Nineteen-year-old Ollie Josephson is one step closer to wearing the red and white on one of hockey’s biggest youth stages. The young centre from Langford has been named to Hockey Canada’s roster for the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, which takes place in Minnesota from July 27 to August 2.
The event is one of the final opportunities for players under 20 to impress Hockey Canada ahead of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. The showcase features 36 of Canada’s top young players, divided into red and white squads. Josephson is suiting up for Team White.
The week kicks off with an intra-squad scrimmage on July 29, followed by international matches against Finland, Sweden, and the United States. Eight additional players were invited but are not participating.
Josephson is no stranger to wearing Canada’s colours. He was part of the gold-winning teams at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship and the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Now, he hopes to build on that experience and prove he’s ready for the World Juniors.
His WHL career speaks for itself. Since joining the Red Deer Rebels in 2021, Josephson has played 185 games and scored 102 points. His steady performance and strong two-way play earned him the captaincy for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
By the time the 2024 NHL Draft came around, Josephson had already gained the attention of scouts. The Seattle Kraken picked him 105th overall in the fourth round, citing his leadership and defensive play as key assets.
His hockey journey began in local leagues. He started with the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association and later joined the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy in Langford. His roots in the sport run deep—his father, Mike Josephson, was also a WHL standout, winning titles with Kamloops in 1994 and Lethbridge in 1997. Mike later played in both the International Hockey League and the ECHL.
Ollie is among 35 NHL-drafted players attending the 2025 showcase. He’s joined by other high-profile talents like Matthew Schaefer, the 2025 first overall pick now with the New York Islanders; Gavin McKenna, a projected top pick for 2026; and Cole Reschny, a first-round pick for the Calgary Flames.
According to Hockey Canada’s general manager of player personnel, this event is more than just games. It’s a key part of building chemistry and evaluating potential teammates for the national squad.
Canada has not medaled in the last two World Juniors, finishing fifth in both tournaments. If they miss the podium again in 2026, it would mark their first three-year drought since the early 1980s. That’s a history the team is determined to avoid.
Only 25 players will make the final roster for the 2026 World Juniors. Josephson hopes his performance this summer will put him on that list.
With his international experience, leadership skills, and NHL potential, Ollie Josephson is well-positioned to take the next step in his hockey journey. The Summer Showcase could be his chance to shine on the path to the 2026 World Junior Championship.
