Canada

Harrison Brunicke

Defense
2024, Second Round (44th Overall)

In a somewhat unorthodox “development” season so far consisting of nine NHL appearances with the Pittsburgh Penguins and five AHL appearances with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Pittsburgh Penguins released Harrison Brunicke to play for Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championship. Brunicke likely competes for playing time on the right side with Ben Danford, a 2024 first round pick in the Toronto Maple Leafs system, and Keaton Verhoeff, a consensus top five–perhaps as high as second overall–pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. On a team loaded with talent, Brunicke looks to be a stabilizing presence on the blue line as Canada looks to win Gold–and medal–for the first time since 2023.

Brunicke last represented Canada at the 2024 U18 World Junior Championship, finishing third among blueliners on the team with four points in seven games and winning a gold medal.

United States

William Horcoff

Forward
2025, First Round (24th Overall)

Exceeding expectations as a sophomore with the University Michigan, Will Horcoff currently leads the entire NCAA with 19 goals and ranks second with 28 points in 20 games. The 2025 first round pick continued to light the lamp with three goals in two preliminary games leading up to the the tournament. Horcoff figures to see some time on the left wing of 2025 seventh overall pick James Hagens and log plenty of minutes in front of the net on the powerplay looking for deflections and rebounds. Horcoff played for the United States National Team Development Program before the Wolverines and represented the United States at the 2025 U18 World Junior Championships, recording four points in seven games and winning a Bronze medal.

Snubs

Bill Zonnon (Canada)

Forward
2025, First Round (21st Overall)

After not being invited to play for Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase in late July and early August, Bill Zonnon likely needed a highly productive start to the 2025-26 season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL to catch the attention of Hockey Canada. Unfortunately, injury caused the 2025 first round pick to miss the entire 2025-26 season so far, except for two games in early November. Zonnon recorded 83 points in 64 games with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies last season, but represented Canada only once at the 2023 U17 World Hockey Challenge, recording three points in six games with Canada White.

Gabriel D’Aigle (Canada)

Goaltender
2025, Third Round (84th Overall)

With little chance of cracking a roster featuring 2025 first round pick Joshua Ravensbergen and two early second round picks in Jack Ivankovic (2025) and Carter George (2024), Gabriel D’Aigle deserves at least some recognition. The 2025 third round pick boasts only a .900 save percentage in 20 appearances, but plays on the last place team in the Western Conference and leads the QMJHL in shots against per game at nearly 37. On the international stage, D’Aigle represented Canada at the 2023 U18 World Junior Championship but posted a 4.36 goals against average and .841 save percentage en route to a Bronze medal.

Melvin Fernstrom (Sweden)

Forward
2024, Third Round (93rd Overall)

Probably thought to be a guarantee to be on the roster for Sweden at the start of the 2025-26 season after recording 17 points in 48 SHL games last year and being named the SHL Rookie of the Year, Melvin Fernstrom, boasts only three goals through 28 games in 2025-26. The 2024 third round pick won a bronze medal with Sweden and led the team with eight points in seven games at the U18 World Junior Championship in 2023, but struggling to produce at a consistent rate, albeit in the top league in Sweden, likely kept Fernstrom off the final roster.

Mac Swanson (United States)

Forward
2024, Seventh Round (207th Overall)

Mac Swanson played for the United States at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, finishing fourth on the team with five points in four games, but lacks the proven production of some of the higher end players on the U.S. roster. The 2024 seventh round pick ranks fifth on North Dakota in the NCAA with 13 points in 18 games–good progression from 18 points in 38 games as a freshman last season, but not enough of a jump to make a case for including Swanson on the United States roster.

Better Luck Next Year

Canada 

Quinn Beauchesne
Defense
2025, Fifth Round (148th Overall)

Quinn Beauchesne played for Canada at the U18 World Junior Championship last season and recorded four points in seven games from the blueline. Unfortunately, the 2025 fifth round pick looks on pace for a less productive season in the OHL in 2025-26 with only 11 points in 25 games after recording 24 in 49 last season.

Kale Dach
Forward
2025, Seventh Round (201st Overall)

Kale Dach currently leads the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL with 19 goals and 36 points in 31 games. Consider Dach a longshot, but with impressive numbers and slated to play in a bigger spotlight with Penn State next season, expect the 2025 seventh round pick to start attracting some attention.

Peyton Kettles
Defense
2025, Second Round (39th Overall)

A big but mobile stay-at-home blueliner, Peyton Kettles represented Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring a goal in five games. The 6’6″ blueliner missed the start of the 2025-26 season recovering from injury and appeared in two games for the Swift Current Broncos and three games for the Kelowna Rockets after a trade and before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Kettles likely needs to show some growth as a two-way defender to be considered for the team next year.

Ryan Miller
Forward
2025, Fifth Round (130th Overall)

Another longshot, Ryan Miller currently ranks second on the Portland Winterhawks with 38 points in 33 games as captain of the team. Committed to the University of Denver next season, Miller likely needs to finish 2025-26 strong and get off to a good start in the NCAA, but with lots of skill and intangibles, keep a close eye on the 2025 fifth rounder.

United States

Carter Sanderson
Forward,
2025, Sixth Round (169th Overall)

A physical winger with some scoring ability, Carter Sanderson recently represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior A Challenge, finishing sixth on the team with four points in five games and winning a Gold Medal. Likely a longshot for the United States roster, maybe a hot start at the University of North Dakota next season puts Sanderson on the radar.

Charlie Trethewey
Defense
2025, Third Round (73rd Overall)

A product of the United States National Team Development Program, Charlie Trethewey ranks fourth among blueliners at Boston University with five points in 17 games, but recorded four points in the last seven games. A solid two-way, right-handed defenseman, expect Trethewey to be a legitimate candidate to represent the United States next season if the 2025 third round pick continues to adjust well to the NCAA.