Canada ready to chase gold at 2024 FISU Winter World University Games in Torino
Two years after a thrilling gold-medal performance in Men’s Hockey at the 2023 FISU Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York, Team Canada is ready to chase gold once again.
Today, U SPORTS announced the 23 student-athletes who will wear the maple leaf in Men’s hockey at the 2025 Games in Torino, Italy.
The team will also serve as the 2024 U SPORTS Selects, an all-star squad of student-athletes, competing against Hockey Canada’s World Junior hopefuls, who are vying for a roster spot on at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Led by two-time U SPORTS Coach of the Year, Mark Howell (University of Calgary Dinos), the roster is comprised of five players from the Canada West conference, 12 from the OUA, and six from the AUS.
“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,” said Howell. “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.”
The 32nd edition of the FISU Games is set for January 13-23, with the men’s hockey event running from January 12-22. The preliminary round will be played in Pinerolo, before moving to Torino’s PalaTazzoli for the medal round.
This is also the 10th time since 2015 that a team of U SPORTS men’s hockey all-stars will be facing off against members of Canada’s National Junior Team Selection camp, competing in a two-game series at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario from Dec. 10-13.
Canada’s roster features a trio of 2024 U SPORTS All-Canadians, including Kale McCallum (University of New Brunswick), Colson Gengenbach (University of Calgary), and Jake Lee (University of British Columbia).
McCallum is one of three members of the reigning U SPORTS champion UNB Reds, joined by winger Benjamin Corbeil and goaltender Samuel Richard.
The sole returner from the 2023 gold medal winning roster is Toronto Metropolitan University netminder Kai Edmonds, who was the winning goaltender in Canada’s 7-2 victory over the United States in the championship game.
“It’s a huge accomplishment to be selected to the team once again,” said Edmonds. “It’s such a well-run event with the best players across U SPORTS as well as a great coaching staff around you. They really help prepare get the best out of everyone and it’s an honour to wear the maple leaf. Growing up watching all team Canada hockey tournaments it’s always something I’ve dreamed of and having the opportunity to do that a second time now is a privilege and I’m grateful for that opportunity. “
The roster will be bolstered by Concordia University Simon Lavigne, who leads all U SPORTS defenders in scoring, with 11 goals in 16 games. U SPORTS-leading goal-scorer Nolan Hutcheson (Queen’s University) will be joined up front by Corbeil, who paces all skaters in assists with 18 in 16 games. UNB’s Richard leads all U SPORTS goaltenders in wins with 12, and GAA with 1.29.
Team Canada will open its schedule on Saturday, January 11th at against South Korea.
ROSTER
Mathieu Bizier
Forward
Levis, Quebec
Concordia University
Connor Bowie
Forward
Fort St. John, BC
Toronto Metropolitan University
Charlie Callaghan
Defence
Toronto, Ontario
St. Francis Xavier University
Benjamin Corbeil
Forward
Granby, Quebec
University of New Brunswick
Jack Duff
Defence
Kingston, Ontario
Queen’s University
Kai Edmonds
Goaltender
Ottawa, Ontario
Toronto Metropolitan University
Conor Frenette
Forward
Gatineau, Quebec
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Mathieu Gagnon
Forward
Gatineau, Quebec
McGill University
Colson Gengenbach
Forward
Edmonton, Alberta
University of Calgary
Kurtis Henry
Defence
Garden River First Nations, Ontario
University of Prince Edward Island
Mikael Huchette
Forward
Beloeil, Quebec
Concordia University
Samuel Huo
Forward
Richmond, BC
University of British Columbia
Nolan Hutcheson
Forward
Kingston, Ontario
Queen’s University
Liam Keeler
Forward
Edmonton, Alberta
University of Saskatchewan
Francesco Lapenna
Goaltender
Laval, Quebec
University of Ottawa
Simon Lavigne
Defence
Blainville, Quebec
Concordia University
Jake Lee
Defence
Sherwood Park, Alberta
University of British Columbia
Sasha Mutala
Forward
Vancouver, BC
University of British Columbia
Kale McCallum
Defence
Rothesay, New Brunswick
University of New Brunsick
Kaleb Pearson
Forward
St. Marys, Ontario
University of Prince Edward Island
Loris Rafanomezantsoa
Defence
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Samuel Richard
Goaltender
St. Catherine, Quebec
University of New Brunswick
William Rouleau
Forward
St. Basile de Portneuf, Quebec
McGill University