By TERRY PUGH
For the second straight year, Jaxon Herchak of Waldheim has been named to the roster of the Canada West team for the 2025 Junior A World Challenge tournament .
Herchak, a former member of the Warman U18AAA Wildcats and current star with the Kinderlsey Klippers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, was among the 22 players chosen to represent Canada West in the internaional tournament that runs December 7-13 in Tois Rivieres, Quebec.
Also on the roster are forward Rylan Hue (Humboldt Broncos) and defenseman Tao Flory (Melfort Mustangs) of Saskatoon, as well as goaltender Taye Timmerman (Warman Wolverines) of Winnipeg.
The 22 players representing Canada West come from the CJHL’s four western leagues – the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).
The head coach of the Canada West team is Trevor Blevins (Melfort Mustangs) of Melfort.
A full listing of the Canada West roster, as well as details of the 2025 Junior A World Challenge tournament, can be found online at the Hockey Canada website (HockeyCanada.ca).
Another team wearing the Maple Leafe is the Canada East team. The 22 players representing Canada East were selected from the CJHL’s five eastern leagues – the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), Ligue de hockey junior AAA du Québec (LHJAAAQ) and Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL).
In a news release issued November 24, Hockey Canada Manager of Hockey Operations Kurt Keats said both teams are excited to represent their country.
“We believe we have assembled two strong teams, and we know all 44 players, as well as the coaching and support staffs of both teams, are excited to wear the Maple Leaf next month in Québec,” said Keats.
The other countries in the tournament are the United States and Sweden.
The 2025 Junior A World Challenge gets underway at Colisée Vidéotron on Dec. 7 when Canada East opens the tournament against the United States at 3 p.m. ET, followed by 2024 bronze medallist Canada West taking on Sweden at 7 p.m. ET. The tournament concludes with the medal games on Dec. 13.
Prior to the start of the tournament, Canada East and Canada West will face-off in pre-tournament action on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. ET at Colisée Vidéotron. Canada East will also take on Sweden on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET at Colisée Jean-Béliveau in Longueuil, Québec, while Canada West will play the United States on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET at Aréna de Montmagny in Montmagny, Québec.
Of the 17 gold medal games at the Junior A World Challenge, 13 have featured at least one Canadian team. Canada East will look to earn its first gold medal, having won silver eight times (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023) and bronze once (2008), while Canada West has won gold six times (2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2023), silver three times (2008, 2009, 2012) and bronze three times (2013, 2018, 2024).