By Hockey Canada

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Canada Red has won the bronze medal at the 2026 U17 World Challenge after doubling up Canada White 8-4 in the bronze medal game on Saturday afternoon.

After a combined seven-goal opening period, Reid Nicol (Brandon, MB/Everett, WHL) netted the eventual game-winner for Canada Red just over two minutes into the middle frame. Captain Liam Pue (Langley, BC/Regina, WHL) and Jakob Royer (Trois-Rivières, QC/Victoriaville, QMJHL) led the offence for the winning side, with Pue finding the back of the net twice and adding an assist, and Royer contributing three points (1-2—3) of his own.

“It is a good feeling to end our tournament with a win, but obviously it is not the medal we were hoping to win coming into the week. We had a great group, so it was important for us to show up today, and I think this tournament will be a little more memorable for us because of this bronze medal,” Pue said. “We knew there was a medal on the line tonight, so I have to give credit to our group for showing up and finishing the week on a positive note.” 

Both teams struck early in the first period, and the teams traded goals throughout the opening frame as Landon Roulston (Oakville, ON/Peterborough, OHL), Royer, Kash Kwajah (Etobicoke, ON/Sudbury, OHL) and Pue scored for Canada Red. Canada White got on the board with goals from Maddox Schultz (Regina, SK/Regina, WHL), Adrian Sgro (Alliston, ON/Sarnia, OHL) and Madden Daneault (Red Deer, AB/Kelowna, WHL) to make it a 4-3 game after the first period.

Sgro buried his second power-play goal of the game just before the halfway mark of the second period, making it a 5-4 game after Nicol’s early second-period marker, but Zaac Charbonneau (Gatineau, QC/Muskegon, USHL) and Drew Bate (Union, ON/Saginaw, WHL) beat Canada White goaltender Dylan Mingo (Peachland, BC/Moose Jaw, WHL) to give Canada Red a three-goal lead heading into the final frame. Pue scored 5:30 into the third to secure the bronze medal for Canada Red. 

“We were pretty disappointed last night after yesterday’s [semifinal] loss, but our team did a great job of responding today. I am proud of the way our guys handled themselves today because we battled hard and we played with dignity,” said Canada Red head coach Dan DaSilva (Saskatoon, SK/Saskatoon, WHL). “This experience was a lot of fun. These players and staff are all special people that were fully committed to doing whatever it took to win a medal, and we are happy to go home with bronze.”

Canada Red goaltender Owen Loftus (Toronto, ON/North Bay, OHL) made 36 saves, while Mingo made 40 stops in relief of Zachary Lainesse (Lévis, QC/Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL).

A full game summary can be found HERE.

Schultz finished as the tournament point-leader with 16 (6-10—16) while also leading in goals (six) and assists (10). He concludes his under-17 career with 25 points (12-13—25) in 10 games played at the U17 World Challenge.

“We were battling for a bronze medal and unfortunately things did not go our way. It is not the best feeling to lose with a medal on the line,” Schultz said. “I feel very privileged to lead my country as captain. This was such a close group that bonded so quickly, and it is a special group that I will remember for a long time.”

“The bronze medal game can be a tough game to play in because of the disappointment of a semifinal loss, but I thought we showed a lot of character,” said Canada White head coach Dylan Smoskowitz (Richmond Hill, ON/Barrie, OHL). “Our guys never stopped working even when we went down four goals against a familiar opponent, and I am really proud of this team for the way their character was on display today against a good Canada Red team.”

Following the U17 World Challenge gold medal game, Hockey Canada announced the 2026 U17 World Challenge all-star team:

• Goaltender – Mason Martin, United States
• Defence – Drew Daley, United States
• Defence – Adrian Sgro, Canada White
• Forward – Kash Kwajah, Canada Red
• Forward – Maddox Schultz, Canada White
• Forward – Dominik Zelezny, Czechia

For more information on Hockey Canada and the U17 World Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.