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Medicine Hat Tigers

McKenna & Lindstrom Named to Canada's U18 Team

April 16, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Calgary, AB - Two members of the 2023-2024 Medicine Hat Tigers will represent Team Canada at the upcoming World Under 18 Championships. Tigers MVP & Rookie of the year Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT) & 2006 born forward and NHL Draft eligible Cayden Lindstrom (Chetwynd, BC) have made the the roster for the tournament in Finland later this month.

McKenna, 16 finish his first full season in the Western Hockey League season leading the Tigers in scoring with 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists) in 61 games played. McKenna is the Central Division representative for the WHL's Rookie of the Year honours, and represented Team Canada Red at the World U17's in Moncton, New Brunswick last fall. McKenna is NHL Draft Eligible in 2026.

Lindstrom, 18, in an injury shortened season racked up 27 goals & 19 assists for 46 points in 32 regular season games. Lindstrom was ranked third in NHL Central Scouting's Final Draft Rankings among North-American skaters. Lindstrom was the Central Division Rookie of the Year in 2022-2023 where he put up 42 points (19 goals, 23 goals) in 61 games. Lindstrom has represented Canada twice in international competition. First as a member of Team Canada White at the U17's last season before being a part of Canada's goal medal winning club in the summer of 2023 at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, scoring the opening goal in the gold medal game against Czechia.

McKenna & Lindstrom are two of eight players selected from the Western Hockey League on the roster. Due to injury, Lindstrom will not participate at the event.

The Medicine Hat Tigers organization would like congratulate Gavin & Cayden along with their families for representing the organization, the City of Medicine Hat and all Tiger supporters at the U18's this spring.

See the full Hockey Canada Release below

NATIONAL MEN'S UNDER-18 TEAM ROSTER NAMED FOR 2024 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Canada to play two pre-tournament games; opens U18 Worlds against Sweden on April 25

Hockey Canada has announced the 19 players selected to wear the Maple Leaf with Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team for the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, April 25-May 5, in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.

The roster was selected by head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), senior manager of hockey operations. The evaluation process included input from goaltending consultant Justin Pogge (Penticton, BC) and analytics consultant Gianfranco Giuliano (Toronto, ON), in addition to the entire scouting staff.

It includes two goaltenders, six defencemen and 11 forwards, featuring 10 players (Beaudoin, Elick, George, Greentree, Leenders, Martone, McQueen, Ritchie, Spence, Wetsch) who won a gold medal with Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, and one (Martone), who helped Canada win bronze at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship.

"We are excited to bring this calibre of young athletes together to begin working with our coaching staff," said Roy. "Having players who already know how to compete in a short-term tournament will also bring valuable experience and leadership to our team in our quest for a gold medal."

Hockey Canada announced the coaching staff for the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship last Thursday, with head coach Gardiner MacDougall (Bedeque, PE/University of New Brunswick, AUS) joined by assistant coaches Travis Crickard (St. John's, NL/Saint John, QMJHL), Bruce Richardson (Montreal, QC) and Ryan Smith (Headingley, MB/Spokane, WHL).

Prior to the start of the tournament, Canada will play a pair of pre-tournament games against Finland on April 20 and Norway on April 23. The quest for a gold medal begins April 25 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT against Sweden. Canada will also face Czechia on April 26, Switzerland on April 28 and Kazakhstan on April 30 to close out preliminary-round action. The semifinals are set for May 4 before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 5.

TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada's official broadcast partners, will air select games, including all Team Canada games and all playoff-round games. Check your local listings for details.

Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), in addition to one silver (2005) and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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