“Maple Leafs Prospect Ben Danford Named Potential Member of Team Canada for 2026 World Juniors”

With the completion of the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, early roster projections are beginning to take shape for the 2026 edition of the tournament set to kick off later this year.

On Monday, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis put together an estimate of what Team Canada’s roster could look like when they hit the ice in Minnesota this December. Included as a possibility on the blue line for Canada is Toronto Maple Leafs defensive prospect Ben Danford.

Danford was selected 31st overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2024 NHL draft from the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. At 6-foot-2 and 194 lb., the 19-year-old is known as a true defensive defender who brings leadership skills with him as well. Promoted to team captain this season with the Generals, Danford put up five goals and 25 points in 61 games played, and lead the team to a second consecutive Finals appearance.

Beyond the obvious defensive picks of Matthew Schaefer and Sam Dickinson, Ellis writes that Danford is amongst a strong group of blue liners who all have the potential to bring different skillsets to the Canadian roster:

“The team has a diverse range of skills. Confidence? Brunicke. Size? Verhoeff. Physicality? Aitcheson. Speed? Reid. Shutdown capabilities? Danford. Pure skill? DuPont. That’s a deep group that no other team can match.” -Steven Ellis

Danford has previously appeared with Team Canada as part of the U17 and U18 squads, but has never made an appearance at the World Juniors. Back in January, after Canada’s early exit from the 2025 tournament, Ellis included Danford as a possibility to be considered for the 2026 roster outside his list of eight strong contenders to make the team. After a solid season with the Generals and a good showing at this year’s summer showcase, Ellis has now promoted him to one of the top eight to watch for.

Earlier this summer at the Leafs’ prospect development camp, Danford spoke about wanting to get bigger, stronger, and faster heading into this season in order to improve his defensive prowess and physical abilities on the ice. He also mentioned Chris Tanev as a player he looks up to and wants to learn from as he continues to develop into the next phase of his career.

Team Canada is heading into this year’s tournament coming off back-to-back disappointing quarter final exits, including in front of a home crowd in Canada last year. Once a dominant force at this competition, the team is now undergoing a transition period as they search for that winning formula once again. With that in mind, a defenceman’s defender like Danford may be a key part in holding the line for Canada to get this team back on track this year.