Stewart, Worthington to rep Canada West at Junior A Challenge

A pair of homegrown talents will be on full display at the Junior A World Challenge next month.

Brandon’s Ethan Stewart and Colten Worthington will wear the maple leaf, suiting up with Canada West — which features players from the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Superior International leagues — to face off against Canada East, Sweden, and the USA from Dec. 7-13 in Trois-Rivières, Que.

Hockey Canada made the official roster announcement earlier this week, but Stewart and Worthington heard the news more than a few weeks ago after the elite showcase tryout event wrapped up in Martensville, Sask., earlier this month. The two couldn’t be happier to represent their country on such a grand stage.

“Everyone’s playing for one reason, and that’s to represent your country, so it’s super cool,” said Worthington on Friday. “I just remember the manager calling my cell to tell me I made the team, and I was kind of just in shock, but it was just really exciting. I called my dad right away, and I told him, and then I called my mom right after and a couple of close friends, so that was super cool.

“I’m just really excited and honoured to be in this position and I’m just going to take it all in.”

Added Stewart: “I was pretty pumped to hear the news. I mean, I was a little surprised, but I kind of thought I had a chance of making it, so it’s kind of cool it all worked out. I’ve kind of always just played in Canada my whole life, so playing against a different country like USA and Sweden should be really cool.”

Worthington of the Virden Oil Capitals and Stewart of the Dauphin Kings may play on different clubs now, but they know each other very well from their time with the Wheat Kings, when the two rode shotgun together on a line in a top-six role and combined for 126 points during the Manitoba U18 AAA regular season. And given their dominance, it would not be a surprise if the two reunited to play on the same line for Canada West in Quebec.

“I was really excited because I was a bit nervous to see who else would make it because there’s a couple other MJ guys, but I don’t really know them too well because I kind of just played against them, but I’ve played with Ethan probably from like nine to two years ago, so it’s really cool being able to play with them,” Worthington said.

In addition to the MJHL, the 18-year-old, six-foot, 180-pound forward has also gotten some Western Hockey League games under his belt with the Saskatoon Blades, where he put up two goals and five points in 48 games last year, and also played three games during the 2023-2024 season. He’s only played in Virden to start this year but has racked up four goals and 21 points in 17 games and been a big-time leader for his team, which currently sits in second place in the West division with a 12-8 record.

Worthington believes his team’s success so far this year can be pointed to how the team treats each other off the ice.

“I think it all starts just from our team outside the rink,” he said. “We’re always hanging out, never leaving anyone out, and I didn’t really know many people when I first got here like a month and a half ago, but it’s just been awesome how well everyone’s just instantly friendly and everyone just wants to hang out. I feel like it’s just been brought out onto the ice, and I feel like we just all play for each other, so it’s really cool to see how well everyone is playing, not just for themselves, but just all together for one team.”

Worthington will play his second straight game for Virden tonight when they face off against a weak Winnipeg Monarchs club. He had missed some time after getting hurt during his first game in Martensville, when he suffered a grade 1 MCL sprain after he got hit awkwardly in the knee after opening up his leg to pin someone up against the boards.

Stewart also had the injury bug.

The second-year forward for Dauphin, who’s racked up seven goals and 19 points this year, missed seven games in a row with a high ankle sprain during the team’s third game of the season against Neepawa. He also missed the Kings last two games with a minor shoulder injury but will draw back in the lineup tonight with linemates Havryil Simchuk and Nicholas Zaharias against the Steelers.

He said it’s hard to miss a significant amount of time, especially early into the season, but is glad to be back and hopefully contributing again.

As for what’s to come in December, he believes it will be the toughest competition he’s had yet.

“I think it will be good to see all the different levels of competition,” said Stewart. “It’s going to be the best hockey I’ve ever played, so it will be good for me.”

For Worthington, he knows it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so he will remember to soak in the moment.

“It’s going to be amazing. I’m going to just be in the moment when I’m there and just try and do my best and not overthink it too much, just kind of focus on the moment, and whatever, I’ll think about it after,” he said.

“I’m really excited to see what every other team’s like, and I’m really excited to see how our team will come together and play. It will be a really cool experience for every team to see how well you come together and play as a team.”

Worthington, Stewart, and Canada West will begin pre-tournament action against Canada East on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. CT at Colisée Vidéotron and then will face Sweden in Game 1 at 6 p.m.

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com