Top 2026, 2027 NHL Draft talent to watch at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge

Credit: (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

One of the most fun international tournaments is set to kick off on Sunday in Sarnia, Ontario, with some of the best 2026 and 2027 NHL Draft talent taking part in the World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

Hosted and operated by Hockey Canada, it’s the first real opportunity to see future draft prospects together on the international stage in a meaningful manner. Canada always brings two teams to get as many players in front of scouts as possible – winning is almost secondary, although Canada White won in 2023.

The United States has often been viewed as the top team for years thanks to having its team stick together through the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. The U-17 squad has struggled this year, but could use this tournament as a springboard back into a spot they want to be in. This year, a lot of eyes will be on Canada Red, which is highlighted by the most recent CHL exceptional status recipient, Landon Dupont.

The action begins on Nov. 3 and will run until Nov. 9. It’s a good opportunity for scouting departments to get early notes on players that will be available down the line, with the 2008 age group looking sharp. Here’s a look at 15 players that you need to know:

2026 NHL DRAFT

Ethan Belchetz, RW (Canada White)

Belchetz wasted little time making a name for himself in the OHL after getting taken first overall by Windsor. The Oakville Rangers alum enters the tournament as a point-per-game player while adapting to using his 6-foot-5, 227-pound to the full extent each night. Belchetz is a big power forward who loves getting in the face of opponents and has a fantastic shot to boot.

Braidy Wassilyn, LW (Canada Red)

Wassilyn had a quiet showing at the Youth Olympic Games last season – don’t expect that in his return to repping Canada’s colors in Sarnia. Wassilyn has been a big part of Niagara’s resurgence, with his tenacity and energy making him difficult to contain. The Puslinch, Ontario native was a force with the Markham Majors Jr. A team last year – a group that didn’t get to showcase themselves at a handful of major events. Now that he’s in the OHL, everyone’s noticing just how good Wassilyn is with the puck.

Mathis Preston, RW (Canada White)

Preston was a scoring machine at the Youth Olympic Games last year, scoring four goals and six points as one of the top players in the tournament. He has continued that trend to the WHL, scoring four goals in five games last year before putting up seven points in his first 14 games this year. Preston is so good with the puck on his stick and he plays with high-end speed – something many teams struggle to contain.

Maddox Dagenais, C (Canada Red)

Dagenais was the top pick in the 2024 QMJHL Draft and he’s already posting point-per-game numbers. Playing in Ontario with the Quinte Red Devils last year, Dagenais played at well over two points per game, scoring 42 goals and 81 points in just 35 games. The skilled goal-scorer is the son of former NHLer Pierre Dagenais, so you know he has good bloodlines.

Keaton Verhoeff, D (Canada White)

There’s a lot of interest in Verhoeff – a big, mobile, 6-foot-4 defenseman with the Victoria Royals. He’s on pace for over 50 points as a WHL rookie, which is quite something for a defenseman. While he isn’t overly mean out there, he does a great job of taking space away and making things happen with the puck. Teams love big defenders – but defensemen who can play at a 20-goal pace are even more in demand.

Viggo Björck, C (Sweden)

Heading into the season, many looked at Björck as the biggest challenger to go No. 1 against Gavin McKenna. Björck was very quiet at the Hlinka Gretzky, but he’s the highest-scoring 16-year-old in the Swedish U-20 league by quite a margin. In fact, he could end up having the best output by a U-17 player in the league’s history. 2025 NHL Draft prospect Jakob Ihs Wozniak owns the top spot after scoring 50 points in 36 games last season – a 1.39 point-per-game average. Björck’s current rate of 1.29 isn’t quite there, but there’s time to make it happen.

Måns Josbrant, C (Sweden)

Josbrant might be one of the better skaters in this tourney. He also has quite the shot and has quick hands. Mix it all together, and you’ve got a player that should play a significant role for the Swedes at this tourney. The Swedes don’t have a ton of promising prospects in this age group, but Josbrant continues to find ways to be a highlight-reel machine.

JP Hurlbert, LW (USA)

With Mikey Berchild missing time recently due to injury, all eyes will be on Hurlbert. The former Dallas Stars U-16 star made a name for himself at the Youth Olympic Games earlier this year and has been one of the USNTDP’s brightest stars. So much so, that it wouldn’t be surprised if the future University of Michigan forward is playing with the U-18 team later this year. Hurlburt is so skilled, and he’s going to put that on display in Sarnia.

Anttoni Uronen, C (Finland)

I really like what I’ve seen from Uronen over the past two years. He had a quiet three-game showing with Finland earlier this year, but he’s been a big contributor in the Finnish U-18 league and was a big-time point producer with the U-16 national team last year. He also got solid reviews from his first two U-20 league games, even though he didn’t score. While Uronen isn’t massive, he’s strong and can overpower opponents with ease.

Šimon Katolický, LW (Czechia)

The numbers look good, he’s 6-foot-4, and he’s confident as heck – there’s a lot to like about Katolický. He has 11 points in seven games with the Czech U-17 team this year and is fifth in Finnish U-18 league scoring. Generating offense is clearly not an issue for the goal-scoring winger, and I think his power-forward style will translate well to the smaller ice.

Other notables: Alessandro Di Iorio, RW (Canada Red), Joe Iginla, C (Canada Red), Ondřej Ruml, D (Czechia), Douglas Nilsson, G (Sweden), Adam Valentini, C (Canada White), Ryan Lin, D (Canada White), Lukas Zajic, RW (USA)

2027 NHL DRAFT

*Landon Dupont (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Landon Dupont, D (Canada Red)

What Dupont is doing as a 15-year-old defenseman is simply incredible. While he has had a quiet few outings recently, he’s on pace for 77 points in 68 games. For reference, Connor McDavid had 66 points in his first OHL season – and he’s the greatest player in the NHL right now. So, what Dupont is doing as a defenseman is remarkable – and there’s no reason to believe he won’t continue his exploits in Sarnia.

Jaxon Jacobson, C (Canada Red)

Jacobson has put the WHL on notice early in his career. He’s up to 18 points in 20 games since seeing his first action last year and should get around 60 points in his first full season. He might be small at 5-foot-9, but his size hasn’t been an issue yet because he has some real muscle. I could see Jacobson becoming one of the tournament’s top scorers.

Kohyn Eshkawkogan, D (Canada Red)

Eshkawkogan has put up great numbers with the Ottawa 67’s this year, entering the tournament with six points in 12 games. It’s not surprising, given the excellent numbers he put up with the GTHL’s North York Rangers last year. Now set for his Team Canada debut, look for Eshkawkogan to earn plenty of ice time, especially on the power play. Don’t be surprised if Eshkawkogan challengers Dupont for the scoring lead on Canada Red’s blueline.

Bosse Meijer, C (Sweden)

Meijer has been one of Sweden’s best U-17 players and is turning heads as a 16-year-old in the U-18 league. He loves to shoot the puck and can dance around defenders with some quick hands. Sweden has some good center depth but I expect Meijer to get some opportunities to stand out as a late-2008-born prospect.

Šimon Bělohorský, LW (Czechia)

Scout loved Bělohorský at the Youth Olympic Games, even if he didn’t have much offense to show for. He’s a 6-foot-2 sniper who can be very dangerous with the puck and isn’t allowed to get physical, even against bigger competition. Some scouts think Bělohorský has one of the best shots in the 2027 NHL draft, so I’m excited to see him up close.

Other notables: Carter Esler, G (Canada Red), Simon Naslund, RW (Sweden), Vilgot Liden, D (Sweden), Sammy Nelson, LW (USA), Jamie Glance, RW (USA)

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