It was an awful weekend for the Blackhawks at the NHL level, as they lost by 6+ goals in consecutive games for the first time since 1951. But in the same way as the past few years, Chicago fans can take solace in focusing on the future. It’s the time of year where we begin to talk about the World Junior Championships, with teams finalizing their rosters this week.
Team USA has not revealed its final roster for the 2026 World Juniors, but their preliminary roster included AJ Spellacy, the high-energy forward who almost broke into the Blackhawks’ NHL roster a year ago. He should tear it up on the international stage as he gets closer to the NHL level. Chicago’s Vaclav Nestrasil also made the roster for Czechia.
On Monday, Hockey Canada announced its full training camp roster for World Juniors. It’s a stacked one, with Gavin McKenna, Michael Misa, Zayne Parekh, Porter Martone, and countless other first-round picks making the team. In fact, every forward on the roster (besides McKenna, of course) has been a first-rounder in the past two years.
As such, it makes sense that Sacha Boisvert, the Blackhawks’ 18th overall pick in 2024, just missed the roster. He’s an excellent prospect who should make a fine NHLer someday, and is a great goal-scorer who has gotten off to a bit of a slow start at Boston University this season.
But for Hockey Canada to leave Marek Vanacker off the final roster would be shocking. Originally the 27th overall pick of the Blackhawks in 2024, he’s exploded onto the scene this season as a member of the Brantford Bulldogs. His 24 goals in 25 games lead the entire OHL, and he may be facing a quicker path to the NHL than initially expected. Getting time on the international stage could be just what he needs, and he could provide a big boost for Hockey Canada.
Hockey Canada is the same group that snubbed Nick Lardis at this time last year, and we all saw how well that worked out. He scored 117 points and 71 goals in 65 games in the OHL that season. If Vanacker is left off the final list, maybe he can enjoy the same fate.
