Who is Ethan MacKenzie? A look at the surprise inclusion to Canada's 2026 World Juniors camp

This morning, Hockey Canada announced their camp shortlist for the 2026 World Juniors. For the most part, it featured all the names everyone expected: Michael Misa, Gavin McKenna, Brady Martin, Cole Beaudoin, and so on. 

But there was one major surprise: Ethan MacKenzie. 

The 19-year-old defenceman was passed over in two NHL Drafts, but don't conflate a lack of fanfare with a lack of merit. 

MacKenzie is one of the best defencemen in the CHL, and has a strong claim to the best in the WHL right now. He's scoring over a point per game in the No. 1 role on arguably the league's best team, the Edmonton Oil Kings. 

For the frequent readers of around these parts, MacKenzie certainly isn't a new name. He's featured in two consecutive Elite Prospects Draft Guides and was ranked inside our top-140 last year. Our guides have described him as a “menace,” “kill-or-be-killed defenceman,” “a fiery, intense competitor," and compared him to fellow late-bloomer Jalen Chatfield.

All of those still apply – and more. The University of North Dakota commit has taken a substantial leap in his development for the second-straight season. 

This year, he's emerged as one of the better offensive creators from the blueline in the WHL without sacrificing anything defensively, in transition, or in the trenches. As always, he does everything with a special level of intensity – just watch: 

An explosive puck-rusher, MacKenzie has become a near-automatic on zone exits and entries, usually tasked with getting Edmonton's powerplay set up. With a lightning-quick, well-timed crossover burst, MacKenzie flies past the forecheck to lead the rush, where he's always looking to get inside or start a passing play. With the zone established, he's constantly drawing pressure before passing, activating before pumpfaking to get a better look, or pulling off a highlight-reel move. Just recently, he scored one of the best goals you'll see, as described in our game report from November 28th (and shown in the above video):

“The best defenceman in the WHL may very well be Ethan MacKenzie. He has everything – everything. He’s an intense competitor with a complete three-zone impact and he’s first over the boards for both special teams. He creates advantages on just about every touch possible, passing through/around pressure to open teammates, escaping the forecheck with his feet and handling skill, and creating time and space for his forwards in the offensive zone with his space management. Plus, he can do it all himself. He scored one of the WHL’s best goals of the season. After starting the breakout, he activated, caught the puck, flicked it back up in the air as he cut inside, and dove to whack it mid-air for a goal…”

Even better defensively, MacKenzie stops just about everything that comes his way. That dynamic skating ability powers his ultra-aggressive style, based on suffocating gap control, explosive hits, and non-stop effort. He stands up opponents at the blueline, angles them into his shoulder, and beats them down along the walls. With non-stop scanning, he instantly detects threats and closes them off, and always goes out of his way to help out teammates. If all else fails, he's always ready to sell out for the shot block or diving poke check. He's mean, consistent, and never out of a play – it's rare to find players like that. 

Above all else, it's MacKenzie's competitiveness and versatility that likely caught the attention of the Hockey Canada brass. He can play any way needed, whether he's eating heavy minutes at 5-on-5, leading the rush, playing the top of the powerplay formation, or leading his teammates over the boards for the penalty kill.

Given the plethora of high-end skill on the roster, if MacKenzie makes the team, it'll likely be because of his defensive pace, engagement, and puck-moving. He plays a fast, sometimes loose style in the WHL, but he's proven time and again that he can tighten up when appropriate without sacrificing his penchant for big plays and creating advantages. 

MacKenzie has been an underdog in his entire career. As a 16-year-old, he made the rare leap from the CSSHL U16 to the WHL – most players are playing U18 before jumping up. His original NHL draft year, 2023-24, was derailed by injury, but he still showed the signs of what he would become in his late-season return. Last season, playing behind older, more experienced, and more highly-touted players, he steadily rose the lineup, took over PP1, and crushed top-pair minutes down the stretch. 

Now, MacKenzie is one of the CHL's best defenceman and one of nine defenceman attending Canada's World Juniors camp – it's a massive rise. 

And it might not be done yet, as MacKenzie has a real shot of making this team and he's still eligible for the NHL Draft.