskatchewan-based teams, plus a head coach from this province for the upcoming 2025 Under-17 World Challenge.
Raiders’ head coach Ryan McDonald will be the Team Canada Red bench boss. The Warman resident will have Prince Albert defenceman Brock Cripps, Moose Jaw blueliner Colt Carter along with forwards Blake Chorney of Nipawin via Vancouver, Chase Surkan of Regina via Brandon and Wenatchee defenceman Boston Tait who calls Estevan home on his roster for the November 2nd through 8th event in Truro, Nova Scotia. Saskatchewan content on the Team Canada White roster includes defenceman Calder Hamilton of Martensville via Calgary, forward Kayden Stroeder of Lanigan via Edmonton, Raiders forward Ben Harvey and the Regina forward duo of Maddox Schultz – who calls Regina home – and Liam Pue. Following are news releases from the W-H-L and Hockey Canada…..
NINETEEN WHL PLAYERS NAMED TO CANADA’S ROSTERS FOR 2025 U17 WORLD CHALLENGE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025
The 2025 U17 World Challenge is set for November 2-8 at Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro, N.S.
Leading the charge for Canada White are a pair of 15-year-old Regina Pats forwards – Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue. Schultz, who hails from Regina, was selected first overall in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft and has appeared in seven games, registering four assists this season. Pue, a product of Langley, B.C., was selected third overall in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft and has appeared in six games, recording three points (1G-2A).
Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Brock Cripps, who was selected second overall in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, will don the Maple Leaf for the first time, representing Canada Red. The product of Victoria, B.C., has skated in seven games and collected four assists for the Raiders this season.
The Raiders will be represented by two players at the U17 World Challenge, including forward Ben Harvey, who will skate for Canada White.
The Victoria Royals will also send two players to represent Canada White, including forwards Eli McKamey and Jacob Schwartz.
A total of 16 WHL Clubs will be represented at the 2025 U17 World Challenge.
All 44 players named to Canada Red and White have been drafted by Canadian Hockey League (CHL) teams, including the 19 from the WHL, 17 from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and eight from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Canada Red – WHL Players
| Name | Position | Ht. | Wt. | Born | WHL Club |
| Oaten, Leif | Goaltender | 6’3” | 195 | Calgary, Alta. | Lethbridge |
| Carter, Colt | Defence | 5’9” | 162 | Drayton Valley, Alta. | Moose Jaw |
| Cripps, Brock | Defence | 5’10” | 148 | Victoria, B.C. | Prince Albert |
| Geras, Joaquin | Defence | 6’1” | 180 | Calgary, Alta. | Kamloops |
| Hayden, Owen | Defence | 6’7” | 205 | Calgary, Alta. | Kelowna |
| Tait, Boston | Defence | 6’2” | 170 | Estevan, Sask. | Wenatchee |
| Chorney, Blake | Forward | 5’11” | 183 | Nipawin, Sask. | Vancouver |
| Dufour, Mirco | Forward | 5’8” | 171 | Rocky View, Alta. | Everett |
| England, Brock | Forward | 5’11” | 165 | Airdrie, Alta. | Seattle |
| Surkan, Chase | Forward | 5’8” | 155 | Regina, Sask. | Brandon |
Canada White – WHL Players
| Name | Position | Ht. | Wt. | Born | WHL Club |
| Christie, Cash | Goaltender | 5’11” | 122 | North Vancouver, B.C. | Medicine Hat |
| Bouchard, Aden | Defence | 6’0” | 162 | Airdrie, Alta. | Tri-City |
| Hamilton, Calder | Defence | 5’9” | 135 | Martensville, Sask. | Calgary |
| Harvey, Ben | Forward | 5’8” | 164 | Edmonton, Alta. | Prince Albert |
| McKamey, Eli | Forward | 5’9” | 178 | Cowichan Bay, B.C. | Victoria |
| Pue, Liam | Forward | 6’2” | 154 | Langley, B.C. | Regina |
| Schultz, Maddox | Forward | 5’10” | 165 | Regina, Sask. | Regina |
| Schwartz, Jacob | Forward | 5’7” | 145 | Vancouver, B.C. | Victoria |
| Stroeder, Kayden | Forward | 5’10” | 150 | Lanigan, Sask. | Edmonton |
The rosters were selected by head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), and Mike Johnston (Dartmouth, N.S. / Portland Winterhawks), U17 lead with the POE management group.
Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), director of hockey operations, and Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, also provided input, along with regional scouts Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Scott Grieve (Ontario), Jared Power (West), Rob Simpson (Ontario), and Darren Sutherland (Atlantic).
U17 directors of operations Dave Drinkill (Elmvale, Ont. / Saginaw Spirit, OHL) and Dylan Seca (Sunridge, Ont. / Sarnia Sting, OHL) provided additional support.
“We are incredibly proud to announce the 44 athletes who will represent Canada at the U17 World Challenge next month in Truro,” Millar said. “This is an important step in their development and a tremendous opportunity to compete at the international level. We believe we have assembled two strong teams that will compete to defend our back-to-back gold medals.”
The 2025 U17 World Challenge begins November 2, with Canda Red taking on Finland at 12:30 p.m. MT and Canada White facing off against Sweden at 4:30 p.m. MT. Teams will play two preliminary round games before the medal round, which concludes November 8 with medal games. The event will also feature pre-tournament games in Truro, Amherst, and Wolfville, on October 31 at 4:30 p.m. MT.
“We are incredibly proud to announce the 44 athletes who will represent Canada at the U17 World Challenge next month in Truro,” said Millar. “This is an important step in their development and a tremendous opportunity to compete at the international level. We believe we have assembled two strong teams that will compete to defend our back-to-back gold medals.”
