A small-town hockey star has a big-time test ahead.
A key addition to the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs this season, Braidy Wassilyn has been named to the Canada Red team for the upcoming U17 World Challenge in Sarnia.
The 16-year-old Campbellville centre – a fourth overall pick in this year’s OHL Priority Selection – has two goals and eight assists in 12 games for the Eastern Conference-leading IceDogs (10-3).
This follows a stellar 2023-24 campaign (31g, 31a in 32 games) with the Markham Majors, where the speedy forward wore the ‘C’.
The 5-11, 194-pounder and Canada Red kick things off Sunday against Finland.
The tournament, which continues until Nov. 9, has been a showcase for such future superstars as John Tavares, Alexander Ovechkin, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.