Former Blazers captains Finnie, Minten named to Canada’s roster for world hockey championship

The 20-year-old then had a meteoric rise with the Detroit Red Wings, who drafted the Lethbridge native in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Finnie played in all 82 NHL games last season and tallied 13 goals and 30 points in his first full season of professional hockey.

Minten, a fellow former Blazers captain, also found his footing in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, who acquired the 21-year-old from the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. The Vancouver native tallied 17 goals and 35 points in 82 games last season and was the NHL’s Rookie of the Month in January.

It’s Minten’s second time playing for Canada as he captained the squad that competed at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden.

Built different. ⚒️

Congrats to alumni Emmitt Finnie (@emmitt_finnie32) and Fraser Minten for suiting up in all 82 games during their NHL rookie campaigns! pic.twitter.com/9mR0jM2RxZ

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) April 16, 2026

The duo will be joined by former Blazer forward Ryan Huska, who will serve as an assistant coach on Team Canada. Huska won three Memorial Cups during his four seasons in Kamloops in the 1990s and he has been head coach of the Calgary Flames for the past three seasons.

Canada opens the 2026 tournament against Sweden on May 15 in Zurich. They will also face Italy, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, Slovakia and Czechia in the preliminary round.

Team Canada has won the men hockey world championships a record 28 times, with their most recent win back in 2023.

by Aaron Schulze

Former Blazers captains Finnie, Minten named to Canada’s roster for world hockey championship

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