SMU18AAAHL Alumni Brayden Yager named Team Canada captain for World Juniors

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Brayden Yager, SMU18AAAHL alumni (Saskatoon Contacts), has been named the captain of Team Canada for the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship. The 19-year-old forward, last season led the Moose Jaw Warriors to their first-ever WHL Championship, will guide a talented Canadian squad aiming to capture a gold medal on home ice in Ottawa.

Joining Yager in the leadership group are Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon, WHL) and Calum Ritchie (Oshawa, OHL), who will serve as alternate captains. Yager expressed his excitement for the role, noting his honor in leading a team filled with strong leaders and his eagerness to represent Canada on the world stage.

Yager was a standout performer for Canada at the 2024 World Juniors, recording two goals, three assists, and a team-high plus-6 rating. Despite the team's disappointing quarter-final exit against Czechia, Yager's leadership and skill were evident. He returns to the World Juniors with a wealth of experience, having played 232 WHL regular-season games, amassing 280 points (115 goals, 165 assists), and earning a reputation for his sportsmanship, winning the Brad Hornung Trophy as the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player twice.

After a stellar start to the 2024-25 season with 11 goals and 30 points in 21 games, Yager was traded from the Moose Jaw Warriors to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He was selected 14th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 NHL Draft, and in August 2024, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets, further solidifying his place in the professional ranks.

Team Canada will begin their tournament on Boxing Day, facing Finland at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa at 6:30 p.m. With Yager at the helm, the Canadians will be looking to rebound from last year's early exit and reclaim the gold medal on home soil.