Five Sask. players named to 2025 Canada’s World Junior squad

Five Saskatchewan connections have been named to Canada’s U20 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship roster.

Saskatoon’s Brayden Yager leads the list, returning from last year’s team.

At the 2024 tournament, the former Moose Jaw Warrior scored two goals and tallied three assists in five games.

Joining him are fellow Saskatoon-products Berkly Catton and Caden Price as well as Tanner Howe, who is from Prince Albert and formerly played for the Regina Pats.

Saskatoon Blades defenseman Tanner Molendyk will also wear the maple leaf come Boxing Day.

Hockey Canada announced the final 25-man roster Friday afternoon.

“We believe we have assembled a competitive and talented roster that will give us the best opportunity to win a gold medal on home ice,” team General Manager Peter Anholt said in a media release.

Riley Heidt, who is also from Saskatoon and plays for Prince George in the Western Hockey League, attended this week’s selection camp but did not make the team.

“While there were many difficult decisions to make at selection camp, we want to congratulate our players and we look forward to them wearing the Maple Leaf with pride in Ottawa,” Anholt added.

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day with four games, which includes Canada taking on Finland at the Canadian Tire Centre at 6:30 p.m. Sask. time on TSN.

The full roster can be found here.