Seventeen for Canada U17
Seventeen players from the Ontario Hockey League are among the 44 from across the Canadian Hockey League who will represent two Team Canada squads at the upcoming 2025 Under 17 World Challenge. The event will take place in Truro, Nova Scotia from November 2-8.
Following are the rosters for the two Canadian teams.
Canada Red: Max Delisle (F, Owen Sound Attack), Ryerson Edgar (F, Niagara IceDogs), Peter Green (D, Brampton Steelheads), John McLaughlin (F, Windsor Spitfires), Charlie Murata (F, Flint Firebirds), Camryn Warren (F, North Bay Battalion), Dave Drinkill (director of operations, Saginaw Spirit), Brendan Taylor (assistant coach, Soo Greyhounds) and David Pandolfi (athletic therapist, Niagara IceDogs).
Canada White: Kaden Aucoin (D, Sarnia Sting), Brock Chitaroni (F, Ottawa 67’s), Alexander Forrest (D, Kitchener Rangers/Cambridge RedHawks, Greater Ontario Hockey League), Ryan Hanrahan (F, Saginaw Spirit), Matthew Henderson (D, Kingston Frontenacs), Aleks Kulemin (F, Kingston Frontenacs), Brenner Lammens (F, Sarnia Sting), Cooper McAslan (D, London Knights/London Nationals, GOHL), Kaden McGregor (F, Peterborough Petes), Sam Roberts (F, Oshawa Generals), Jaakko Wycisk (F, Guelph Storm), Dylan Seca (director of operations, Sarnia Sting), Scott Barney (head coach, Sudbury Wolves), Andrew Mercer (goaltending consultant, Ottawa 67’s), Alex Darling (video coach, Peterborough Petes), J.R. Grant (equipment manager, Windsor Spitfires).
TSN will broadcast the medal games.
SOO VIA SARNIA
Soo Greyhounds have added experience and depth to their blue line with the acquisition of overage defenceman Jack O’Brien from the Sarnia Sting.
Greyhounds’ general manager Kyle Raftis confirmed that the Red and White has parted with an 11th round pick at the 2028 OHL priority selections draft n exchange for O’Brien. The 6 foot 2, 210 pound defender joins forward Marco Mignosa as overage players on the Greyhound roster.
“Jack is a veteran defenceman with a clear identity in his game,” relayed Raftis. “He can handle tough minutes, provide steady shutdown defence, and he brings both strength and skating ability to support his defensive mindset.”
The American born O’Brien made his OHL debut with Sarnia in ’24-25 after signing as a free agent. He posting two goals, five assists, seven points in 40 games with the Sting.
O’Brien expressed enthusiasm about the latest chapter of his junior hockey journey, this time in Sault Ste. Marie with the Greyhounds.
“Being able to join the Soo Greyhounds is a blessing,” said O’Brien. “This franchise is one of the most famous teams in all of junior hockey, and to be a part of something like this is something you remember for the rest of your life.
“There is a feeling of nostalgia when walking into this (GFL Memorial Gardens) rink,” added O’Brien.. “Coach (John) Dean seems like an incredible coach that I can learn a lot from and the guys have been nothing but welcoming since I got here. I already have a gut feeling that this team could do something pretty special this year.”
LEADERS IN FLINT
Barring any future trades, Flint Firebirds head coach Paul Flache has confirmed his four player leadership group for the balance of the ’25-26 season.
Nathan Aspinall has been named the eighth captain in Flint’s OHL franchise history — one that began in 2015 — while fellow forwards Jimmy Lombardi and Alex Kostov and defenseman Urban Podrekar have each been named alternate captains.
“Aspy is a person that the players will all look up to because of how he carries himself on and off the ice,” Flache said. “Since coming to Flint he has been a true professional from the time he was working his way into the lineup until today where he is a top player in the league.”
The new captain called his appointment “a great feeling.
“This is a full circle moment,” Aspinall said. “I came here at 16 years old and didn’t really know what Flint was like and now it has become my home. It is amazing … like I said, it is a great feeling.”
Aspinall is in his fourth season in Flint. He was originally selected by the Firebirds in the second round of the 2022 OHL priority selections draft. The skilled forward was subsequently taken by the New York Rangers in the fifth round of the 2024 National Hockey League Draft.
As for Lombardi, he is skating in his third season with Flint after being drafted in the second round of the 2023 OHL priority selections draft. He was picked by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Over to Kostov, he joined the Firebirds via a trade with the Soo Greyhounds at the trade deadline of the ’23-24 OHL season. He was one of two Flint skaters to appear in every game during the ’24-25 season.
And Podrekar is in his overage season in the OHL and was acquired by the Firebirds via trade with the Niagara IceDogs in August of 2024.