Schultz and Pue shine in opening game at U17 World Challenge

Maddox Schultz (left) and Liam Pue of the Regina Pats played a huge role in a 9-5 victory Sunday for Canada White over Sweden at the 2025 U17 World Challenge in Truro, NS. (Hockey Canada photo)

Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue of the WHL’s Regina Pats got off to a great start Sunday at the 2025 U17 World Challenge in Truro, NS.

Schultz scored a hat trick with Pue adding two goals and five assists for Canada White in a 9-5 victory over Sweden.

Schultz was named captain of Team White for the tournament.

The WHL rookies, who are playing full-time this season with the Regina Pat Canadians of the Saskatchewan U18AAA Hockey League while committing to the Pats for 34 games each, are underage players for this international event. The tournament spotlights the top 2009-born players in the world and both Schultz and Pue are 2010-born players.

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

The tournament features two teams from Canada, Canada White and Canada Red, along with teams from Sweden, Czechia, Finland and the United States. Canada White is in Pool A with Sweden and Czechia while Canada Red is in Pool B with Finland and the U.S.

Canada White returns to action tonight against Czechia in its final round-robin game. The tournament’s playoffs begin Thursday, Nov. 6 culminating with the gold-medal game on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Schultz currently leads the SMU18AAAHL in scoring with 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points in nine games for the first-place Pat Canadians who have a 12-1-0-0 record. Pue and Pat Canadians teammate Malaki Martin are tied for second in league scoring with 24 points. Pue has registered seven goals and 17 assists in eight games while Martin has totalled 10 goals and 14 assists in 13 games.

Schultz has collected four assists in eight games with the Pats while Pue has one goal and three assists in eight WHL contests.