Nipawin's Blake Chorney is set to represent Canada at the U17 Hockey Challenge in Nova Scotia next month. Here, Chorney is seen skating with the Vancouver Giants during a game against the Saskatoon Blades at the SaskTel Centre on Oct. 7, 2025. (Steve Hiscock/Saskatoon Blades)

By Ben Tompkins

International Spotlight

Nipawin native named to Canadian U17 World Challenge roster

Oct 22, 2025 | 5:02 PM

Nineteen Western Hockey League (WHL) players were recently named to Canada’s roster for the U17 Hockey Challenge, and one of them is from the northeast.

Nipawin’s own Blake Chorney, a current forward for the Vancouver Giants, will make his international debut at the beginning of November.

“It’s a great feeling to get that call, and it’s going to be an honour to wear the Canada crest, so I’m very excited for it… I’ve heard it’s a really good tournament, hard and competitive, and getting to play against teams like Sweden and the USA is something I’ve never done before, so that’s going to be an awesome experience,” Chorney told northeastNOW.

“I think Europeans always play kind of a more east-west style, and Canadian hockey is more north-south, so just kind of adopting that type of hockey is going to be interesting, but I’m just pumped for it to get going… I’ve played up a couple of times in my life, and it’s a hard challenge, but one that I’m ready for. Playing against the best 2009-born players in the world, I’m confident that I’m going to do well.”

Chorney is in his first full season in Vancouver this year, having suited up just three times as a Giant last year. Through 12 games in the 2025/26 campaign, the 16-year-old has three goals and two assists for five points.

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In 2024/25, he had 67 points in 41 games in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) with the Saskatoon Blazers.

The 2025 U17 World Challenge is set for November 2-8 in Truro, Nova Scotia.

“I just want to bring back different pieces from the experience at this tournament and what I learned from different coaches. I could see myself playing in new spots, so just filling my role well with this team and doing whatever I can. I feel I can slot anywhere in the lineup, so just bringing information back to my WHL game is key,” Chorney added.

“It’s really cool to think back on my time in Nipawin, especially when I was a young kid, to now, where I am, it’s crazy that I’m going to be playing with a Canadian sweater on, so I’m just very grateful for all the people who sacrificed for me to get here.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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