He’s worn Canadian colours before – but never on the World Junior stage. That could soon change for Ollie Josephson.
The 19-year-old centre, who grew up between Langford and View Royal, was named to Hockey Canada’s roster for the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase – a key step toward earning a spot on the national team for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Running from July 27 to Aug. 2 in Minnesota, the showcase features 36 of Canada’s top under-20 players and serves as a major evaluation tool for Hockey Canada ahead of the 2026 tournament. Eight other players were invited but unable to attend.
The group is split into red and white teams, with Josephson suiting up for team white. An intra-squad scrimmage kicks off the week on July 29, followed by matchups against Finland, Sweden and the United States over the following days.
Josephson, a two-time gold medallist with Canada, is no stranger to international competition. He helped the red and white teams capture gold at both the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship and the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
A steady presence in the Western Hockey League (WHL) since 2021, Josephson has played 185 games for the Red Deer Rebels, registering 102 points. He was named team captain ahead of the 2024-25 season.
His leadership and 200-foot game drew attention from NHL scouts, and the Seattle Kraken selected him 105th overall in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Before his WHL career, Josephson played minor hockey with the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association and later suited up for the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy in Langford.
Hockey runs in the family. His father, Mike Josephson, enjoyed a successful WHL career of his own, winning league titles with Kamloops in 1993-94 and Lethbridge in 1996-97. Mike went on to play professionally in the International Hockey League with before finishing his career in the ECHL with the now-defunct Victoria Salmon Kings.
Ollie is one of 35 NHL-drafted players participating in this year’s showcase.
Other notable names include 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer (Red) of the New York Islanders; projected 2026 top pick Gavin McKenna (White); and former Victoria Royals forward and Calgary Flames first-rounder Cole Reschny (Red).
“This is an incredible opportunity for these players to compete at the highest level, build chemistry and show what they can bring to the national team. With the 2026 World Juniors on the horizon, this is a crucial step in building a championship-calibre group,” said Alan Millar, Hockey Canada’s general manager of player personnel.
After finishing fifth in back-to-back World Junior's, Canada is hoping to avoid its first three-year medal drought since the early 1980s.
Canada’s final roster for the 2026 World Juniors will feature 25 players – and Josephson hopes his summer showing will be enough.
The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Minnesota.
