Red Deer Rebels forward Ollie Josephson was named as one of five player additions to Canada’s National Men’s U18 team.
From April 25 to May 5, Josephson will suit up for his country at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.
Josephson is joined by goaltender Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga/ OHL), forward Maxim Massé (Chicoutimi/ QMJHL), defenceman Frank Marrelli (Ottawa/ OHL), and defenceman Henry Mews (Ottawa/ OHL).
The 17-year-old from Victoria, B.C. was a part of the gold medal-winning Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Czechia last summer. In that tournament, he notched three points in five games.
During his second season in the Western Hockey League this year with the Rebels, he reached a career-high 47 points (12G, 35A) in 68 games.
Josephson added five points in nine playoff games before they were eliminated by the Saskatoon Blades in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
It was reported by the Rebels that netminder Chase Wutzke also would have joined Team Canada if it weren’t for the upper body injury he suffered during the Blades series.
Rebels forward Samuel Drancak, who won the silver medal in the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, is also expected to join Czechia for the tournament.
In his rookie campaign in Red Deer, he notched 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 68 games. He also scored two points in nine playoff games.
Following their final pre-tournament game on Tuesday, Canada will begin preliminary action on Thursday, April 25 against Sweden at 10 p.m. Mountain time.
They’ll also take on Czechia on Friday, April 26, Switzerland on Sunday, April 28, and Kazakhstan on Tuesday, April 30.
The semifinals will take place on May 4 before the medal games on May 5. All Canada games and medal games will be broadcast on TSN.