Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team hits the ice in Trencin, Slovakia this morning as the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup gets underway with a matchup against Finland.
This year’s squad is led by Sarnia Sting head coach Alan Letang, with Ottawa 67’s athletic therapist Marie-Pierre Néron also on the hockey operations staff.
Get familiarized with the 13 OHL players included on this year’s team that is defending gold after having won last year in Red Deer, Alta. See all of Canada’s action throughout the tournament on TSN.
Goaltenders:
Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
- Thunder Bay native was Owen Sound’s third round (53rd overall) pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection from the Thunder Bay Kings U16
- Split time between the Attack and GOJHL’s St Marys Lincolns in 2022-23, going 13-2-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .910 SV% in Junior B
- Was stellar for Owen Sound, going 7-3 with a 2.41 GAA and .924 SV% in 10 games … OHL debut was a 14-save relief appearance to earn a comeback win in Barrie on Oct. 27 … turned aside 48 shots on Feb. 24 in Kitchener as the Attack won 3-2 in overtime
Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)
- Highest-drafted goaltender in 2022 OHL Priority Selection, going in the second round (32nd overall) to Mississauga from the Toronto Nationals U16
- Went 0-3 with Canada Black at the 2022 WU17 Challenge
- Appeared in 35 games, the third-most by a 16-year-old goaltender in OHL history behind David Belitski (51, Kitchener, 1993-94) and Brian Finley (41, Barrie, 1997-98) … went 12-15-3-0 with a 3.48 GAA and .879 SV% before playing all six Steelheads playoff contests, going 2-4
Defencemen:
Anthony Cristoforo (Windsor Spitfires)
- Was the top-scoring defenceman in the 2022 OHL Cup, recording nine points (2-7—9) in seven games for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens
- Was U16 AAA teammate of fellow Canadian team members Porter Martone and Henry Mews with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens
- Was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) by Windsor in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection
- Wore an ‘A’ for silver medal-winning Canada Red at the 2022 WU17 Challenge, recording four assists in seven games
- Was voted to the OHL’s second all-rookie team in 2022-23, recording 41 points (6-35—41) over 63 games in his first OHL season
Ben Danford (Oshawa Generals)
- Former Quinte Red Devils defender Joined Beckett Sennecke as one of two first round picks by Oshawa in 2022, being selected 14th overall in the OHL Priority Selection
- Won silver with Canada Red at the 2022 WU17 Challenge, recording two points (1-1—2) in seven games
- Father Al Danford was a 15th round pick of the Toronto Marlboros in the 1987 OHL Draft.
Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
- After playing for the Toronto Marlboros, was the first defenceman chosen in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, going fourth overall to the Niagara IceDogs before later being dealt to the London Knights
- Voted to the WU17 Challenge All-Star Team, captaining Canada Black while recording two points (1-1—2) in seven games
- Voted to the OHL’s first all-rookie team after a 23-point (9-14—23) campaign for the Knights, adding eight points (4-4—8) in 21 playoff games
Frankie Marrelli (Ottawa 67’s)
- Markham Waxers standout joined Henry Mews as one of two first round picks by Ottawa in 2022, going 21st overall in the OHL Priority Selection
- Recorded three assists in six games for Canada White at the 2022 WU17 Challenge
- Started the season with the CCHL’s Ottawa Jr. Senators before joining the 67’s full-time, recording 16 points (4-12—16) in 50 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-28. Added seven points (3-4—7) in 11 playoff games
- Together with Mews, known as “Frank and Hank” in Ottawa – a name coined by colourful 67’s broadcast voice Kenny Walls
Henry Mews (Ottawa 67’s)
- Ottawa product was selected seventh overall by the 67’s in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection after playing one season with the GTHL’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens
- Mews is a converted forward who made the switch to defence late in his minor hockey career
- Captained Canada White at the 2022 WU17 Challenge, recording eight points (2-6—8) in six games to be voted to the tournament all-star team
- Finished his first OHL season with 31 points (12-19—31) in 55 games, adding four points (1-3—4) in 11 playoff games
- Father Harry Mews played four years at Northeastern University from 1986-90 before playing three pro seasons in the AHL and ECHL
Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
- Joined Michael Misa as one of two first round picks for Saginaw in 2022, selected 19th overall after a strong showing with the Markham Majors
- Recorded five points (3-2—5) in seven games for Canada Black at the 2022 WU17 Challenge
- Was the OHL’s Rookie fo the Month for December
- Finished season with 21 goals, the most ever by a 16-year-old rookie OHL blueliner, surpassing prior mark of 19 set by Rick Corriveau of the 1988 London Knights
- Voted to the OHL’s first all-star team with 37 points (21-16—37) over 50 games before adding nine points (6-3—9) in 11 playoff outings
- Has older brothers Aydin, a former 2018 OHL Cup champion with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens selected fifth overall in 2019 OHL U18 Priority Selection by Windsor and currently plays at NCAA Div III Utica College … Isa, a former fifth round pick by Windsor in 2019 and set to play with BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers in 2023-24, committed to NCAA Bemidji State for 2024-25 … all three are defencemen
Forwards:
Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts)
- HEO Player of the Year was selected by Barrie with the 10th overall pick of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection … won league championship as member of the Nepean Raiders U18
- Recorded five points (3-2—5) in seven games with Canada Black at 2022 WU17 Challenge
- Finished rookie season in Barrie with 20 points (8-12—20) in 63 games, adding two assists in 13 playoff contests
- Son of former pro forward Eric Beaudoin who played with the Guelph Storm from 1997-2000 before 16 years of pro hockey between the NHL, AHL and Europe
Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
- Born January 1, 2006, was Windsor’s second round (34th overall) pick in 2022 OHL Priority Selection from the Markham Majors U16
- Recorded 45 points (25-20—45) in 61 games for the Spitfires to be voted to the league’s first all-rookie team … his 25 goals led OHL rookies
- Joined Will Cuylle as just the second Spits 16-year-old rookie in the past decade to score more than 20 goals
- Was the OHL’s Rookie of the Month for January
Porter Martone (Mississauga Steelheads)
- Selected by Sarnia with fifth overall pick of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection after strong season with OHL Cup Finalist Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16
- Won silver with Canada Red at 2022 WU17 Challenge, recording 12 points (7-5—12) in seven games
- After recording 13 points (6-7—13) in 29 games with Sarnia, was dealt to Mississauga in move that saw the Sting acquire veterans Ethan Del Mastro, Luca Del Bel Belluz … put up 22 points (13-9—22) in 32 games with Steelheads
- Following playoff elimination, represented Canada at IIHF World U18 Hockey Championship, recording six points (3-3—6) in seven games to win bronze
- Peterborough native is the son of former OHL blueliner Mike Martone who played for the Petes from 1994-98 … scored Game 7 overtime winner to give Petes OHL championship over Guelph in 1996
- Late 2006 birthday and will be eligible for 2025 NHL Draft
Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)
- First overall pick of 2022 OHL Priority Selection was sixth player in OHL history to be granted exceptional player status by Hockey Canada … birth date is Feb. 16, 2007
- Enjoyed record-setting OHL Cup showing, leading wild card entry Mississauga Senators to championship by eclipsing Connor McDavid’s point record, put up 20 points (10-10—20) in seven games to be named tournament MVP
- OHL debut was a two-goal performance on Oct. 1 in 10-6 win over Guelph
- Was the OHL’s Rookie of the Month for October
- Registered six points (3-3—6) in seven games for Canada Red at 2022 WU17 Challenge, winning silver
- Voted 2022-23 OHL Rookie of the Year, leading OHL rookies with 56 points (22-34—56) in 45 games … added eight points (3-5—8) in 11 playoff games … first Spirit player ever voted OHL Rookie of the Year
- His 1.24 points-per-game were most by any exceptional status OHL rookie, besting John Tavares’ 2005-06 mark of 1.18
- 2025 NHL Draft prospect will compete in the 2024 Memorial Cup with the tournament host Spirit
- Older brother Luke Misa plays for the Mississauga Steelheads and was the ninth overall pick of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection
Malcolm Spence (Erie Otters)
- Second overall pick of 2022 OHL Priority Selection joined teammate Misa in helping the Mississauga Senators win an OHL Cup title … was the 2022 GTHL U16 Player of the Year
- Recorded one assist in two games for Canada Black at the 2022 WU17 Challenge
- Finished his first OHL season with 42 points (16-26—42) in 64 games for Erie
- Late 2006 birthday and won’t be eligible for NHL Draft until 2025
