The first World Junior Hockey Championship was held in 1974 where Canada would win the bronze medal. However, the tournament was not sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) until 1977. In the first few years of the tournament, Canada would send the Memorial Cup Championship team from the previous year to represent the country and added several players to boost their rosters. Until 1982, there was only one exception made when they sent a team of All Stars from the Western Canada Hockey League (now Western Hockey League or WHL) who won the silver medal in 1975. It wasn’t until 1982 that Canada would utilize their best junior-aged players from around the country to play in the tournament. Over the years, Team Canada has had a number of players who identify as being Indigenous represent the nation at the World Juniors.
*Here are the known players of Indigenous ancestry who have played for Team Canada over the years:
Joe Hicketts (Metis) – 2015 (Gold Medal) & 2016 (6th place)
Travis Hamonic (Metis) – 2010 (Silver Medal)
Carey Price (Ulkatcho First Nation) – 2007 (Gold Medal)
Leland Irving (Tahltan First Nation) – 2007 (Gold Medal)
Kyle Chipchura (Metis) – 2006 (Gold Medal)
Jordin Tootoo (Inuk) – 2003 (Silver Medal)
Brad Leeb (Cree) – 1999 (Silver Medal)
Wade Redden (Metis) – 1995 (Gold Medal) & 1996 (Gold Medal)
Dan Cloutier (Metis) – 1995 (Gold Medal)
Darcy Tucker (Metis) – 1995 (Gold Medal)
Jeff Friesen (Metis) – 1994 (Gold Medal) & 1995 (Gold Medal)
Kimbi Daniels (Metis) – 1992 (6th place)
Trevor Kidd (Metis) – 1990 (Gold Medal), 1991 (Gold Medal), and 1992 (6th place)
Jamie Leach (Anishnaabe) - 1989 (4th place)
Theoren Fleury (Metis) – 1987 (DQ’d) & 1988 (Gold Medal)
Everett Sanipass (Elsipogtog First Nation) – 1987 (DQ’d)
Shayne Corson (Metis) – 1985 (Gold Medal) & 1986 (Silver Medal)
Danny Hodgson (Cree Metis) – 1984 (4th Place) & 1985 (Gold Medal)
Dale McCourt (Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg) – 1977 (Silver Medal)
Bryan Trottier (Cree Metis) – 1975 (Silver Medal)
Stan Jonathan (Six Nations) – 1974 (Bronze Medal)
*I do not claim to know everything and have included everyone here who I have been able to verify as being of Indigenous ancestry according to sources that have confirmed or expressed that the player is indeed Indigenous.
References
Canada men's national junior ice hockey team (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_men%27s_national_junior_ice_hockey_team#:~:text=Its%20success%20can%20be%20traced,%E2%80%931997%20and%202005%E2%80%932009.
Indigenous Rookie Cards (2023). https://naimcardinal.wixsite.com/indigenousrookiecard .
List of Canada Junior Men's National Team rosters. Ice Hockey Wiki. https://icehockey.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Canada_Junior_Men%27s_National_Team_rosterss