After being the last man cut from Canada’s World Juniors roster last year, sophomore defenseman Jackson Smith is making a push to be on this year’s roster at the World Junior Summer Showcase.

“It was tough getting sent home [last year],” Smith said in a showcase feature with TSN’s Mark Masters. “I went back to Penn State, and I thought I had a really good second half, kind of just going to use that as motivation to get better and make sure I’m ready for this year to make the team.”

Following his cut from Team Canada last December, Smith responded with 12 points in the last 15 games of the season for the Nittany Lions. The late-season push led to him being selected to the Big Ten Freshman Team and All-Big Second Team.

That momentum has carried into this summer, where Smith has excelled so far at the World Junior Summer Showcase, scoring a goal in Team Canada’s come-from-behind 5-3 victory over Finland. He’ll look to build on this performance as he pushes for a roster spot for the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Summer Showcase is one of the last evaluation opportunities for players looking to represent their countries at the World Junior Championship. After falling just one roster spot short last year, Smith plans to show he belongs on the team this year.

Regardless of his performance this summer, Smith will return to Happy Valley this fall and will strive to pick up right where he left off last season.

After turning disappointment into one of the strongest stretches of his career, the sophomore looks to maintain his trajectory as one of hockey’s most exciting prospects before Team Canada decides its final roster in December.