The gold winning team was coached by Ryan McDonald who is head coach of the Prince Albert Raiders. (Hockey Canada)

By paNOW

Local connections

Raiders’ Cripps and coach McDonald win gold at 2025 U17 World Challenge

Nov 9, 2025 | 10:31 AM

Canada Red has won its first U17 World Challenge gold medal, after defeating Canada White 6-3 on Saturday night.

Canada Red took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission with goals from Charlie Murata (Scarborough, ON/Flint, OHL), Loïk Gariepy (Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, QC/Victoriaville, LHJMQ) and Mirco Dufour (Rocky View, AB/Everett, WHL).

After Ryerson Edgar (Holland Landing, ON/Niagara, OHL) made it 4-1, Canada White clawed its way into the game with back-to-back markers from Kaden McGregor (Braeside, ON/Peterborough, OHL) and Maddox Schultz (Regina, SK/Regina, WHL).

Despite a furious push by the defending champions, Canada Red sealed it with a pair of empty-net markers from Camryn Warren (Maple, ON/North Bay, OHL) and Benjamin Veitch (St. John’s, NL/Newfoundland, LHJMQ).

Leif Oaten (Calgary, AB/Lethbridge, WHL)backstopped his club to the gold medal with a 38-save performance, while Sam Berthiaume (Stellarton, NS/Truro, MHL) kicked aside 38 shots for Canada White.

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Ryan McDonald, head coach of the Prince Albert Raiders, was the bench boss for Team Red.

“It’s hard to put into words the effort and detail these young men have put in,” said McDonald. “The work started in the summer when we got together for our first training camp and led to an incredible two weeks here. From the staff to the coaches to the players, everyone put in an incredible amount of work and to finish this night celebrating at centre ice, there is no better feeling.”

According to a post on the Raiders social media page, McDonald is the first to ever win the U17 World Hockey Challenge as both a player and head coach.

Brock Cripps, Raider’s defenceman who played with Team Red, and McDonald celebrate their win. (P.A. Raiders/Facebook)

Raiders forward Ben Harvey also attended the championship, playing for Team White.

Following the gold medal game, Hockey Canada announced the 2025 U17 World Challenge all-star team:

• Goaltender – Leif Oaten (Canada Red)
• Defence – Brock Cripps (Canada Red)
• Defence – Diego Gutierrez (United States)
• Forward – Alexis Joseph (Canada Red)
• Forward – Maddox Schultz (Canada White)
• Forward – Brayden Willis (United States)

Earlier in the day, the United States got a pair of goals from Brayden Willis to claim its third bronze medal at the U17 World Challenge with a 3-1 win over Czechia.

–with files from Hockey Canada.