The 2025 World Junior Championship was one to remember but for all the wrong reasons. Team Canada this year was nothing short of a disaster for Canadian hockey fans. From the team making questionable roster selections, absurd coaching decisions and mediocre play on the ice, it’s safe to say that many consider this year’s Canadian World Juniors squad to be among the worst they’ve seen in recent memory.
Among roster selections, the Calgary Flames didn’t have much representation at this year’s tournament. The only Flames prospect who got to compete for the title in Ottawa was defenceman Axel Hurtig, who played for Team Sweden.
That may not be the case for long though, as the Flames have a handful of prospects who are still eligible for selection. With that being said, here are three prospects within Calgary’s system that could potentially have a shot at being selected to appear at the World Juniors in 2026.
Zayne Parekh, Team Canada
Kicking off this short list is Zayne Parekh, who was one of many head scratching snubs from this year’s Team Canada roster.
Parekh who was drafted ninth overall by the Flames in 2024, finished last season as the leading point-scorer among defencemen in the OHL. Additionally, he helped lead the Saginaw Spirit to become Memorial Cup champions, recording 11 points in 13 postseason games. This season, Parekh is picking up where he left off, scoring 12 goals and 43 points in 32 games.
In short, Team Canada was foolish for not including Parekh’s name in the roster among many other players. Parekh is an offensive expert who thrives in situations such as the power play. Canada’s power play during this tournament struggled mightily at times and could’ve easily benefited from having a player like Parekh acting as their main quarterback.
It still shocks me to this day that Parekh wasn’t an automatic pick for the tournament. While he did get a late invite to camp, he would eventually wind up getting cut from the team, which only angered Flames fans even more. He’s going to be a great NHLer, and Team Canada will look back at the roster choices they made in regret following their embarrassing run.
Henry Mews, Team Canada
Yet another Flames defensive prospect who has been turning heads recently, Henry Mews is making the 2024 draft for the Flames look even better. Selected in the 3rd round, Mews was seen as being a steal at his draft position, as the Ottawa 67’s defender was projected to go quite higher. His skillset also revolves around offence and this season he’s been making quite a statement.
At the time of this article being published, Mews currently leads all OHL defencemen in scoring, with 49 points in 37 games played, being on pace for a 90-point season. He’s projected to be another offensive weapon on the blue line, with immense mobility and a strong hockey IQ.
Depending on how Mews starts next season, he could very well force himself into a potential spot for Team Canada. His numbers speak for themselves, and leading the OHL in defensive scoring is not something to downplay.
Mews may not be a name that is well-known when it comes to defensive prospects, but his skill set has the potential to be elite. Not bad for a third-round pick if you ask me.
Jacob Battaglia, Team Canada
This one could be a bit of an unexpected pick, but a move I could definitely see happen. Battaglia, a second-round pick by the Flames in 2024, has had a dominant season so far with the Kingston Frontenacs. He currently has 47 points in 36 games and is currently an assistant captain with the team. He’s on pace for 90 points, which smashes his point total of 65 from last season.
I believe Battaglia has the potential to make some noise as he progresses further into this hockey career. He’s got great size paired with promising offensive abilities such as quick hands and a great shot. Regarding a spot on Team Canada, it could be a strong possibility assuming Battaglia starts off next season on the right foot.
While a Battaglia selection would feel a bit off the board with some people, I think it would allow Canada to showcase how much homegrown talent they really produce. Not all names on the team are going to be big-name players. In fact, it’s often the “lesser known” prospects who create the biggest impacts.
Team Canada fumbled hard in 2024
Nonetheless, Canadian hockey fans are expecting a much better roster for the 2026 World Juniors. Many players who were left off the team should’ve been playing in this tournament, and Canada’s poor roster selections strongly contributed to an embarrassing exit.
Only so much blame can go towards the players, they are teenagers after all. Blame the coaching and management staff for how they approached this year’s tournament and hopefully, both departments experience a shakeup for next year.
